Chic and Improv, Wicklow Mountains, Chores!

June 13th, 2010- The Fool's leave Athlone for Dublin for a short gig at the trendy and hip Shebeen Chic! We first stop off at Gary and Linda's for late lunch. Linda out did herself again, filling the Fools to the brim with delicious homemade soup and sandwiches followed up by boiled fruit cake. Not the fruitcake you give to the in-laws for Christmas, not by far. Fruitcake flowing with richness and flavour (with a U even!), melting in you mouth. Gary and Linda spoil us with attention and little Ella entertains us with song and play-dough sculptures.

That night we have a late spot at the Shebeen Chic. This is a handsome little bar where they have comedy on Sunday nights. The Fools had some nerves and were playing for a fairly international audience, but came out with a decent performance. Elaine (Rita's sister) cheered us on from the audience, our first groupie!

June 14th, 2010- The Fool's had breakfast at their hostel. Avalon House was miles beyond in quality compared to Shelia's hostel. Clean and filled with people, we all got decent rest and headed out town for a group adventure to the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin. After winding through Dublin (really the first time in three weeks we actually got lost) we made our way to the gorgeous countryside. Ann found a good trail for us and we took to it. Lou took off like a rabbit up the well-kept trail. The group stopped and constantly was overcome by the fantastical beauty of Ireland's nature. Being from Colorado, that is a tall order, but those mountains and forest had quite a bit of magic in them. The Fools headed to Roundwood for a good meal for nearly all of the group except Ann, who was foiled at every turn. Being gluten intolerant can make it difficult to eat out sometimes, especially when the menu claims to have gluten-free (sometimes spelled glutton) items that are chock full of gluten. We do manage to get Ms. Flynn fed and we drive back to Athlone.

(Shots from the Wicklow Mountains)

June 15th, 2010- A day of earning our keep! The Fools set to doing tasks around the house for our hostess, Mary. The gang loaded up the rental cars with things to be recycled and dumped and Lou and Austin fix the front and back gates to the house. Rita and Mary paper the town for the performance of Brilliant Traces on the 23rd while Laura spends the day writing postcards for friends and family back home.