Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Youghal and Cohb on Tuesday

The photos are on hold for now until we figure out whether we can send them with this new computer. I'm sorry but it's just self indulgent narrative at this time! Yesterday we set out for Youghal where there is a pub with the name Treacy emblazoned over the door. We found our way out of the hinterlands here in Kilbrittain and onto the motorway to Cork. The traffic was faster but still less harrowing than the blind country roads. We got to Youghal in time for a late lunch. It's a working waterfront town with a healthy working class crowd and thriving local shops. We went straight to Treacy's and found that it had a wonderful menu and that the owner Michael's mother, Maureen, was lunching with friends at that very moment. The waitress said that she'd send her round! Maureen was very welcoming although protesting that we weren't related. We had a photo with Maureen and another in front of the pub. I'm sorry that you can't see them right now! I should point out at this time that in Co. Cork there are far more establishments with the name Collins on the door. A block up the street we took a photo of a Collins bakery to rival the Treacy pub! Steve said apparently we've been mingling for centuries! St. Mary's church was an historic highlight a block up an alley behind the pub. It was 1600 AD vintage replete with towers, walls and unreadable stone grave makers on a slope of a hill with view of the water. It was surrounded with a fragrant white flower that is heavenly. I'm sure it's famous and I'll have to find out what it is.

Next we drove to Cobh which is the harbor from which the Titanic departed. There is a Heritage Center there. Much to Steve's disappointment it didn't have any useful genealogy records. We relaxed in Kennedy Park by the harbor and watched the children play. Someone had put soap bubbles in a fountain and the little ones were having a ball. At one point the wind lifted a raft of white foam and blew it at all of us accompanied by the whoops and smiles of the adults and young people! This town is more resort than Youghal so we walked the town a little to window shop but it was a weekday and the shops were closing at 6PM but the pubs were filling up. We checked out a couple of pubs that seemed rowdy and another filled with "Old" people and very crowded. We settled on one called the Fair Winds that was quiet and populated with young dating couples and easy pop music. Very intimate and relaxing. The pub grub here has been very good much to my cynical imaginings! I had poached salmon in herbed cream sauce with leaf salad and, of course, chips. Steve had Irish Lamb Stew. At lunch at the Treacy Pub I had an open face turkey sandwich on brown bread with a homemade chutney with coleslaw and leaf salad. Steve had potato with cheese and bacon and salad. Each of these dishes only runs about 7.50 to 10.00 Euro. As we were finishing our meal the mood changed when a waitress ran over to turn on the TV to see Michael Jackson's memorial service in Los Angeles. As the sun was waning we jumped in the lime green opal and felt more comfortable finding our way home than finding our way there!

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