They don't make 'em like they used to - they wouldn't dare. A. O'Reilly has been selling tripe since 1910.
I do love the idea of being in Ireland.
Mevrouw T and I arrived this morning and will be spending the best part of the next fortnight here. I’m sure we’ll have some foine toimes.
When I googled Cork for images of the city, the most striking ones were not photographs, but paintings of rows of charming brightly-coloured terrace houses.
Our first impressions didn’t quite match up to that. Cork is a little run down and grey, with nondescript buildings lining the grimy River Lee.
To be sure, there's a splash of traditional Irish colour in these pubs, but...
...the signs are advertising Heineken and Warsteiner.
We circled the centre of town several times trying to find a parking spot. All street parking required a ‘disc’. We didn’t know what that was, but we did know we didn’t have one.
Finally we resorted to the underground carpark (EUR2.80 per hour) and set off on foot.
Cork's shopping streets at first appear little different from many in the world, though it's nice to have one which is car-free.
We loved to come across politically incorrect shops like this one…
Not that we actually bought any lollies there, mind you.
The photo at the head of this post was taken at Cork’s English Market, where supplies of vegetables are limited, and butchers’ shops abound.
We don't eat so much meat these days, but we are looking forward to some black and white pudding.
Tomorrow we’ll spend the day in Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic. Then we’ll be visiting Kinsale and Skibbereen before taking the ferry out at Cape Clear Island for their annual Storytelling Festival, and finally going up to Dingle Peninsula for a few days hiking.
It all sounds terrific, so stay tuned.
The writer was a guest of the Irish Tourist Board.
Hmmmm, tripe!
Are you heading up to the Connemara, Richard? If so, you and the Mevrouw should try to see The Guard (movie), which is very good and set there.
Connemara is not on the itinerary this time, Jonathan, though I’ve been there before and loved it. Will look out for The Guard.
The Dingle peninsular is magnificent, in fact Irelans west coast and The Ring of Kerry where the green craggy coastline rolls into the sea is my personal favourite area of Ireland.No wonder dear James Joyce was so inspire! Dingle has about twenty pubs as well ( such a bonus). Have lunch at Ireland’s oldest pub there- it’s a real treat!
Looking forward to Dingle very much, and the pubs in particular, since I’ve brought my fiddle with me.
Just hope I’ll meet some musicians prepared to put up with my erratic playing for a little while.
In the Dingle peninsula you could head out from Dingle town toward Slea Head and the village of Ballyferriter if you are lookin for the most beautiful scenery anywhere ever.