Day 6 - We Toured A Dairy Farm!

Today we traveled to Limerick where we will be staying in the elegant Strand Hotel. The first stop of the day?  The Molanna Dairy Farm. This farm has been in the Molanna family for hundreds of years. It still produces milk from over 100 cows every day.

We were greeted with coffee, tea, scones and sweet bread. As we looked around the home which is now converted into a bed and breakfast (now that the children are all grown and gone). Each of the 5 bedrooms have their own bathroom. It was a beautiful home!

The family took us through the older home on the property that was built in 1611. Our host explained that the home was built out of mud and clay with a thatched roof. It was so small that you didn't even have room to change your mind. Some of the family still live there today (although they are building a new home on the property to move into in the next 6 months).

The highlight was learning about the dairy process. As I said before, they have 100 cows. They must be milked twice a day, every day, 365 days a year. Each milking takes 3.5 hours so you have 7 hours each day of milking. Keep in mind, they still have to do the normal chores that you would expect with a farm. It's hard work and you never get a day off or a vacation. In addition, each dairy farm must report what they will produce in a year. If you produce over what you have reported, you are fined for each liter of overage. The system keeps farmers from mass producing, but it also keeps them from progressing. Because of this, you have less and less family wanting to continue the family tradition. Click here to hear a short film that has been uploaded to our alumni Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=2342760971118. You can hear for yourself how the process works by one of the Molanna farmers. It is really interesting and so educational. You're going to love it!

Next stop of the day? The tiny town of Adare where we had some free time to enjoy lunch and a little shopping. This beautiful town not only is an attractive stop for the tourists, it is also a place that the locals who live outside of town come to. We did a little shopping and I enjoyed another cup of coffee.  Speaking of the coffee, I don't know why it tastes so good here, but I can't get enough of it.  Maybe it's the real whipping cream that they slather on the top. It's fabulous. A local told me not to expect cream like that back in the states because it is full of preservatives. Here in Ireland, it is fresh off a farm everyday. There is no need for the preservatives. Now that I am addicted to this wonderful coffee with fresh cream, I have a feeling I am going to have a hard time adjusting when I get back home.

On our way back into the town of Limerick, our tour guide pointed out King John's Castle. Not a popular king, he wasn't here very long but his castle remains. There is a bit of controversy regarding this castle. The city of Limerick built a modern building right in the middle of the castle. As you can see from the picture below, it's quite an eyesore against the beautiful castle.

Tomorrow will be another exciting day as explore the Cliffs of Moher and Galway. Tune in and read all about it!

King John's Castle. Can you see the modern building right in the center of it? What were they thinking???

Michael and Mary Beth Pacha with Sam and Susie Wright in front of the older home on the Molanna Dairy Farm.