Rest day in Caherdaniel
Caherdaniel is in a thick sea fog when I draw back the curtains. After a leisurely breakfast I set off for Derrynane House in the light drizzle. A guy stops to give me a lift – the kindness of strangers.
The house is closed for a few more minutes so I go into the tea room, finish a few sketches and then go round the house. It’s the home of Daniel O’Connell, ‘The Liberator’, ‘The emancipator’ who was mainly responsible for restoring rights to Catholics after penal times.
The house itself is rather dull, except perhaps for ‘The bed Daniel O’Connell died in’ which is a little bizarre but is just a simple iron bed frame. It happens to be the anniversary of his death today too.
The most amazing exhibit, however, is the Triumphal Chariot. It’s a huge thing with a velvet cushioned chair on top and was used to parade the hero through Dublin.1
I walk over the dunes behind Derrynane strand to Abbey Island but the drizzle strengthens so I go back to the tea rooms.
An orange juice in the Blind Piper and dinner later and that sums up a lazy day!
Comments
Always good to have a catch up day but I am a bit disappointed that you didn’t attempt to sketch the triumphal coach!!
Yes, me too. My cousin is buried on Abbey Island. Beautiful place.