Cork

Reality exceeded my expectations, Cork was wonderful!

In short, it was a weekend full of great conversations; tasty Irish food and home baked bread and scones; music, song and guitar; something as random as a caravan-get-together(!!!!); wine and more good food; Lovely Irish people with a genuine interest of getting to know the Swedish girl; sleeping till late; lots and lots of rain; waterbottles and fires to warm cold feet; laughter; and a lot of motherly care from Mrs O’Donovan (she sent with homemade jam and coleslaw!) and she always said  “Love” or “Darling” with here warm and cheerful Irish accent, which melted my heart!

A great weekend! Thank you O’Donovan’s!

Outside the roads were floded, but inside a fire and an Irish meal made of smoked Bacon, cabbage and praties (potatoes) was waiting for us. It was delicious!
We sat down by the fire with a bottle of red wine, and got to know each other. After a while Tony, Mr O’Donovan, picked up the guitarr and entertained us with his music. Short after Fiona joined in by playing the fluit and sang. Oh Lord, she has a beautiful voice. Listening to the two of them singing and playing old Irish songs, was magical. Get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Tony let us wish songs. I wished for Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan I got.

We talked for hours, about life here in Dublin, in Sweden. About school, politics, music. And about Irish history in particular.
The strategic geographical location of Ireland has made the country an important pawn of the great powers. During centuries, the Irish people have have been so miss-treated, but have been fighting for their right to live.
Tony and Fiona sang many old Irish songs from The Famine, while Margret told me about the dark ages when the British Empire was starving the people to death. Only 170 years ago, in the 1840’s, the Famine took 6 million people. Actually more people than there is in Ireland today.

They sang “The Praties they grow small”, a song from that time.

They insisted on me playing something swedish. Played a short tune by Kent.

At 3,30 am, I was tucked in with 6 blankets and two water bottles.On Saturday we went out to Kinsale, and had a great walk to an old fort. Yet again they could tell about ages when the English, Spanish and Americans fought for Ireland. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs, so I don’t have any photos from that.

Lovely Tony, Margret and Fiona