FALLING IN LOVE WITH IRELAND 1 - by Carolina Valdez

16th Century Bunratty Castle on the Banks of the River Shannon, County Clare, Ireland
Ireland is a beautiful island, the largest of three off Europe. Despite Irish groans of a prolonged drought, to this southern Californian with Celtic blood, it looked very green. Rebuilt by the MacNamara clan in the 1500s, Bunratty was the first castle we entered. Earlier, I'd passed on kissing the famous stone at Blarney Castle. A long line on a hot, humid day and a crowded narrow staircase up, shared with people coming down, and no railing, did it for me. Claustrophobia and a fear of falling were too strong.

Bunratty was barren, stark and unimaginative except for the latrines in the corners. They emptied waste right into the river. No smell of "thunder jugs" here. I used it as the basis for a cheerier secondary castle in my medieval romance, Knight Of The Captive Heart.

The castle is part of a medieval folk farm village, and in its Durty Kelly's tavern our group experienced a ceili, an Irish social gathering with music and dancing. Reminiscent of the potato famine that drove so many to the United States, our meal was composed of potato salad, boiled potatoes, and another potato dish. If there was meat or fish, I don't remember either. The potatoes were the best I've ever tasted.

I braved dancing Irish jigs with men half my age to the sound of the Bodran, flute and pennywhistle. And I think I found the clan of my maternal ancestors and the plaid they might have worn. Unfortunately, the colors weren't those of my fantasies.

Carolina Valdez
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