Parade Day

Today was a slow day for me. Just the World Wool Handling round one. I was very pleased with how I did, 19th out of 29. Leanne also had a good showing for the USA placing 17th. 

The rest of the guys also had the first heats for the world machine and blade competitions. Our guys had a good showing and overall we are pleased:)

Alex Moser- Machine 26th (out of 49)

Mark Hoogendorn- Machine 31st 

Doug Rathke- Blade 13th (out of 20)

Kevin Ford- Blade 12th 

I also had the unique honor of taking part in a "Taste of Ireland" cook off with Colette against an Irish celebrity chef. I learned how to make Risotto and it won! 

It was a fabulous time:)

Had a chance to look around a bit today as well, saw some lovely Irish breeds in the breed display tent...

For Laura and Sara, Irish Texels!

Irish Rouge

Charollais...the devil...

The biggest boned Suffolk I have ever seen...

Random mix sheep...

Zwartables?!?

After that we took part in a parade through Gory. the weather was traditionally Irish being cold, drizzly, windy and very cold. We had some lovely Hurling kids (hurling is a sport here in Ireland that mixes hockey, lacrosse and rugby, it's brutal) escort us down the road. Since it was so cold I stayed warm by taking selfies with innocent bystanders:) 

Team USA

Our sweet innocent hurling escorts:)

Manager Selfie!!!

The parade route...

Random cop:)

The welsh team bringing up the rear:)

Sneak attack selfie/photobomb!

Team USA 

Holding up traffic selfie

Dinner at our Pub and met a lovely local who really liked Mark and Anna...

Nope she really just wanted Mark lol!!!

Day 3...Gorey Ireland

Things in Ireland couldn't be better! The flights here were on time and otherwise uneventful. Arriving in Dublin we were exhausted and jet lagged but we managed to find our rental van, find our way to the hotel in heavy fog and check in. Dinner at the hotel (which is quite a swank place) was amazing. Finding out that going to bed at 9:00 (4:00 pm EST) is pretty tough and waking up at 6:00 (1:00 am EST) really sucks. But other then that we are rocking and rolling! 

The weather has been quite a roller coaster, heavy fog, heavy rain, sunshine, more rain, cool and cloudy. 

The hotel we are staying at is called the Seafield, it is quite a place. Meals are gourmet, the rooms are lavish and it's right on the beach (on the Irish Sea).  

Yesterday we explored the lovely town of Gorey. Most of the businesses in town have adopted a country team and our team business is the Coachman. We had a lovely time walking around. 

The official proceedings begin this morning with a competitors meeting and tonight is the parade and gala dinner. I'm ready to wear a dress;)

Here are some photos taken over the last few days...hope you enjoy:)

All our luggage wedged into the renal car

Warning signs in Ireland tend to be pretty graphic...

Seafood chowder...bliss:)

Irish mutton stew...so good!!!