We are the Surprise Guests

Saturday, August 16th

Castleton 

According to all of the locals the last two months have been nearly perfect summer weather but it is cold and windy. I have learned after several days that Irish "perfect summer weather" might not be equal to my standards. So in this very cool, somewhat showery morning Mike and I arrived at Castletown House for our first tour after our first "full Irish breakfast". The house begun in 1722 was finished and decorated by inheritors, a 21-year-old man and his fifteen-year-old bride. Money not being a limiting factor the house has a beautiful floating cantilevered staircase with gold spindles. The ceiling are delicately hand carved and painted white.  The chandeliers made in Murano, Italy were carefully packed in butter to be transported to Ireland. I was surprised to see a large bust of George Washington in the entry. Apparently the owners had great admiration for freedom fighters. When I inquired our guide said I was the first to ever ask. Must have been thousands of Americans who have visited the house. Did they not notice or have they forgotten George?

We were back in the car for what should have been a short trip to see Conolly's Folly in nearby Celbridge. The lady of the house had it built to designate the edge of the estate and to create employment for the poor during the first potato famine in the 1700's. After a number of U-turns, backtracks, and asking directions from a woman who was reluctant to help us because she "could be wrong", our time was slipping away fast. Having eventually located it, the folly was surrounded with cyclone fencing and weeds. Undaunted we digitally recorded the remains. More time was lost trying to find The Wonderful Barn. Both structures are interesting to look at, especially the barn which is conical in shape with its staircase spiraling around the exterior, but both were built as famine relief projects and served no practical purpose when finished. After leaping from the car and walking halfway down a long road we had to abandon our Wonderful Barn visit due to time constraints. We will return.

Conolly's Folly

From here a quick drive to Mike's cousin Ken's home for lunch. His wife Marian had a pre-lunch whiskey in Mike's hand within minutes of arrival. There was talk of the Hand clan, Ireland, and their 8 month old twin grandchildren. We do have a lot in common. Before leaving we walked a block to visit Ken's father Michael who is 91. He had no plans to go out for the day but was still dressed in shirt, tie, and jacket. That seems to be the fashion style for the Hand men of their generation.

Running late again I discretely changed into my dress and applied a bit of makeup as Mike drove down the motorway. At dinner we made our surprise appearance with another of Mike's cousins Sean McCabe and his wife Sandra. Eamon had been traveling for two weeks in Ireland with his daughter Elaine. He was enjoying every minute and looked to be the picture of health, smartly dressed in the Hand uniform.   I must interject a useless but interesting piece of information here. All of the Irish Hands at dinner and many who were not there are known by names different than those on their birth certificates. Elaine is Katherine, Eamon is John, and Sean is also John. Our theory is Mike escaped this tradition by having an English mother. 

Donnie, Eamon, Sean, Elaine, Mike