Happy St. Paddy's Day Weekend Everyone!

I can't believe I get to spend St. Paddy's day in IRELAND! How many people get to say that they have spent St. Patrick's Day in the actual Homeland? I feel so lucky to be here (thank you Mama!)

Cork has been buzzing the past few days and I know it will continue to be busy through Monday because the weather has been so gorgeous and will continue to be! This afternoon we strolled into town to celebrate day one of St. Paddy's Day.

We started with the festivities along the Grand Parade Boardwalk. There were performers set up by the Grand Parade along the River Lee and were giving out free curry. We sat on the boardwalk with a hundred other people who were eating their lunch and wanted to soak in the sun.

After our (delish) free lunch we headed down to Patrick street where it was booming. There were probably fifty or more street vendors lining Patrick Street in their different colored tents and food trucks. There was everything from O'Flynn's Sausage to Fish and Chips, to fair food (no fried dough!), to candy, to ice cream- the choices were endless! There were street performers and a huge stage that had bands playing all day. The smells, colors and sounds were the perfect mixture of a summer day and Irish traditions.

We finished our day in town with and ice-cream cone and sat along the River Lee. On our walk home we "went" into a pub that was spilling over onto the sidewalk- so we didn't even have to go in. All of the windows and doors open or taken off because the Ireland vs. France Rugby game was on, the weather was perfect and we had to check the score!

Today was such a fun and perfect day to be living in Cork. I wish I could share it all with you at home!

Cheers,
Al