FARMLEIGH

The State Guesthouse

August Bank Holiday means that there is a farmers' market on at Farmleigh. Helen wanted to go so that Timmy would have some time to work on his thesis for his school inspector qualification. We drove over to pick up Aimée and take her with us.

Farmleigh was the former residence of Lord Iveagh, a kind of townhouse set in 75 acres of parkland close to Dublin. The house and grounds were bought by the Irish Government when the Celtic Tiger was still roaring. The Government use the house to board foreign diginitaries, including Mrs. Windsor and her hangers on. Barack could have stayed there too had he spent more than 45 minutes in the country. In fact, he would have found it very comfortable since there are two completely separate suites for men and women - a nod to Muslim potentates like Obama.

We walked around the market enjoying sight and smell of the variety of foods now available in Ireland since the Lace Curtain fell and Ireland opened itself to the world.