It’s hard not to be irresistibly charmed by the Irish for simply being Irish and you soon realise that it is much more than a mere nationality, it’s a state of mind. Even the roads have a hard shoulder specifically for the purpose of allowing other cars to pass if you choose. And it seems, pushing your pram down to the shops or walking back from the pub.
This is our second visit. The first time it was earlier in the year and we rolled off the Ferry at Dublin to be met by grey clouds and rain that hung around the whole week. This time after negotiating our way out of Dublin (the Irish haven’t particularly embraced the concept of road signs) we were to pick up the N road and head cross country sweltering in sweaters, jeans and 24 degrees of unexpected sunshine.