Waterford: Returning heroes

Waterford Castle, The Island, Waterford; tel: [phone]; waterfordcastle.com

THE Dexter bullock is a handy lad, far more a flyweight than even the milder Klitschko brother. Tiny by today’s standards it is descended from the hill cattle of the south-west of Ireland. It’s so petite it seems more like a strong calf of one of today’s commercial beef breeds.

Compared to the intimidating Panzer divisions of Simmentals, Charolais, or Belgian Blues catwalking, albeit muscle-bound and stiff, around country showrings, it is more like the little Shetland ponies that used to frisk excitedly, pulling on the bit, as Shirley Temple learnt to ride under the eyes of a doting, morning-suited papa.