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It was that time of year again, to celebrate Saint Patricks Day - and what better way to commemorate the occasion then by travelling to Ireland! To the beautiful county of Cork, which is famous for the Blarney Stone (the story goes if you kiss it, it will bring you a life long love). Also Cobh, the port which was the last stop of the Titanic, before departing on its fated journey.
Firstly let me rewind back a week before this. I was with my friend Adelaide - who is a little wee pocket rocket from Melbourne - and propsed that we should go to Ireland for St Pattys Day. Spontaneous as it was she agreed. Nek minit we had booked £150 return flights to Cork for 1 night (bit on the pricey side you may say but you only live once!)
We chose Cork because my 2 neighbours from my University days in Dunedin are working on a farm in Clonakilty, West Cork. We were a flat of 5 girls and they were a flat of 5 boys - we had a great neighbourly relationship. Which included them urinating into a plastic bag until it was full and hanging it on our door so we got a lovely surprise when we opened it the next morning. Also putting numerous amounts of shopping trolleys on our roof and getting our flat on the front page of the Otago Daily Times - delightful young men.
We flew out of Stanstead Airport which is pretty much in Ireland anyway, the day started of well sampling some alcohol in the duty free lounge. 3 shots later and Adelaide was on the phone ringing Australia and having a good yarn to her friends Dad Bruce, that she had not spoken to since she had left months ago.
Made it to Cork in good time, missed the safety demonstration on the flight and woke up when we were landing on the runway (not sure if this was from the shots we consumed or having to leave home at 4.30am to make it to the airport on time). The beautiful landscape made me homesick as it was so green and similar to rural Southland, not like the concrete jungle of Londontown.
Pid, Horse, Diddle & Kitch picked us up from the airport in there babe magnet of a car - complete with a giant penis on the drivers side door drawn into the dried mud and the back boot filled with cow feed pallets. We did a big walk around Cork seeing all the sites, then straight to the pub. Lost my Guinness virginity, was not really a huge fan I must say - so moved onwards and upwards onto the vodka and cokes.
Had a maaaassive day on the beverages in out sweet green kits, even randomly meet up with 2 guys that had been on our Edinburgh New Years tour - small world. All the whiskey shots got the better of me and I had to admit defeat quite early on in the night, had to go home and have a wee kip and a wee chuck.
Flew back to Londontown in the afternoon, frustratingly missed our first bus back to London. We got on another bus and our crazy bus drivers opening line was "Hi my name is Mark - well it was last time I checked". I think you should be extremely proud of Adelaide and I for not murdering this ridicuously babbling man (that thought he was the worlds greatest comedian) in our hungover state. We were well tired (see what I did there putting in some english slang) but was worth the trip and the money was well spent.
Will definitely have to return to Ireland to explore this enchanting place - as I am not sure this one counts to be sure, to be sure.
- comments
The other manda Thats so cool you saw Stu! :)
Kurt My sons name is Mark
Justine haha
Kate fairbairn Delightful neighbours weren't they! Hope you said hello frm all of us! Love your blogs Manda, will catch up soon!
Mark Stevens Good on you booze hag, sounds funny as. That guy has let down all the men named Mark. Sorry about that - will have him excommunicated. You look like a wee lepro-corn in the photo.