Four-legged Friends

While we interfaced with some very nice people along the way in our explorations of Ireland, it did not always seem right and proper to snap their pictures. However, we found the animals to be much  less squeamish about that sort of thing, to the point that some of our four-legged acquaintances  were actually quite forthright in extending hospitality.  

A herd of cows spilling out into the roadway (not uncommon for them nor for the many sheep dotting the hillsides) took our fancy in the low light of one particular late afternoon. Because they seemed to be forming a welcoming committee, we pulled the car to a stop and began clicking the shutters of our cameras. Dutifully, the bovines, like lumbering fashion models gave us side and rear and head-on angles, tilting their heads as if curiously trying to understand our "cow-talk". Closer and closer they ventured until they were almost nuzzling the car.

Grassy-roads, by the way, are the name we gave to those country by-ways less-traveled that allow the grass to grow in the center of the road, thus inviting grazing animals to meander right down the middle.  These highways  actually show up on maps and the "larger roads" are often without a centerline which makes meeting a passing vehicle coming in the other direction, shall we say, interesting on a curvy mountain road. (But more about that if we get to talk about the Wild Atlantic Way road trip.)

Back at the Murray Castle House Bed & Breakfast we learned from the proprietor that a friend's new Mercedes had recently been affectionately boxed out (for lack of a better term) by one of the cows, to the tune of several hundred dollars worth of repairs. Eeeek! Glad the only souvenirs we took away were mug shots and a peek at these two calves with their mamas engaged in a play date.

The sheep, also very nonchalant about motorists, are not wearing those colored spots because they have been using their cute little bums as a chamois for buffing the passing cars. No, no. Sheep are sprayed with an identifying color by their shepherd. I kind of did not like what this did to my images, but the abounding woolen industry probably has more than pretty picture-making aesthetics to worry about. The sheep graze freely during summer months, and are then rounded up, separated ala their color-coding (I guess that's called shepherded) and sent back home for the winter.  The gathering-in must look like something straight out of Heidi.

PS 

Even dogs sometimes pull up to tea time in Ireland. Charlie did not get a slurp of Rob's soup, though he did look pitiful indeed. But I am pretty sure he was the happy recipient of bread and jam from the little boys at the next table.

PS again

But rest assured, dogs are more welcome in the tearoom, than raising havoc in the sheep folds. Caught this signage as a word to the wise.