Day 11 It's a mystery!

It's a mystery!

Well the day started off in a strange way.... When I woke up I went to get my dressing gown out of the cupboard and I was greeted by all these little balls in the bottom of my cupboard. In fact it was not the first time. It happened yesterday and I just wondered where they all came from and went and got the vacuum cleaner and cleaned them all up. They are like little polystyrene balls - like you would find in a bean bag.

Anyway this morning, they upped the ante because this time there was action as well!!!

So, was this a poltergeist, or was this the leprechauns, or was it a little animal digging vigorously and somehow manufacturing these little balls?????

The things that you find on your travels. Anyway, after Mass I went down to the property managers and show Julia my video. She couldn't believe it either!!! We were all astonished.

So she sent Steve around to see what he could do. He said in his 20 odd years of property management he had never seen anything like that....

But I think I might have found my third second best friend, because I think he has solved the problem with a heap of Selley's gap filler !!

Steve said that in Ireland they fill the cavities between the walls with these little polystyrene balls so that they act as insulation. And there was a little gap in the corner of my cupboard, so his theory was that there was quite a fierce wind blowing and somehow that wind had connected with that gap to send out that that stream of little balls. Truly amazing!!!!

Steve solving my mystery!

So this travel is just full of surprises - you just never know what you're going to encounter next!

At this stage, all is quiet on the wardrobe floor front!!! 

So after that exciting start to the day, what could I do to match that!

It was nearly one o'clock now, so I knew my options were limited, but I did have a plan.

One of the reasons I came to Lahinch was to find out more about my family history.  I knew there was a place in Corofin that was specifically devoted to finding family trees in County Clare. So that was my target for the afternoon.

Map from  Lahinch to Corofin

Two mistakes in that :

1. They closed for lunch between 1 and 2 pm, as many place do in Ireland!

2. You can't just walk in off the street - you have to make an appointment.

But I had a chat to the lady and I'm going back tomorrow at 2pm.

Not sure if I'll go ahead with it though because it is quite expensive. And I've done a fair bit of research, as have many of my cousins, which we have shared. I only need a few clues, not a whole family history. So we will see what tomorrow brings.

Corofin Heritage Centre

While I was waiting for them to return from lunch, I went for a mosey down the street. It's a lovely little village - like a lot of other Clare villages.. with all the shops on the main street.

Corofin Village

Corofin Village

So now it was only around 2.30 pm, so I'm thinking what next???

The people in the Heritage Centre had give n me a map with a few ideas, and one of the places not too far away was called Dysert Castle, so I headed for there. Had a bit of trouble with GPS,  and sort of ended up back in Corofin at one stage, but I stopped and bought some petrol and had to sort out which phone was connected to car GPS - all a bit tricky. I suppose the moral of the story is - don't have too many phones!!!

Anyway I arrived eventually and had a lovely chat with the people at the desk in the castle. I have found all the Irish people so friendly and always on for a chat. Even in the street, just as you pass people they smile and say hello. 

Dysert Castle

I've captured a few articles from the pamphlet that goes with the castle - it might help explain where this fits into Irish history

The Battle of Dysert O'Dea

Dysert Castle info

Or you can view their website https://dysertcastle.ie/

So, from what I can gather the Castle was built around 1480 AD, and was the home of the O'Dea chiefs until 1692. It was the scene of many sieges by the Crown forces.

But the Battle of Dysert O'Dea - which co-incidentally was on today's date in 1318, was between the Brits - Richard de Clare and the O'Dea clan. The O'Deas used some clever tactics and Richard de Clare was felled by the axe of Conor O'Dea, thus allowing Clare to remain free from English domination for another two centuries.  Yay!!!

I taught some O'Deas in Mt Lawley - wonder if they are related??

Here's a few pics from the castle..  

Dysert Castle

Dysert Castle

Dysert Castle

Dysert Castle

The lady at the desk warned me about the 88 steps to the top, but she also said there were lots of stops on the way with the various displays - so I risked it! Mind you I clung on to the iron railing that went with the very steep stairs. And the view from the top was lovely. Bit breezy up there though! I was clinging on to my phone/camera!

View from the top

View from the top

View from the top

So once again, the day did not turn out as planned, but it certainly had lots of interest!!! 

And I experienced something never seen before in Clare, with my little mystery!!

PS Forgot to add this in the Corofin section - thought of my cousin Betty in Bendigo and all the Hogans up there...

Hogan's Bar in Corofin

PPS Had lovely dinner with Marie Shannon (nee Curtin) at the Atlantic Hotel tonight. It turns out we were sitting next to her cousins from  America on her Mum's side.

Dinner at the Atlantic Hotel

There are rellies everywhere in Lahinch!