This was a long Saturday full of work for everyone. By the time Grace had dinner started everyone was back in the cottage cleaning up for the evening. Barry had finished first and was going through the little scraps of paper from the desk where Grace had found the Seamus Heaney lines of poetry.
Barry stood in the doorway of the kitchen and startled Grace with his voice, “Grace, you would not believe what all was in that drawer. There are pieces of prose, poetry, writings, and a few sketches. I recognize some of the poetry, but not much of it, and have no clue about the sketches, or other writings. I'd like to take some of it back with me to see if I can find out where it came from, or who wrote it. I highly doubt that Seamus Heaney actually wrote those lines on that scrap of paper, but you never know. I know this is a stretch, but what if your grandmother's cottage was like a haven for writers? I could see where they might want to get away from it all for a while. You really need to find her guest registry.”
“Come on Barry,” Grace replied as she put the soda bread in the over, “ this hardly seems like a retreat for the arts. I"m sure my grandmother would have said something to me about having famous guests. But you are welcome to study whatever scraps of paper you'd like.”
Barry just stood in the doorway and shrugged his shoulders. “Like I said, you never know.”
“Nuff talkin here,” called Kelly as she pushed past Barry into the kitchen. “We all need to help Grace tonight, she's been working all day like the rest of us. What can I do to help, hon?”
“Kelly, it's really all ready except for the bread. I decided to make a fresh loaf for dinner. Do you want to open another bottle of wine? It's over on the counter. And please pour Barry a glass as he's got too many delusions about this cottage running through his head,” Grace laughed.
After another delicious dinner from Aine's recipes the group decided to explore the area for a pub with the hopes of some music. Just as they arrived near the south end of town they found Rafters Restaurant and Friel's Bar. It was the perfect spot for some good music. They were glad it was close to the cottage on the dark country roads for when they headed back late that night.
It was dark and a little musty inside from the turf fire that they had going, even though it was not that cold. The group took a table they found empty and the guys ordered drinks at the bar and brought them to the table. This was not like any of the posh Dublin pubs that they frequented on the weekends.
The pub was not large, but sufficient enough so that six to eight musicians could sit at tables for a session and there was plenty of room for patrons at a few tables and seated at the bar. While it had that homey feel, you could tell it was recently refurbished with beautiful wood floors and slightly darker wood wall panels. The seating was a combination of chairs and short stools. The bar area looked original with its darker wood work and amazing craftsmanship.
The stone walls were covered with a plethora of pictures and memorabilia. This pub had been passed down through four generations of the Friel's family. Out of curiosity Barry spent quite a while studying the pictures that were posted and came back to his seat shaking his head again.
“Grace, I'm telling you that you may have a diamond in the rough with that cottage, and I'm not so sure you should rush to sell it until you find out more about the guests who stayed there. These walls are filled with pictures of well known writers, poets, and the like. I just wonder where they stayed when the came to this pub. Might be worth talking to the pub owner.”
“Okay, okay, Barry. I'll check into it. But tonight I want to relax and enjoy an evening with my friends. Tomorrow afternoon you will all be heading back to Dublin without me. I still have another week here to get things in order,” Grace sighed knowing she might not ever be finished getting things in order.
The musicians straggled in and the rest of the night was spent in friendly banter and listening to some wonderful traditional music.
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