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Outing

24 April, 2011
Posted in: Family, Ireland

On Saturday we went for an outing to the site of the Battle of the Boyne. Despite Mr. Waffle’s dubiety this proved a very successful expedition with an interesting exhibition, many cannons and some lovely parkland. And, as Michael pointed out to me, in great excitement, a map. The exhibition was very carefully done to reflect what is usually tactfully referred to as “both traditions”. It was underlined that Irishmen fought on both sides. There was no triumphalism and only sign of the unfortunate outcome for Irish catholics was a copy of this act without a great deal of further comment:
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The children were delighted by the interactive displays and the adults were interested. The occasion was only marred by an all too accurate description of the failed charge of the Jacobite cavalry. This led to the Princess moaning for the rest of the afternoon: “They killed the horses, they killed the innocent horses.” Pointing out that, as the battle took place some 320 years ago, the horses were long dead was of no comfort to herself. Even a picnic in the park in glorious sunshine was only a slight distraction from the nastiness of battle and the infinitely superior regime pertaining for horses in Narnia.
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After lunch we took ourselves off to the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey at Mellifont. The visitor centre was closed and I feared that we might not be able to get to the site itself but it was open and we saw it at its best. There were few other visitors and the weather was beautiful. The children occupied themselves filling their hats with gravel and we were able to lie on the grass admiring the surroundings and imagining the cloisters.
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At about 5 in the afternoon when we returned home, I had to go into town to pick up some things. Town was hot and heaving with people, most of them sweaty, red-faced, disgruntled children in buggies. I finished my errands in ten minutes and flew home borne up on the wings of smugness as I reflected on our glorious day in the country. I am sure that this is very bad but I’m past caring.

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Comments

  1. Heather says

    25 April, 2011 at 03:33

    I quite enjoy the photos and the stories of these trips you take. I feel like I’ve been on a small vacation (minus the sticky-handed, sweaty children). 🙂

  2. Mark T says

    25 April, 2011 at 09:41

    We went to the Boyne museum recently, and then went on to Drogheda, where they have, on display in the cathedral, the severed head of Oliver Plunkett. An obvious choice for the parents of small boys, I would have thought.

  3. eimear says

    27 April, 2011 at 08:45

    I felt a pang at the title of the Act – thinking it might have been better for me if it had still been in force! (feeling weary right now of being grateful all the time that I still have a job)

  4. admin says

    2 May, 2011 at 20:42

    You are very kind, Heather, it might be a bit like being trapped with holiday slides, I feel myself…

    Oh Mark, as discussed, clearly a missed opportunity.

    I KNOW Eimear, if only it hadn’t been repealed…

Trackbacks

  1. belgianwaffle » Critical Appreciation says:
    3 May, 2011 at 22:27

    […] Me: Guess what Daddy and I went to see in the cinema last night? Daniel and Michael: What? Me [Don't mock – even the teenage ticket vendor sneered at us]: Thor, God of Thunder Them [in unison]: And hater of hair cuts. Me [Trying to figure out some parts of the plot]: Who were Thor’s enemies that he defeated? Michael: The Jacobites. […]

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