Holidaying in Ireland

Last evening, as i strolled alone through the busy streets of Killarney after enjoying a lovely meal in one of its many restaurants, i could not help but feel like a tourist myself. I am presently on tour with a lovely family and i am enjoying it just as much as they are. I dined alone in my favourite Thai restaurant. I left my clients to enjoy time alone after i had settled them in my favourite Italian restaurant, Robertino's. They had spent a couple of days in Dublin before they met up with me and they were disappointed with their choice of places to eat. On our first day travelling together we had lunch in Cashel in County Tipperary. It was superb and they were thrilled with my choice in Cashel. A couple of them had chicken and mushroom pie and the rest of us had the roast beef. The home-made bread and butter pudding to finish off was just out of this world....and i got the recipe. It was all delecious. Since then they have become ardent fans of Irish food....you just need to know where to go. I think that most places are fine but some are outstanding and it takes a little time to get to know where they are. I have had to experience many different choices to fine- tune my selections and this undoubtedly is another very good reason for choosing this car and driver. You can read all your tour guide books and follow their recommendations and never be sure as to why they are really promoting a particular place to eat or to stay. I never look for back-hands and all i want is for my clients to be happy as we travel. I am looking forward this morning to finding out just what my present clients thought of Robertino's last evening. Personally i love their food and i am a great fan of Italian food myself. This present group have Italian ancestry and are much better qualified than i am to judge it so it will be interesting to know how they got on. I will let you know later. As for myself and my Thai meal.....i had a really great bowl of hot spicey chicken soup, succulent King prawns with plum sauce, and fried egg noodles with spring onion. It was great and i felt like a king as i strolled through the streets of Killarney to the sound of great Irish music calling me through the open doors of the many pubs i passed. Where else would you find the likes of it? It was not just the number of open doors i stopped to listen at....it was the quality of the music i heard, and i think that, as a musician myself, i am qualified to comment. I ended up in O'Donoghue's pub beside the Killarney Towers Hotel and thoroughly enjoyed listening to a band called Onura. They are a very talented group with some great versatile musicians and i will make a point of going to hear them again. All this entertainment is free and the pubs are great. I personally do not drink, but that was not a problem either as i was able to relax and enjoy a lovely Cappuccino. I always feel that i owe it to the management to contribute towards their entertainment and i never take up a seat without putting my hand in my pocket. They need to cover their costs and i play my part. As i made my way back to my hotel i stopped outside many of the open pub doors just to listen for a moment to their entertainers and i could have walked into any of them they sounded so good. I could not help but feel that our visitors to Killarney are indeed well catered for. I would also like to add that i did not for one moment feel that the entertainment was tailored in a "touristy fashion" for the Yank. No......an Irishman like me could enjoy it just as much. This was real Ireland being presented as it really is. Well done Killarney.....and i have two more nights here still? It's a hard life is it not?
Tonight i will be bringing my party to my favourite show....The Liam O'Connor Show in the Avenue Hotel here in Killarney. Liam is an accordionist of renown and his band and dancers provide an unforgettable night's entertainment. If you are in Killarney make sure to put it on your list of " have to do's". I have been many times, and tonight, i will go again.....that's how good it is.
Now i better get ready for my breakfast.....a full Irish again. The things i have to do just to survive.