The Western Club trip this year was to southern Ireland,
flying from Liverpool. After a very early start the coach met us at
Dublin for our first stop at the Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow for lunch
and a look around the house and superb gardens in the sunshine. We were certainly not disappointed. After a restful stop we moved on to the calm
serenity of Glendalough with it’s Monastic City and the beauty of the two
lakes. Some took the opportunity to walk
to the Upper Lake, others took a circular route and most of us finished in the
Glendalough Hotel for the first taste of Guinness before travelling to Naas for
the first of two nights stay and a meal together.
The next morning we made our way to the Irish National
Ploughing Championships at Tullamore. We
had come well prepared for the famous Irish mud but again had a sunshine-filled
day with the ground relatively firm underfoot (that changed for visitors the
next day after heavy rain). What a show
and an example to us all in the UK in how to support the agricultural industry
– we would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.
On day three we visited the National Stud in Kildare where
we saw some very expensive animals, before moving on to Dublin. Some of us visited the new Pearse Lyons
distillery in Dublin, others the Guinness exhibition or took a wander around
the city. Many took the opportunity to eat
at the hotel’s Celtic Nights show, featuring Irish dancers and singing – a very
entertaining evening. The next morning
gave free time to look around Dublin before heading home that evening.
Two days later we enjoyed the Combined Calf Show (Western,
Shropshire, Staffordshire), our qualifier for All Breeds All Britain. The standard of the calves and showmanship
was extremely high and thanks go to all involved in any way. Next stop Malvern!
Our Herd Competition dinner will take place on 30th
October where our Judge, Mr Ian Scarisbrick, will give us his thoughts before
the presentation.
