Wicklow to Dublin
We agree the plan for the day – a quick visit to Wicklow jail – back to Mary’s for a final cup of tea - then off to Dublin – visit the jail – a museum of the conditions faced by Irish prisoners before deportation - features Michael Dwyer a leader of the United Irish and a famous son of Wicklow - interesting – liked the role playing by the tour guide – loved the AV presentations – laughed at the display of wild creatures faced by the transportees upon arrival in Australia – Emily will be pleased we visited – she descends from Michael Dwyer now buried in Waverly Cemetery in Sydney.
We agree the plan for the day – a quick visit to Wicklow jail – back to Mary’s for a final cup of tea - then off to Dublin – visit the jail – a museum of the conditions faced by Irish prisoners before deportation - features Michael Dwyer a leader of the United Irish and a famous son of Wicklow - interesting – liked the role playing by the tour guide – loved the AV presentations – laughed at the display of wild creatures faced by the transportees upon arrival in Australia – Emily will be pleased we visited – she descends from Michael Dwyer now buried in Waverly Cemetery in Sydney.
Back to May’s - Mary is not to be denied – we must accept her tour of Wicklow including a visit to the original family home and the farms of her brothers – I was intrigued by the interplay between Mary as the eldest of the family and the sister in law who now occupy the family house – Mary is accepting of the traditions that see the family house pass to the male side of the family and equally the sister in law see herself as the custodians of the family home on behalf of all of the remaining family members. She sees it as the family house rather than just her home! – very special!
Family home is a sight!– built in 1840 – magnificent double storey dwelling surrounded on three sides by expansive lawns and trees and on the fourth side by a gravelled courtyard formed from white farm buildings with bright red doors. The farm buildings contain machinery relics including butter churns and rotating wheels driven by horses to propel early milking machines.
The house has generous sized rooms with the passages and corridors filled with photographs and memorabilia that have remained as part of the house long after the prior inhabitants have moved on.
The house has generous sized rooms with the passages and corridors filled with photographs and memorabilia that have remained as part of the house long after the prior inhabitants have moved on.
The family home is surrounded, at very generous distances, by the homes of other family members including Mary’s brothers, nieces and nephews – the total land in the hands of the Delahunts seems to be in the order of 2000 acres.
As we tour the Delahunt farm lands we note the clusters of “Traveller” camps. The glamour of the Porsche four wheel drives clashes with the austerity of the mobile homes that they are parked between them within the camp – the camps are a mess – one wonders if this is not deliberate – a thumbing of the nose at the establishment.
We bid Mary and Anne farewell and head for Dublin - A final stint in the Royal Oak – a final dinner with Coxs – listen to Graeme talk about Ireland – off to bed – the trip is practically over.
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