Kerry 1-19 Cork 0-9

Am not a big expert in GAA, but you don’t have to, to know that Cork’s performance this afternoon was shameful. They were there on the field today, but that was literally the only positive thing there is to say. When they were six points behind of Kerry, there maybe still was a little hope they could catch up, but after a Kerry goal and so 12 points behind the whole match turned into an exhibition game by Kerry on how Gaelic football is supposed to be played. An anti-climax of this year’s football season for Cork. All Corks hope now on the hurling team. They fortunately did make it to the All Ireland finale. Looking forward to that in two weeks.

The weekend is nearly over again. A good one. With another great Luka show. Got on the guest list. Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh is a great venue. It was like a big sitting room. With windows on two sides of the room. View on the harbour. Seeing the sunset on the background. The sky first turning pink, after that beautiful blue and eventually black. Luka played some great songs, he didn’t perform live for a long time. Lonesome Robin, Love is a place I dream of, a new song about the IRA declaration and my all time favourite Exploring the Blue…The atmosphere was great. The audience was completely into it. After the concert we went for a quick drink before taking the train back to Cork city. The train turned out to be a bus at the end. Some technical problems. Back in town around twelve. Mia, a Finnish ex-housemate was spending her last night in Cork so we went out for a drink in An Brog. Must be so weird, to leave Cork after living here for eight months. Made us realise how quick time is going. Am definitely not looking forward to the day I have to leave as well. Cork is just such a great place to live. Feel really at home here. Can actually not believe I’m already six and a half months in Ireland. Have the feeling it was only a couple of weeks.

Saskia

My mum did best...fair play to her...part 3

I know I still didn’t tell everything about my mums visit over here. After further reading, you’ll definitely understand why it took me so long to do so.

As I said before we were spending some days in Killarney and the plan was to go for a big cycling trip on Wednesday. And so we did. Had some trouble finding the beginning of the Kerry Way, but once we were there everything went all right. We started enthusiastically. At least for the time being. Although I did realize there was a slight difference between my mum’s form and mine. Euh….no, it was not her cycling a bit behind…but I could still follow. Road was still going flat. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the beginning of the Gap of Dunloe. That was indeed the challenge of the day. A small road winding up between the Kerry Mountains. It was there my day of hell started. It is a bit hard to admit but indeed….I couldn’t keep up with my mum. The first few moments I still tried to hide it by stopping every five minutes to ‘take a picture’, but after 1/3 of the gap behind us I just couldn’t do it anymore and whereas my mum was still sitting ON her bike, pedalling up the steep hill, I just gave up and WALKED miles behind needing all my energy to push my bike up the hill. Of course I felt a bit stupid. We reached the summit eventually, but that didn’t mean the end of my suffering. My mum is definitely more confident on the bike than I am. She was descending the other side of the Gap in high tempo while me again miles behind, using the brakes, deadly afraid to slip.

I did make it. We had lunch in Killarney National Park. Recovered from the efforts. Find my courage again. And became a bit overconfident about the whole cycling thing…so we decided to go for another trip, try to get to Lady’s View…a very bad decision. The only way to get there is via the N72. On one side of the road high rocks, on the other side bushes and a dangerous looking ravine. The road was steep. No chance to stop, as traffic was dangerous out there. Hell all over again. Had a little break at one of the viewpoints. Met some other Belgians again. My legs were shaking. My backside was aching. Still another 5 km to go. We did make it at the end. Went for a glass of wine at Muckross House. Managed to cycle back to the B&B. Must have been a funny sight…I couldn’t sit ON the saddle, was just too painful…so was standing on the pedals for the whole drive back. I was shattered like I was never ever before. Took a long and hot shower and went for dinner in Killarney town after. It was the last day of the holiday but I just couldn’t find the energy to go out for some drinks. So we went back to our room early. Had a cosy evening inside. And went to bed very, very early.

Next day I walked like a crippled. We visited Ross Castle and enjoyed our last morning together. Was weird to say goodbye to my mum at the bus station. Her bus to Shannon was leaving half an hour before mine back to Cork. Was pretty emotional. Was a great holiday. Found out things about my mum I didn’t know before. And so did she about me…I guess.

Saskia