Friday 12 July 2013

Currarevagh 1

Itinerary
  • Curraravagh
  • Milly to the Lake
  • Multinational candles
  • Icecream for dinner



Currarevagh Guest House
The oldest family run guesthouse in Ireland, Currarevagh is not one of the ubiquitous B&Bs dotting the Emerald Isle thoroughfares. It was recommended to us by Gerry O'Driscoll who has stayed there many times and it was recommended to him by Karl Donovan - the best medical teacher that Gerry or I learned from. Karl also knew a thing or many about how to enjoy life as does Gerry. It's a strength of the Irish.

Currarevagh is run by Henry Hodgson who is in his mid 30s with help from his mum June and his dad who was away so we didnt get to meet. The house was built in 1842 by Henry Hodgson, the current Henry's great (x7) grandfather. The land had been in the family since the 1600s when a Hodgson had found copper and lead in the Local Hills.

The family did well and bought the land from the powerful O'Flaherty clan in the early 1800s. As the mining boom of Ireland ended (note to those in WA - they always do), the family tried turf farming and other ventures before becoming a "game lodge" in the late 1800s.

With some modifications, adventures like an IRA plot to explode it, a few famines, war rations, govt acquisition of lands etc, the guest house is still here today - which is good because otherwise we have rocked up a la Griswalds, at a stranger's house and popped our bags down in one of their rooms.









Our bedroom - top left




Front door




The Drawing Room




OK, this video is boring. It's more than 3 mins long and is a walkthrough of the guest house for us to remember. Do not watch it, the soporific effects have not been fully tested on humans.







Heading for a walk through the trails to "Kitts Beach". Kids loving the freedom, running ahead throwing sticks for Milly the gorgeous brown Labrador retriever to, well, retrieve.


To the lake we go




Milly demanding another stick









Looking out from Kitt's Beach








Milly with 3 retrieved sticks




Water was pretty chilly




Milly coming to retrieve me

























The town of Oughterard






"Our" launderette





On our way in we saw the sign below. How exciting.......said Zoe.





It was a good hike before we got to the house. Hot day - about 30 degrees. In fact the local papers had headlines about the heat wave and suggestions to stay inside.

There were some very red Irish folk after a few days of sun. One beetroot faced lass came in to a store where Ree was. As Ree was gasping at her sunburn, the store keeper (obviously in Irish accent) said, "ooh Maureen, you're looking good, got a bit of colour in you".

As an aside, the Irish are OBSESSED by the weather. OBSESSED.



Walking to the candle-making




There's a sign on the road, coz you want to be sure....




So we finally got to candle-making which turns out to be a house where the lady and her husband make candles - you don't. Her husband was out so she took some time to give us a candle making tutorial which was, in all seriousness, quite interesting.
  • First you need moulds - these come from Germany via London.
  • Next you need high quality candle wax. High purity, doesn't drip, doesn't smoke, sets well. This comes from Dubai via a Swiss agent.
  • Braided candle wick cotton from the UK.
  • Then make the candle +\- paint it +\- scent it. OK so the last bit is a summary but it was cool to learn.
As we were leaving the husband came home. He used to be a geologist. When he heard we were Australian he said "Have you heard of Subiaco"? Turns out we had. He had an Aunt who was a nun who had lived in Subiaco for years. Probably one of the St John of God nuns. Small world.



Moulds and scents




High Quality candles for sale




















Saw this on the walk back. Now that's a Wellington Boot.





We were all full after late mega Currarevagh breakfast and very late pub lunch so by 9pmish (still broad daylight), we drove into town, each had an icecream for dinner then went back to our rooms for a sleep.

The Arran Islands had been on our to-do list but it meant actually having a plan so we decided to get up when we were ready, arrange a bit of picnic on one of the islands of the Lake and later in the day go for a drive around the area to soak up the scenery.


Enough

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