by Sannie Olson, ISP 2011 Participant
Once again, the west coast of Ireland is swamped in the murkiness of the clouds and ever persistent mists. The wind tears at our raincoats, disheveling our hair, and tries to make us it's prey in the cool dampness. But alas! When opportunities aplenty offer themselves to us, we prevail and conquer!
Delving back into the 1800s, I imagined myself as a young lady of the Muckross House, daughter to its owners, the Herman's, sheathed in a beautiful gown, flouncing down the grand staircase and into the great hall where music and dancing were being held. Waltzing past the house embellishments, I would take the ornately carved, one of a kind wall desks, chandeliers, and sixty four fireplaces in stride. I could see myself on the arm of a handsome young gentleman, strolling past the intricately designed ivy covered trellises adorning the handsome manor to the expansive gardens, stretching for thousands of acres and lurking in the winds and mists. Clutching my wrap tight as we stepped along the paths to the Muckross Lake, I would turn around to admire the majestic horses and carriages lined up to deliver their lord or lady, or even Queen Victoria herself, back to their dwellings and out of the spring weather.
Ah ha! A maiden with adventure in her bones, I escaped the mundane country day life for an hour to disappear into the nearby forests and river waterfalls! At the base of the sixty foot Torc Fall, I turned with other brave hearted lasses and a lad to ascend the mountain, Torc, all the while following the river. We crossed food bridges over the river, encountered three red deer, and slipped and staggered up the steep inclines of the rugged mountain side to eventually end where we could admire other nearby peaks. Sadly, however, we grudgingly turned back down, for the fear of being missed was too great, and we were in no mood for trouble, let alone punishment, for our wanderings.
And adventure unfolds at the Bunratty Castle! Upon entering the stronghold's walls, we were greeted by bagpipes and a variety of characters dressed in medieval attire. We were ushered up a winding staircase to have a goblet of mead thrust into our hands as a harpist and violinist entertained our mingling with other foreign guests, as expected of the ladies to do. After an introductory song, we traversed downstairs to the banquet hall to begin our delicious, yet slightly barbaric, meal. As I am used to the fine chinaware of the Muckross House, the setting of stone goblets and bowls and wooden plates with only our daggers for utensils was a trifle unsettling! Good thing I wore dark colors! We were first served soup, we we slurped out of our bowls as merriment flowed through the atmosphere! Barbecued spare ribs followed, which was torn from the bones with our hands and daggers, and then chicken and veggies smothered in wine sauce followed! Oh, I haven't eaten so much meat in ages, and never before with just a dagger! What a delight! Amongst our main dishes, we had the opportunity to be quite entertained as our host and king-for-the-night threw one of our party into the dungeons for frolicking with the ladies. In order to be able to return to our table and his food, the lord had to belt out a song to the entirety of the gathering! We all knew the more modern song, as did many of the other members of the crowd, and we aided in his song selection so that he could return. As our hosts captivated us with ballads, diddies, and musical interludes, we were served a delicious mixed berry cake type dish. With the evening winding to a close, we gathered our belongings and headed to our coach to be returned to our lodgings!
