Today marks my last full day in Ireland before I leave the country for Spain!  I’m so excited for Barcelona.  I’ve enjoyed my time here, but I’m ready to experience a new culture.  I think that has been one of the best parts of the trip- experiencing the culture, both old and new.  I’ve also been able to see how the culture today has been shaped by the past and how it’s changed as well.  It’s also amazing how diverse the culture is within such a small body of land.  It’s quite remarkable really. 

            We departed Bunratty bright and early to go to Kilkenny to see another castle.  All the castles are starting to look the same to me, so I’m trying to learn unique things about each one.  What I liked about this castle was the themed rooms.  It had a Chinese bedroom and a Moroccan-inspired staircase.  I asked one of the tour guides about this and he said they did this to show that they’ve traveled and have become “cultured.”  I also liked hearing about the loveseat in the drawing room.  The loveseat has spots for six people.  The couples would sit together and the parent or another supervisor would sit on the end.  They were very conservative and couples weren’t allowed to sit together unsupervised.  Times sure have changed!  Another interesting part of the castle was the picture gallery.  There was a huge hall devoted just to display their great collection of art.

            We headed back on the bus to make the long trip to Dublin.  On our way there, we were entertained with stories of fairies from Dr. Haavisto.  We learned all about the fairies and their passion for music.  And how a man disfigured by a hump had happened upon them and embellished their tune.  The fairies were so delighted that they removed his hump.  Another man, also disfigured by a hump, tried to also have his hump removed by the fairies.  This man, however, was not a kind-hearted good fellow like the first.  He rudely interrupted the fairies singing with his own tune and the fairies added another hump to his back in retaliation.  The man, traveling now with two humps, died.  I found that to be a rather dramatic and dark ending.  I think fairy tales today are not as dark as those in the past were.   I really liked hearing some Irish folklore.  It’s things like the stories that shape the culture into what it is today.