That's So Blarney!

Winston Churchill, Mick Jagger, the American Choppers and even the Simpson's have visited the Blarney Castle in county Cork, Ireland, in order to lock lips with the Blarney Stone. Kissing the Blarney Stone is believed to give the gift of eloquence (Blarney: smooth, flattering talk or deceptive or misleading talk, nonsense). For 200 years, people from all over have been traveling to Blarney Castle (built in 1446).

For many years, individuals wishing to kiss the stone would be held by the ankles and lowered, head first, down to the stone. Now a days, it looks something like this:


It remains to be seen if Matt and I have gained the gift of eloquence!

Dingle Pony Rides

The girls love horses. DH promised them that he would take them each on pony rides in Ireland as one of their special things to do. He made good of that promise and the girls are still talking about it. Speckles gave them each a 10-minute ride alongside grazing sheep. Muffin, a three-month-old orphaned goat, followed them around, looking for a tasty treat, if there was one. Just before leaving, we got to see a two-day-old calf.

Lila, especially, loves horses. She got right up on Speckles, knew where to put her feet and hands and was comfortable the entire time. Though, when you ask her about it, she wants to go back to the farm to see Muffin, the goat.

Highlights in pictures: