Well what a big day! Hired a car in Dublin and headed to try to find my great grandfathers house. Drove through Dublin in peak hour and was pretty easy except for a couple of wrong turns. The ten euro spent on a sim for iPad was well worth it. Actually noticed iPad at duty free was only 490 for wifi and 3G. Anyway Matthew had maps working on iPad and some of the roads we went on we're about 3 meters wide at best. At one stage a truck came the other way and virtually had to stop to see if we could get past. Then the gps said we had reached our destination but there was no town around so went and knocked on a door and a lady answered. I showed her a photocopy of the house and see said it was the Brophy house are you related got directions and headed off. Stopped an old fellow as directions seemed wrong. He also said you're not related to Tom Brophy are you. Anyway drove down this little alley and came to a dead end and there it was. He was waiting for us as the bush telegraph was working well. House was in original condition from when my great grandfather lived there. An old bachelor of 82 but knew about the Brophys who had moved down under. Then his nephew showed up and had talk to him. Don't think he wanted us to go but had to get to Coolmore.
Walked into Coolmore and was shown to the boardroom where we were served soup and club sandwiches for lunch. Gerry Aherne came in had a chat then showed us around the place. Amazing place 500 work there and Matthew was bitten on the arm by the worlds most expensive horse Galileo. Insured for 100 million and stands for a fee of 300,000 euro. Really enjoyed that and have got down to Blarney at about 4.30. Had a Guiness and is certainly different to Aussie version. The local are a laugh a minute. Having a look at Blarney Castle tomorrow not sure whether I'll kiss the stone as its supposed to give you the gift of the gab.