Mount Juliet---The Highlight of our trip!

Mount Juliet House
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We have found Eden and she is called Mount Juliet…

--In another unplanned re-route, we are here in Thomaston, just outside Kilkenny—after a botched stay at our original booking at a bed & breakfast in Tullmore (where suffice it to say—things were not as we had hoped or as was advertised to us via the internet— we were treated like unwelcome intruders and opted quickly to vary our plan—though we did fit in a little sight seeing we found our way to Clonmacnoise an ancient and sacred ecclesiastic site that I remembered studying in Art History—unbelievably spiritual and amazing—I will try to post some photos of Celtic High Crosses)

In Ireland the first route is not always the best……but, the end destination is usually worth the effort!

Hunter's Yard
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Anyway, after a hasty decision on our part to vacate a bad situation & coupled with a little bit of Irish luck, we made a quick recovery and righted ourselves. We were able to take advantage of the retreating, defeated American Ryder Cup fans that have left the country in droves and we managed to obtain last minute bookings at Mount Juliet—(www.mountjuliet.com) –We had always planned to stay on here later in the week for 2 nights but now we will be settled here until Thursday morning before we head up North to Trim.

Golf
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If you log on you can get a bit more of the history, and see some lovely photos of the estate but in a nut shell—this is a classic country sporting estate—with every imaginable leisure activity that you can think of (Angling, Falconry, Croquet, Riding, Golf, Spa, Clay skeet Shooting, Archery, Hunting- both game birds & traditional Fox Hunting & close to Waterford & Kilkenny for sightseeing) For an obsessed golf hound and his horse crazy wife—it is Adult Camp.!! The golfing is A-1 caliber—with an immaculate Nicklaus parkland course, 18 hole putting course, driving range and complete lesson academy—for the equestrian minded, a full service centre that will outfit you for a light hunt seat hack on the trails, show jumping course or a full traditional Irish Fox hunt—complete with Irish Fox hounds—who we had the pleasure of meeting today--

before you think that it is pretentious and snobby—it is hardly that—they cater to families and are quick to make sure that your every whim is met no matter your visa card limit and for the setting and the amenities available to each guest Mount Juliet is a bargain, we paid more to stay at our previous hotel than we are here but with 10 times the options!

We are staying in the Hunter’s Yard which is more modern and close to the golf & equestrian facilities but also, because those of you who truly know how horse crazy I am will understand, my desire to stay in a refurbished stable yard couldn’t be resisted!—it is beautiful and comfortable and the old mixed with the new is fantastic—the pub still has the iron horse ties on the walls that once held the hunter and carriage horses—fantastic, you can imagine the courtyard filled with horses and carriages of a bygone era. Mount Juliet it is a sparkling diamond in Ireland’s emerald landscape.

So after a long a weary 2 hour drive last night in the dark and disrupting our planned itinerary we were absolutely giddy to wake to beautiful Irish morning and spend the day enjoying our prospective pursuits—here in the Southern Ireland.

Jake had a round of golf and I enjoyed a cross country gallop through the trails of the estate— We enjoyed a bit of Irish Tea and then partook of a secret amenity that most guest don’t take advantage of—a hosted Estate Tour—Set up for us by the trainers at the Equestrian Center—Eamon, The Estate Host a retired CEO of an Irish Communications Conglomerate now makes his living ferrying guests around the grounds and to the thoroughbred breeding farm within the grounds…. He has the lucky job of assisting visiting, celebrities, dignitaries, and many a professional golfer (rumor has it that Tiger & Phil have caught a few trout from the Nore river that runs through the Estate!) Eamon was fantastic coup for us an avid golfer and fly fisherman he graciously spent nearly 2 hours regaling us of stories of the Estate and giving us a personal tour of the Hunting Yard (where we met those Irish Fox Hounds—adorable!!) & the golf course  he gave Jake some tips—“if you keep the ball on the fairway—its an easy course!”

And then an up close look at the horse breeding estate, which has produced a few Derby winners, and is spectacularly beautiful.

As I write this from our little veranda off the room the sun is starting to wane –but Jake managed to insinuate himself into the Pro-shop’s good graces and he has snuck out onto the course to get in as many holes as the remaining sun allows----We are having a Grand time here in Ireland and look forward to sharing our experiences in even more detail when we return home! Cheers!!