And off we went to Killarney on a day trip, to see Muckross House. Noreen made me go.

Which is one of those houses built in the Victorian Age (and definitely reminiscent of Wash Gowan’s house in The Harvey Girl) by a blueblood family who had more money than they knew what to do with and married more, and lived the high life there until they lost it all at the end of the 1800s.

The nation of Ireland eventually acquired it bwo one of the Guinness family and good for him, and Ireland is doing an extraordinary job of maintaining it and expanding it. You tour the house and you get a real feel for what life was like back in the day. Especially for the servants, and there must have been a lot of them judging by the amount of bells hanging from the wall outside the kitchen.

I love the “South Best Bed Room,” which for me begs the question, Where’s the bell for the South Second Best Bed Room?” (h/t William for the bell photos, which I gaped at for so long I completely forgot to take any photos)

The washing machine. Whoever had to operate that must have had biceps like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime.

Love that design on the dishes, although you’d probably be flogged if you ever broke one.

Love the kids’ toys, too, especially this set of blocks. Note the helpful guide on the left. They look very well used.

You can see why they built there by looking through any window. (Apologies for the reflection on the glass. I’m just about as good a photographer as my father was.)

And then home to Ringarogy in time for the sunset.

Until next time, Ireland o Ireland…

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