During my recent visit to Ireland in May, 2006, I had the pleasure to spend one night in the Ballinkeele House (visit their Web site at www.ballinkeele.com.) One of the historic, private houses included in the "Hidden Ireland" collection of country homes turned into inns (see www.hiddenireland.com.)
The Ballinkeele House has eleglantly furnished rooms with high ceilings, much art work on the walls, and is surrounded by hundreds of acres of fields and ancient barns. Walking through these beautiful rooms, I felt like I had gone back in time.
The room I call "Tea Room" is in the back of the house and, actually, looks out over gardens and lush fields. To add drama, I decided to "move" the house to the southeast coast near Dunabrattin Head just below Waterford. Dunabrattin Head is the strip of land in the distance in the painting.
-- Edward Gordon