Ireland’s traditions and strong held beliefs, however, are not only reserved for Saints and rosaries.
Counties are more than just counties, they are defined homelands with diverse accents. I had attuned my ear to soft, slightly singsong Mayo accent. Even the heavy drawl of a Dublin accent didn’t throw me. But I struggled when my middle English ear caught the back draft of an accent not unlike the sound of pony galloping full pelt across a peat bog.
“Ah. That would be Kerry,” I was informed.
Even car number plates cannot resist the opportunity to define county pedigree. Lesson one on rolling off the ferry the first time round was learning county codes buried in the registration numbers: D for Dublin, G for Galway, MO for County Mayo etc.
Castlebar town centre