Gaelic Football, My New Favorite Sport

So here I am, down in Skeheenaranky (don't worry, every time I try to pronounce it I mess it up too) visiting with the McGrath family. Life is wonderfully relaxing here, and I have no feeling of needing to rush off and go sightseeing.

I arrived down here on Thursday evening, in enough time to visit over a cup of coffee and then try to politely excuse myself and go pass out for the night. Wednesday night I barely slept at all, a combination of remaining jetlag, the nap I took earlier in the day, and my bedroom at the guesthouse being situated right next to a fairly busy street in Dublin. Oh well.

Friday:
Friday morning I found myself in Cork for the day, having rode in with Kitty since she works in the Library there. While Kitty was at work, I got the pleasure of spending the day around Cork, the 3rd largest city in Ireland. In search of a coffeeshop, I wandered down the street and found myself in an indoor market specializing in mostly meat cuts and pastries. There was a great cafe upstairs, overlooking the market, and I decided this would be the perfect start to my morning. I ordered scrambled eggs with bacon and tomato, and I must say it was the best breakfast yet in Ireland. Perfectly cooked eggs! The coffee was good too, and the first place where the staff actually walked around to top up coffee mugs. For those who know me well enough, you will realize what kind of heaven I was in =). I decided to continue reading my John Grisham novel, and spent a good hour over breakfast, eating and reading.

Next on my agenda was walking the streets of Cork, just trying to soak it all in. The main street in the city center is St. Patrick's street, and it is lined with plenty of shopping and restaurants (including such notable places as Burger King and McDonalds for all the tourists). I found myself in a bookstore and decided to purchase some more books as I was almost done with John Grisham. I remember now why I don't go into bookstores very often - I find it hard to walk out empty handed =) My purchases included a new John Grisham (Playing for Pizza - a complete departure from his normal lawyer/crime plots, and reads much like an inspiring sports flick where the struggling player/team is fighting the odds to win...), as well as some classics - Jane Austin. I never got the chance to read the book you let me borrow Alison (which I gave to my brother to return to you before it would get lost somewhere - so bug him for it if he has yet to return it to you). So now I am well equipped with reading material (of course, ask me at the end of my year how much of it I have read, as I am sure it will hit the backburner during school).

After some window shopping and book purchasing, I found a great coffee shop on St. Patrick's street that Maria had recommended, although I ditched the coffee for tea this time (any more coffee and I would have been shaking the rest of the day) and enjoyed some splendid time finishing my older John Grisham novel and writing in my postcards. From there, it was off to view the Crawford Art Gallery and walk past the Opera House. Finally, I figured it would be great to take another bus tour in order to see parts of the city beyond easy walking distance. It was another of those hop-on hop-off buses, and although I did not get off during the route (time was somewhat of an issue), I now know of a few places I would return to given the opportunity. Interesting tidbit - did you know Cork could theoretically be another Venice? The city used to be made up of numerous islands, but people built over the waterways to make it easier for traveling, so now a good chunk of the streets are built over water. For anyone contemplating going to Cork, a couple things worth checking out: St. Patrick's street obviously, the market I stumbled upon (entrances on both St. Patrick's - through an alley - and on Grand Parade - perpendicular to St. Patrick's), Crawford Art Gallery (it's free and easily doable in an hour), the Shandon area (on a hill, overlooking the city center - reachable by bus or walking), and the old women's jail (a stop on the bus tour). I did not go in the jail, but the bus tour people said it was their recommended stop.

Saturday:
Saturday was a day of rest (ok, I know that is supposed to be Sunday, but at least it’s close!), complemented by simply GORGEOUS weather (by Ireland standards). Everyone here said it hasn’t been this sunny in months. I would like to think I brought it with me from California, but somehow I don’t think I have that much pull with God and his weather plans…

The eventful part of the day was going into town (Mitchelstown, population approx. 8,000) with Katie and her friend Claire. Claire lives and works in Dublin now, but returns home to her family a couple weekends every month. So now I not only have a contact in Dublin, but also a potential ride down here to visit with cousins if I get the chance. We ran a few errands before heading back, and as it was such a nice day, Katie and I took her dog Kiara for a walk in the woods close by – a fantastic park in the forest with plenty of trails and gorgeous scenery. We enjoyed the outdoors until it was time to return for dinner. Dinner was of course meet (chicken) and potatoes, with cooked carrots. Dessert was coffee or tea with tea biscutts (essentially cookies). I think I could get used to this system! The rest of the day I spent relaxing and reading my new John Grisham book.


Ok, so by now you are probably wondering why I titled my blog "Gaelic Football - my new favorite sport!" without yet mentioning anything related. So here you go.

Sunday:
Maria and her friend were off to a “match” on Sunday, and I was offered the chance to go. The “match” was a hurling game, the final between the south counties for under 18 boys. Kitty was driving them, so I spent the match watching with Kitty. Hurling turns out to be a pretty entertaining sport. You get a stick to whack and carry a baseball-like ball, with the goal being to score points, either by whacking it into the goal (essentially a soccer goal) for 3 points, or by whacking it over the goal through the uprights for one point (picture a soccer goal with football uprights above). Plenty of rough hitting and LOTS of running. The ball is often whacked across field and then returned, and I can only imagine the shape people must be in to play this sport. Thankfully, the Skeheenaranky team won handily, and all was well.

Upon returning to the McGrath’s house, it was time for dinner (same line of meal – only this time beef with a gravy-like sauce to go with the potatoes and carrots. Oh and I though of you Kevin, as the gravy contained very delicious onions and mushrooms…yummmmm). Following dinner though, was the all-Ireland Gaelic football championship, pitting a team from Northern Ireland against the team from Kerry. Apparently Kerry was the 2-time champions, going for a third title in a row. To best explain Gaelic football, it’s virtually like Hurling, although there are no sticks. Instead of a baseball-size ball, it’s more of a soccer-size ball. Teams spread the field and move like soccer, but the ball is carried and bounced and sometimes kicked. Another fast-paced, high scoring game. Points are scored just like in Hurling above, 3 for a goal in the net, and 1 for a “field goal.” I saw this is my new favorite sport, because it’s a sports-lovers dream. Fast paced, you get to use both hands and feet, the scores are high (so far a mix between football and soccer), and a little hockey action gets thrown in with the several “disagreements” that tend to break out between players. Talk about entertaining! Of course, people down here were disappointed, as Kerry gave up a few crucial points in the last few minutes, giving Northern Ireland the win. At least I will have discussion points with people I meet since I saw the match (don’t worry, I will try to sympathize and go on about how the ref cheated Kerry out of well-deserved penalties…).

Wow, I have now officially rambled on for 1500 words (why were papers for college never this easy?) and should give you all a rest from reading this jumbo (assuming of course, that anyone is actually reading…lol). I hope you are all well, and best wishes to my sister today as she moves into her dorm for college! Just remember to study a bit Em…hahaha.

Til next time!
Liz
P.S. I have several pictures to add, but the internet here is slow, so I will upload them later this week when I return to Dublin!