Ireland 2010
We arrived home last night from our week in South East Ireland, stopping off for a meal with friends en route.
We stayed here at Knocktopher Abbey, near Kilkenny, in beautiful countryside.
One day we followed a looped trail, a 6km walk uphill and down dale, and just as we set off, this little fellow squeezed
under her gate and joined us. 
,
I thought she’d go back home when we turned the first corner, but no, she accompanied us the whole way round, pausing to to gaze back and check whether we were following. it was a bit tricky when we came upon the gate which said, “Strictly no dogs”, but she took no notice so neither did we. Also a hairy moment when she slid under a wire fence into a field of sheep, but there she sat for a minute or two, gazing at them, but not barking or chasing or worrying them at all.
At the top of the climb we came upon these standing stones. 
Significance unknown – probably an early religious site of some sort.
When we finished the walk, the little dog calmly scampered home!
Isn’t it great when you have an unknown and unexpected companion? I quite fell in love with her!