Cork and Kinsale

The highlight of the long drive from Westport to Cork was a stop in Tuam for a coffee. I'm not sure we'd recommend this to anyone following in our tyre tracks, but we did see a cute gift shop.

The highlight of a lunch break in Tuam.

The next day in Cork city was a one of reminiscing and visiting old haunts.  Much has changed: Roches Stores has closed down, the side lanes are now full of bars and cafes and there are tourists everywhere.  There are still excellent buskers, a weird guy selling papers yelling "Echo, Echo...", and the Long Valley pub is exactly as it was when at least one of the Kerr sisters spent far too much time there in the 80's.

After a day out in the hot sun, which has been out everyday since we arrived, it was a relief to get back to our hotel room and get ready for the rugby. The less said about the AB's vs France the better.  The following day we picked up Molly from where she was now staying in Passage West and went to have a look around Monkstown, the Kerr's old hometown. The church where we were married was just the same. We considered renewing our vows, but couldn't find a priest!

Monkstown

We were married here 37 years ago

No 8 Belleview Terrace was looking a little unloved but the fence I built 37 years ago is still standing - the only wooden fence in Monkstown. 

The view from no 8 Bellview Tce.

Dara's old family home.

We enjoyed the view over the sea from Johnnie and Maeve's home at the top of the hill. They had invited us for lunch where we caught up with more of the old family friends. The harbour filled up with colourful spinnakers as yachts sailed past in the annual Cobh to Cork race.

After dropping Molly off at her grandparents in Douglas we drove to Kinsale, through narrow lanes lined with stone walls and overhanging vivid green vegetation.  We had our wedding reception in Kinsale, at Actons Hotel, and the village is still as pretty as ever. Tightly packed pubs and shops, winding lanes barely wide enough to drive through. An old harbour with yachts on moorings and in marinas. We stayed with Ann and Kevin up on the hill, an old Fort on the coast visible through the bedroom window. First up was more World Cup  Rugby, Ireland convincingly trouncing Romania. Ann and Dara went off for dinner at a reunion of their old high school mates from St Angela's. Kevin and I walked over the hill and along the ridge for amazing views of the setting sun and magic light on the water. The best of evening strolls ending in a friendly little old pub called the Tap Tavern, Kevin's local.

Kinsale.

The Tap Tavern.

The weather was still hot and dry on Sunday, and another reunion, this time with those class of 83 dentists who couldn't make it last weekends celebration. It was a long and tasty lunch with wine at the Montenotte Hotel, very formal, on the hill with a great view over Cork city. 

More rugby followed, Wales vs Fiji, with such a close finish ... I can see this world cup will be interesting.

We woke to get a Whats App message saying one of the people at lunch yesterday had tested positive for Covid.  I could see something was wrong when he couldn't finish his soup. Typical Irish humour:

Waiter: you haven't finished your soup Sir

M: you can take it away.

Waiter Didn't you like it?

M: No

Waiter: What was wrong with it?

M: Well the soup was off, the bread was stale, and the butter was melted. Apart from that it was OK.

We'll have our fingers crossed the next few days we don't get sick. We dodged a bullet after the first reunion at Waterford too, when one of the other dentists tested positive when he got home. As with home, all mandates have been lifted and virtually no-one wears a mask.

Our last day in Kinsale was another hot one, but great for a lovely walk through town and along the coast to Charles Fort.  This 17th century fortification is one of the largest in Ireland and we arrived just after huge bus load of tourist so didn't queue for the tour!

Charles Fort.

On the Scilly Walk to Charles Fort.

Actons Hotel where we had our wedding reception, and random cyclist photo-bomber.

After lunch we visited Tiernach's mum and dad, Maureen and Jim, for coffee in their home at Douglas. they were in great form and it was good to see them again.

Our efficient hosts Ann and Kevin organised one last reunion, with a couple of Dara's highschool mates who hadn't made it the weekend St Angela's reunion.  It was a very special evening (and sadly our last in Kinsale) with just the eight of us sharing drinks back at the cosy Tap Tavern. We were treated to a couple of verses of the "unofficial" St Angela's School song, which the others hadn't sung since school and their husbands had never heard before!

Thanks so much to Ann and Kevin for having us to stay.  Kevin - your Thai fish curry was amazing! I need to learn to cook!