Waterford Crystal Factory

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· We had a nice early start to ensure a good visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory. At 9.50 euro each, it was well worth it. We spent a good 2 hours here touring the place taking plenty of pikkies. The skill involved in each area of the Crystal making is unbelievable. The training required is full on and takes many years so most of the craftsmen were 40+. We learnt that about 20% of the crystal gets rejected at just the molding stage. Those poor bugga’s are paid per item too! We could’ve done the tour again but we moved onto Cork. Here we found a free area for internet at the Court House so we got a few of our jobs done as well as being dodgy and charging our amenities in the pub (no shortages of them that’s for sure). Off again, we were on our way to Killarney hoping to stop before hand to camp for the night. Troubles again and too hungry to care, we stopped and made dinner in a market car park upset and cranky to say the least!! After tea we decided to move on as we didn’t fancy camping at a supermarket. We headed down the smaller roads, which we seem to have more luck with, we got lost yet found a brilliant little place. It was called Kate’s Cottage and we could hear Irish music as we pulled up. The boots went on and in we went and it was the best thing we did. Over a nice Guinness, we also watched some Irish dancers do their ‘jig’. It was wonderful. One of the songs played purely on an Irish recorder/ flute nearly brought Jules to tears (not that that’s hard!) it was so beautiful. A great end to the day.