A Day Around Strokestown and More Music

 We’re finding that the best touring pace is one busy, travel day followed by a quieter day. So after being knackered from our day in Dublin we stayed around Strokestown.

While there are may be Famine museums throughout Ireland, the one here in Strokestown is said to be the best - likely what they all say about their hometown museums. This included the museum and the estate of the wealthy landowner who is said to have assisted his “peasants” to walk to Dublin in the hopes of getting on a ship to Canada. As you can imagine many died during the walk and on the ship.  It’s a wonder to me that they made it to Dublin at all given the condition they were in.

While the “peasantry” lived in mud huts, here is how the landowners lived.

The famine museum is overwhelming and unfortunately reminds us of how much famine still exists in the world today.

While eating lunch at the museum (irony noted) a couple of musicians showed up and played wonderful music. We almost passed on the museum tour just to  stay and listen. We recorded some for your enjoyment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8zFZr15hG0

We were lucky to have also visited a local pub out in the country nearby where we enjoyed another evening of a traditional Irish music session. It’s quite a colorful place with all kinds of artifacts that are either music or farm related. The photos tell it all.

This session started off with about 5 people and grew to a huge group as the night progressed. Even the patrons sitting around the room joined in, soloing or starting off their favorite tunes. They were singing and playing their hearts out! It was a great experience!