Is minic a bhí cú mhall sona
It's often a slow hound was content

 

 

 

Waterford Castle Experience – 26th April 2009

 

Photos from the event

 

Yes, Anne O’Keeffe must have superior powers. Yet again the weather played our tune with showers all around, except for the island housing Waterford Castle.

 

We met at the ferry and drove on to the car park and then assembled in the Great Hall for a welcome cup of coffee.

 

What atmosphere! Genteel elegance; magnificent fireplace, beautiful tapestries on the walls, intimate seating at the bay windows.

After refreshments we collected the dogs and set out on our walk around the grounds. It had been raining heavily the previous day and as a result a section of the path was flooded and avoided, but in a way I was grateful because the distance was just right for me.

 

Spring was in evidence everywhere; gorse in full bloom, sweet violets, wild garlic and bluebells under the trees. Magnificent rhododendrons towering overhead, laden with flowers appearing too heavy to be supported by their branches.

And then a hare jumped out of nowhere. A young lady who shall remain anonymous managed to slip her collar and give chase.

 

Luckily her owner managed to call her to heel and we continued our exploration, with curious onlookers in the form of Roe Deer peering at us from behind the safety of their fences.

 

In the distance the castle could be spotted behind the trees. We passed by the croquet lawn where, it was rumoured, we might be allowed to hold one of our shows. I for one would be delighted to spend more time here.

Thanks and congratulations go to Cathriona Hartley for arranging this privilege for us, as well as the possibility of a return visit by the members and friends of the Irish Wolfhound Society of Ireland.

After our walk we stopped for a photo shoot beside the front door of the castle. Watch the presses! Then we gathered around Jim Behan for his eagerly anticipated demonstration on grooming the Show Hound. That man surely has magic fingers. Thank you, Jim.

By this time grumbling tummies could be heard all around and gratefully we heeded the call to assemble for our meal in the elegant Munster Room. The resident chef is the well-known Michael Quinn and needless to say when the plates were taken away course after course, they were spotlessly clean. Not a crumb left over for the dogs waiting patiently outside.

I was loath to leave, but the sheer distance back to Sligo twisted my arm and so we set off at 5:30 pm. We had met up with old friends and made many new ones this day. The combined love of our breed was in evidence throughout and I know we will meet up again soon.

Back home the dogs barely managed to stay on their feet for their meal and then it was back on the settee and on to Dreamland, where, no doubt, they were once again in the idyllic setting of Waterford Castle.


Lois Sinclair
Hon. Treasurer