Felicity’s Summer in Killarney — Chapter 6

A weekly series from Killarney Advertiser’s Jess Jukes

Felicity and Auntie Sheila went to meet Jack feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after their time at the spa. He was already sat at a table when they arrived.

“How was that?” he asked. “Oh it was lovely! Between the hiking the other day and the spa I feel like a new girl!”

They all sat and chatted quietly while they were served their tea and nibbles. There was still no news about Anthony, the hiker they had helped off Carrauntoohil. Auntie Sheila mentioned the annual garden competition in Hedgerow Place, and joked about how she would have to put Felicity and Jack to work in order to have the garden ready in time.

“Even if I don’t win anything,” she said, “Mrs Flaherty is sure to complain if my garden isn’t a pristine background for when they photograph her tulips.”

Felicity grinned and said “You talk as if she’s already won, but Mr McCarthy from No. 48 will give her a run for her money.”

The rivalry between Mrs Flaherty and Mr McCarthy was legendary within Hedgerow Place and the neighbouring estates. Mr McCarthy kept garden gnomes to decorate his lawn, and Mrs Flaherty despised them. She often loudly compared them to little devil-spawn.

Felicity, Jack and Auntie Sheila sent the afternoon quietly giggling and soaking up the atmosphere of the hotel. The tranquillity of Aghadoe was a marvel, especially so close to town. After enjoying the food and tea the trio made their separate ways home.

Felicity retreated up the creaky stairs to the guestroom, a small box room at the back of her aunt’s house. It was cosy inside, plush blankets covered the bed and a wardrobe stood in the corner. The lace curtained window let beams of light into the room, illuminating dust in it’s path.

Felicity was about to settle into the desk chair when she heard a loud meow. She paused, and sure enough she heard it again. After a few minutes of searching she found Socks inside her wardrobe. She had no idea how he had gotten there. She laughed as she scooped him up, giving him a cuddle and plonking herself down on her chair.

Felicity was enjoying the summer in Killarney. It was far from what she had expected, but she found that she didn’t mind. It would be a shame to leave Auntie Sheila’s when summer ended. At the start of the summer Felicity had worried over her parents banishing her to Kerry, but now she found she wouldn’t mind spending more time here in the future.

Felicity found that she greatly preferred Killarney to Dublin. Killarney was more friendly and bright. The air was cleaner and it was more relaxed.

She gently manoeuvred around Socks and opened her laptop. Talking about potential career paths to Auntie Sheila earlier today had left an impression. With how much she enjoyed Killarey, it was well worth considering basing her next steps here. Maybe she would send in that application after all.

Festival Time
A few days passed, and there was still no news in the Killarney Advertiser about Anthony. However, there were ads a-plenty. Summer was here and organisations were advertising festivals and events all over the town. One that caught Felicity’s eye in particular was Bikefest.

The hype around the event was incredible, and when she asked Jack about it he told her it was one of the best weekends of the year, as long as you weren’t trying to drive anywhere. Auntie Sheila gleefully agreed, saying she would much rather be at a tribute band concert singing her heart out than stuck in traffic orders of magnitude worse than the regular fare.

When Felicity had expressed interest in attending, Jack and Auntie Sheila had immediately pounced on the idea. They were checking the weather, looking for the line up in the Advertiser and discussing where to eat. It was decided that they were all going to go on Sunday and spend time in the sun listening to the live music. Jack and Felicity were determined to get Auntie Sheila onto some of the rides, much to her dismay.

On Sunday morning Auntie Sheila and Felicity met Jack at the bottom of the estate to watch the bike parade before retreating inside for a hearty Irish breakfast.

By the time they left the sun was shining in the sky, warm yet gentle with the light breeze that accompanied it. It felt like being hugged by the sun. As they left the estate, Jack turned around. “Sheila,” he asked, “is that your cat following us?”

Indeed, Socks was trotting behind them following them out of the estate. Auntie Sheila didn’t even glance back. “Almost definitely. Socks likes a good walk, don’t you Socks?” The cat stopped and meowed at them, as if denying any such thing.

Socks continued to slink along the pavement as far as Randles Townhouse before he disappeared into the housing sprawl.

The crowds of people at Bikefest were immense. It was hands down the busiest Felicity had ever seen. All ages could be seen around the festival. The group did a few round of the stalls, picking up little keepsakes. Auntie Sheila bought herself a new ACDC t-shirt.

They were standing near the entrance watching one of the organised ride-outs depart when Jack tilted his head. “Do you smell that?” he asked Felicity. She shook her head, but he was too busy peering over the crowd to see it. She saw his eyebrows shoot up as he left her and her aunt, making a beeline towards something Felicity could not see.

She said goodbye to her aunt, who laughed softly at her predicament. Felicity sighed in return and followed after Jack, wondering what sort of trouble they’d find themselves in next.

Herbert descendants visit Muckross House

Scott and Sandra Patterson recently visited Muckross House and Gardens to explore their family heritage, meeting with Muckross House Research Library archivist Patricia O’Hare.

The couple are the great-great-grandchildren of Charles Herbert (1842-1891), the second son of Colonel Henry Arthur Herbert and Mary Balfour. Following their marriage in 1837, Colonel Herbert and Mary Balfour moved to Killarney and began construction on the current Muckross House, which was completed in 1843.
The family, which included children Eleanor, Henry Arthur, Charles, and Blanche, spent much of the Great Famine years in England. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan