Day 5 - Coach Tour

Breakfast is one of the best ever - five star in all aspects. We are led to a table in the impressive conservatory facing the street and the park opposite and with a glass ceiling above and glass walls facing out. Service is A1. It is heaven and we want to spend the day there. My favourites are the fresh grapefruit pieces, natural home-made yoghurt, mulberry and blackberry sauces and the tea and coffee served in individual silver pots which stay hot. We don't touch the black or white puddings on serving trays at the buffet. They are part of the traditional Irish Breakfast.
We set out for the laundrette and the guy offers to put our washed clothes into the dryer for us. All up, only 12 Euros. Great. While we wait, we walk along the main shopping street, and though searching for a pair of scarely found these days screw-on earrings for Mum, I end up buying earrings for myself in one of the Op shops.
We pass by Enda's door and see the words: 'Forgotten, but not gone'. This little old lady ( I imagine she was) has an Oscar Wilde quote above her lintel: 'I have the simplest of tastes; I only want the best'. Love it!
On the way back along the canal, I take photos and encounter a fabulous statue of a 1920's gentleman sitting on a park bench with his hat beside him. A young man is about to stride past, but instead throws his bag down and sits alongside. I ask if I may take a photo. He smiles to indicate a Yes and tells me he didn't know why he sat down here but 'I just couldn't help myself'.
We meet our Tour Group at 4.20pm in the afternoon when we board the bus on our way to Nancy Hands Pub for a traditional Irish dinner.

This is our Welcome Reception and a chance to meet the other travellers - mostly Americans, Canadians and just a few Aussies. The Pub decor is interesting, with large advertisements on mirrors from decades ago and chapel stalls for seating. I am quite at home on these seats. Lots of déja vu.
A couple of free drinks tonight along with traditional Irish fare. The waiter is very attentive and checks on my gf status. The Irish stew is tasty enough, but we are remembering our butter chicken and beef korma curries. Maybe we are spoilt at home.
They do their best to give me gluten free but unfortunately I forget to add my intolerance to shellfish. On top of one healthy-looking salad are three prawns on skewers. Of course they have touched everything underneath. Oh no! I can't afford to be ill at this stage of the trip, so have to forego even the salad. Tony is happy to eat the shellfish. I do enjoy the tasty appetisers on gf breads.
Our Tour Leader, Peter, is definitely Irish and a natural raconteur, and in between giving us important information about our trip on the bus rides to and from the restaurant, has us laughing continually with his stand-up comedy. He says he is appalled at people who can eat ox tongues, part of traditional Irish fare. He himself would never dream of eating anything that comes out of something's mouth. Says he can only eat eggs!