EireLandings ~ Part Two



The Curragh

        Leaving Dublin after a luggage call for 6:45 a.m., breakfast at 7, and on the bus at 8, took us southwest through the Curragh, a grassy plain in the peaceful countryside of County Kildare. Our first stop was the 1,000 acre Irish National Stud, a semi-state owned bloodstock farm - the Irish do love their horses! It was a surprisingly interesting experience.
       I love that the farm was founded in 1900 by an Anglo-Irish Colonel who was influenced by the astrological signs of the foals. He had skylights in the stables so the horses would be touched by sunlight and moonbeams! Perhaps he, too, was a bit touched? 

Mares grazing at the Irish National Stud farm



       The grounds reflected all that makes Ireland so special.  The famous 40 shades of green were well in evidence on the grounds as well as buildings that are ancient and merely old, and the state of the art technology in the breeding of champion horses. 
       St. Fiachra's Garden was named for the patron saint of gardening and a few very interesting, um, illnesses (at least according to the experts at Wikipedia!).  It was established at this site in 1999.

St. Fiachra's Garden

       We had time for tea and of course the tour of the gift shop!  We took our leave and headed out back across The Curragh for our lunch stop.  More to come in Part 3. 

No, we never dated

       Who knew that the Irish invented Steeplechase racing when in 1752 the race was between two church steeples?!