13.07.2007

We got up and braved a very cold morning with rain and went for a run on the beach. It was all good until we turned back against the wind. We are happy to have our ears on still. Afterwards we had a lovely breakfast by the fireplace at Jim and Ita’s. They are extremely hospitable and it is really lovely to be staying here. We visited a few sites in Youghal including Irelands oldest church and college and the resting place of Richard Boyle (the first Earl of Cork) and family (including Robert Boyle, the chemist who came up with the famous ‘Boyle’s Law’.

We went for dinner in Midleton with Jim, Ita, Catherine and John. Then we went out on a pub crawl through Midleton with Catherine, John and a few friends which ended up at Joe’s Pub with lots of drinking, singing and sledging. Drinks for the night consisted of Beamish Stout, Smithicks Red (which doesn’t seem very popular with anyone except John but I really liked it) and Murphy’s Stout. This was definitely the Craic (a good time) and well worth the next mornings headache. We finished up around 2.30 as the annoyed publican had to push us out the door after closing. Thanks to Catherine, John, Nile (I don’t know the correct spelling, sorry), Michael, Stephen and Barry for a great night.