Day 38 - 2nd August - Cork - Waterford - Wexford

Cork to Waterford to Wexford

We rise late – the trip is becoming tiring – we pack and restore Peadar’s house to an acceptable state and head off to off for Wicklow through Wateford and New Ross.

Trudy and Graeme take the Waterford tour - Bernie and I coffee, sit, talk - talk about the size of world - see those people over there! - they look like the Egans from Wagga - sure enough - chat with them about old times and the size of the world.

We arrive at the Whitty “Estate” at Wexford – is this the right place? – cars everywhere – people everywhere – Bernie ventures to the front door – out comes Moira – they are having a pattern - A pattern? – the blessing of the graves – an opportunity to families to meet to remember their departed – the Whitty clan has gathered after the blessing to remember Nicholas’ brother – we are welcomed and introduced, introduced some more and welcomed some more – where have you been? - where are you going? – are you going to Kilarney?

Gradually the patterneers depart and we join the Nicholas and Moira for the evening meal – we are entertained by Nicholas and his stories of horses and farming and family. We marvel at his plans to convert the central heating of his house to firewood – Graeme offers advice on the refinement of the prototype log splitter mounted on the hydraulics of Nicholas’ ageing tractor – We listen as Nicholas joins of the chorus of the Irish as he bemoans the worsening arthritis of the Celtic Tiger – the poor old Tiger is well past his best.