Ha! In my search for a place to eat that first night, I actually tried to get into a pizza place that looked great, but they were fully booked. On a rainy Wednesday night in February! I like thinking it was the one in 9-year-old you's memory!
Haven't been to the city of Cork but can attest to the Irish craic! Also soooo much truth with the last bit about having meaningful conversations with strangers.
Great story about Cork. Loved Cork and Kinsale and the food there. The weather? We were there in July many years ago in the middle of a heat wave. Many beers were consumed to make up for the lack of even a fan.
This made me laugh out loud! It’s been a few decades since I’ve been to Cork (and Kinsale!) but I will never forget how my friend and I were at a pub at closing time. We thought we had to leave but found out, no, actually, it just closed to any new customers. We could continue to order drinks and chat until we were done.
I too am an introvert who enjoys spontaneous conversations that are about real things rather than small talk. I wish I were there with you, but this is the next best thing. The idea that someone in Ireland may still know of my great grandmother, Mary Hogan, who came over to Ellis Island around the same time as that woman’s lost aunt intrigues me.
Oops, as I was saying … especially Catholicism—would come over at the drop of a hat. But she would talk and talk, and it’s morning and I’m still on coffee. She would also want a wee glass of wine, but only one, which would end up being three. Maureen mops her floor on her knees with a glass of wine, but just a wee one. I don’t judge but, no, she cannot come over right now. At this moment, I want a Finn who would sit quietly and look at my feet.
I don’t care what you do as long as you keep writing. Sitting by fire on foggy morning on North Fork of Long Island convinced I’m in 🇮🇪
I could be, too, because Maureen across the street—a former nun with a PhD from University of Puerto Rico who, like a good ☘️ person gates clergy and, in her particular case, all religion especially Catholicism.
Enjoyed this ! I went to Cork once when I was nine and remember having great pizza 😆- it was good to go on a return trip here Thank you !
Ha! In my search for a place to eat that first night, I actually tried to get into a pizza place that looked great, but they were fully booked. On a rainy Wednesday night in February! I like thinking it was the one in 9-year-old you's memory!
Aww maybe it was ! I like to think so . I always used to talk about the Cork pizza 😆 I also remember nearby Youghal beholding a very pretty seaside .
Haven't been to the city of Cork but can attest to the Irish craic! Also soooo much truth with the last bit about having meaningful conversations with strangers.
There are so many places in the world I long to go, and yet, Ireland never stops calling...
I understand that!
Great story about Cork. Loved Cork and Kinsale and the food there. The weather? We were there in July many years ago in the middle of a heat wave. Many beers were consumed to make up for the lack of even a fan.
Thank you! Strangely enough, many beers were consumed on my trip too, and I didn't have the excuse of a heat wave. ;)
I'm from Cork, though I don't live there now. Made me smile a lot to read this, we're chatty folks!
Lucky you, to call Cork home!
This made me laugh out loud! It’s been a few decades since I’ve been to Cork (and Kinsale!) but I will never forget how my friend and I were at a pub at closing time. We thought we had to leave but found out, no, actually, it just closed to any new customers. We could continue to order drinks and chat until we were done.
Sounds like my kind of pub!
...and the weather, if I’m being diplomatic, was absolute shit.
And yet, I could not have loved Cork more.
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“What, on a Thursday?”
It wasn’t long before the whole restaurant was murmuring at this apparent glitch in the time/space continuum.
Loved this piece, Lisa. Oh, what can be learned by just sitting still and letting the world come to us. Cheers!
Thank you, Stacey! And yes, it's so true!
I too am an introvert who enjoys spontaneous conversations that are about real things rather than small talk. I wish I were there with you, but this is the next best thing. The idea that someone in Ireland may still know of my great grandmother, Mary Hogan, who came over to Ellis Island around the same time as that woman’s lost aunt intrigues me.
Thank you, Ben. Traveling to Ireland to ask locals if they've any connection to Mary seems an excellent reason for a trip!
Oops, as I was saying … especially Catholicism—would come over at the drop of a hat. But she would talk and talk, and it’s morning and I’m still on coffee. She would also want a wee glass of wine, but only one, which would end up being three. Maureen mops her floor on her knees with a glass of wine, but just a wee one. I don’t judge but, no, she cannot come over right now. At this moment, I want a Finn who would sit quietly and look at my feet.
I don’t care what you do as long as you keep writing. Sitting by fire on foggy morning on North Fork of Long Island convinced I’m in 🇮🇪
I could be, too, because Maureen across the street—a former nun with a PhD from University of Puerto Rico who, like a good ☘️ person gates clergy and, in her particular case, all religion especially Catholicism.
Thanks, Bill. Real or implied, Ireland is a good place to be. And Maureen sounds like a good time. (Just not, perhaps, all the time)
I’m sorry I said bad things about the butter museum. I didn’t mean it. I am eating more butter now and enjoying it.
No need to apologize--at least not yet. Have a whole separate post planned on the butter museum.
Surely as it isn’t the real Quasimodo, it must be the quaisi-Quasimodo?
Ha! Excellent point.
I had a lovely Irish colleague at SLV who now lives in Cork. It sounds like an excellent place
Most excellent!