St Patrick's Day

The Grassmarket today was a riot of green and white balloons and people wearing leprechaun hats. There was a party atmosphere at Biddy Mulligans as I passed on my wander.

We don't celebrate St Patrick's day at the castle despite some of his Lordship's paternal ancestors having arrived in Scotland from Bailieborough in County Cavan during the early part of the 19th century. The Scottish element in his forebears must have won the battle of the genes.

A few years ago on what must surely have been the hottest week in the history of Eire, when the tar was melting on the roads, we camped and cycled round Bailieborough, hoping to find a family link, but our search was fruitless. It appeared that there was no one bearing the family name left in the area and so we must suppose they all emigrated to the jute mills in Dundee.

We did find a lot of fine pubs though and of course Guinness is good for you though it makes for a bit of unsteadiness on the bikes.