ROUTE TO KILMUCKRIDGE

June 30, 2004

Tuesday morning we cleaned up the Dublin house, got clean sheets on the bed, and headed out for our next house in the seaside town of Kilmuckridge.  Traveling south, we went through our favorite town of Lucan, with the strange intersection, and then we were into new territory.

We caught the N81 south.  We stopped at an elaborate mansion, Russborough, for a tour.  Joseph Leeson, the heir to a brewing fortune, commissioned the house.  At one time an extensive art collection was housed here, but all of the art has been removed while the roof is being refurbished.  The collection included paintings by Vermeer, Goya, Rubens, Murillo, Gainsburogh and Hals.  These works are currently house in the art museum in Dublin and many of them will most likely stay there, as it is difficult to protect them in the country house. 

We were, however, able to explore this magnificent Palladian mansion and visit most of the rooms, many of which are adorned with exquisite plasterwork crafted by Lafranchini.  Our guide also took us upstairs to the gallery, where we saw several bedrooms and a large hall.  The repair work in process and required could also be viewed.  Unfortunately, we could not take photos indoors.

Leaving Russborough we turned east and headed through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains.  We stopped at Glendalough, a monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6^th century.  Many of the old chapels still stand, as well as the traditional round tower.  The graveyard contains many intricately decorated Irish crosses.

We arrived in Kilmuckridge in good time and took the turn to Morriscastle Village, where we easily found #17 and settled in to our new home.

This is the vacation home of Liam and Aileen Patel.  There are 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, a family room and living room.  There is a huge back yard with a nice deck.  The beach is just a short walk down the street and there is also a golf course adjacent to the housing area.  Best of all, we have another king sized bed.