Week Three: The Six-Pint Leprechaun

County Kilkenny- the name just rolls off the tongue with velvety goodness. Travelling through Ireland is like stepping into a fairytale book with lyrical place-names that possess a strangely addictive poetry which makes you want to say the name over and over again. The Macgillycuddy Reeks, The Slieve Mish Mountains, Tullaroan, Ballyragget, Scarraglen and The Blaskets. With names like this, it is hard not to be inspired when you come from the land of 'Balga' and 'Innaloo'.

County Kilkenny is a warren of moss covered stone walls and wild green pastures. Out here, you can see where they found the 'thousand shades of green'. I am posting a picture of one of the national highways... can you believe the speed limit is 100! I have had a few terrifying encounters with out-of-control tractors tearing around sharp corners at neck-breaking speed. It's enough to drive a girl to drink.

Speaking of which, I am pretty sure that whoever is responsible for putting up road signs in Ireland has been sneaking in a few extra nips of the hard stuff. Either that, or it is a national joke to point street signs in the wrong direction. I'm not sure yet.

One theory concerning the errant road signs was first brought to my attention in the back-bar of Cassidy's Hotel in Dublin. An Irishman walked into the bar (cliche, I know) and told us the tale of 'The Six-Pint Leprechaun'. Apparently this cocky little bastard is responsible for the many unexplainable peculiarities that occur in Ireland. Turns out that National Roads are among his portfolio. I would instantly dismiss the notion as ridiculous, were it not for the fact that the details have been verified from several different sources from several different counties. Why six pints? According to the tale, you must consume six pints in order to see the little bugger which will ultimatley lead to his capture.

This is a photo of the main street of Kilkenny, which is Ireland's oldest medieval city. There are tunnelled pathways which lead between the streets with names like Pudding Lane and Butter Slip.

We drove from our B&B in Freshford, taking a different direction every day. Here are some of the highlights:

Visiting the ivy covered ruins of TIntern Abbey on the Hook Peninsula, the remains of the11th century priory in Kells and the impressive Rock of Cashel. Escaping the modern world at the Irish National Heritage Park where Norman and Viking invasions, Christianity and Celtic life is reenacted. Spending a sunny afternoon at the National Stud and Japanese Gardens oohing and ahhing over the cute little foals. Heading out on the scenic route through the mountains to meet the monks at Mount Malloray. And finally, driving the long way to Tipperary.