Tuesday 30 April

Last day in Ireland today. We stay at the airport tonight then an early flight to Bordeaux in the morning. We have been here a month and it’s probably long enough. Not trying to sound Irish, but there’s not that much difference around the country. Ireland is very Irish.

Sure, the wild Atlantic coast is rocky and wind swept but it’s green. Everywhere here is green, No doubt about it, the scenery is dramatic and beautiful. And the people are certainly friendly. The Prodies in NI can be a bit bolshi though.

The sameness I think, applies to their architecture and food. The regional towns and cities are very similar, particularly the smaller regional ones (excluding Belfast and Dublin) and Ireland surely must be the country of ruins and pubs. There are falling down, hundreds of years old, stone buildings, not just castles and there’s hundreds of those, everywhere. Row upon row of houses all the same design.

Some lovely little towns have started painting these houses different, vibrant colours, which is a point of difference. I guess it comes from the fact that many of the buildings are indeed many hundreds of years old.

And to pubs. Even a small village of 500 people will have at least two pubs. Some no bigger than a lounge room and only serving seven different beers and 20 different spirits and no food and opening at all crazy hours of the day, sometimes not at all. But they are great meeting places, wonderfully decorated and nowhere near the ghastly “sports bars” of the US and Australia. But somehow the same.

Food, as a generalisation is still strongly rooted in the Irish tradition. Conglomerate ownership of many pubs and restaurants has given the menus an exactness, not just a sameness. And the most exotic food that may occasionally be found, outside the big cities, is a Chinese takeaway, maybe Indian restaurant in NI. It’s not quite the same in Dublin or Belfast and to be fair, we have only been in those cities for a couple of days but I couldn’t find a China Town or an Italian precinct, for example.

This also tends to give you a feeling of sameness. As for music. I’m sure that there is good non traditional music to be had and of course there have been good world class rock bands, (U2, Thin Lizzy, Boomtown Rats, or Snow Patrol) but you will get Irish music in lots of pubs, providing you stay up late enough! And it’s not just for the tourists.

Nonetheless, we have enjoyed Ireland. Generally, a good road system and public transport. However, it is expensive. Particularly when you are paying in euros, let alone, pounds in NI.

And finally, an observation of here and the UK. All menus have an extensive list of all and any allergens used or contained in the items, clearly printed on menus and signs. And they cater to vegans as well. I’d let the bastards eat grass.

Now, that's a serious picnic table. Solid basalt!

Menu with all the allergens listed