Muckross estate: 30 June 2008

I was extremely impressed by the Muckross estate. As an interested hunter I could not believe the amount of space that the Earls of Kenmare had available to them. I would have loved to be a guest and go out with them. The main target for the Earls was Red Deer. I saw a few of them on a tour later in the day and they are enormous, much larger than the White-Tailed Deer I am used to back home.

Of course I have never actually shot a deer but I would imagine it would be a good time. It would be an especially good time at the Muckross estate because there is a gamekeeper, a pack of dogs, horses to ride on and a brilliant hunting lodge to head back to regardless of the outcome of the hunt.

There is also an enormous lake on the property. It is a glacier lake so it is quite deep. There are plenty of little coves to go fishing in as well. Apparently the water is frigid. That means better trout fishing, and with the depth I would bet there are some pretty large lake trout hanging out down there. With all of the fields around there must also be grouse and quail to be flushed out by smart Brittanys, like Clare.

All of this was available to these ridiculously wealthy people. And to think, the house was built for 30.000 pounds in 1843. One day I am going to go to a small country and buy and enormous estate for hunting. Ah, the romance of it all.