I have been swept off my feet, I am completely and madly in love, and I am down on one knee ready to propose.
Ireland, will you marry me?
From the moment I laid eyes on the evergreen fields that lace the land of leprechauns and four leaf clovers, Ireland and its people have cast a magic spell on me stronger than a Harry Potter potion at Hogwartz.
It started with the girl at the airport who generously gave me the inside running on what pubs to frequent in Dublin, then the gentleman at customs smiled and let me through without a landing card, and to top it all off, the luggage trolleys were on the house.
Just when you thought it could not get any better, it did – the Australian Old Collegians (AOC) squad was picked up by a bus company called Callinan Coaches (Coach of the Year 2008).
It’s only the best service for Aussies in Ireland!
But the dream run did not stop there, it just upgraded from Erin McNaught to Jessica Alba.
Instead of going straight to the hotel we were transported directly from the airport, with uniforms still on and luggage in the boot, to the welcoming gates of Ireland’s finest institution – the Guiness Factory (I’m not sure if this says anything about the Callinan drinking habits but that’s another story!).
With such a top start to the morning it was little wonder that I felt completely at ease upon arrival in Ireland, especially coming from The Big Apple.
What a contrast downtown Dublin was when compared to the hustle and bustle of downtown New York and a district like Times Square.
In Ireland the district is Temple Bar and after a grade three Chinese burn it was off next door to this mystical community and the luck of the Irish kept falling our way – the beer was cold, the live Irish music was playing and the people were just happy.
The Irish are so friendly, so easy going and show a genuine interest in talking to you and sharing a laugh, actually, lots of laughs.
On the cricket field we won two from two (Malahide and then Strabane in Northern Ireland) and both were 10 run thrillers where victory was only secured in the final over.
I picked up two man-of-the-match awards, skippered the team at Malahide and broke my captain’s duck on tour but it was the shenanigans afterwards that struck harder than a Brett Lee bouncer.
Following the official post match presentation and dinner we shared in some sterling renditions of traditional Irish ballads like Danny Boy and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.
We quickly replied with some Aussie classics such as Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair (despite the fact that most of us, except the man known as Stuart “the human iPod” Aley, only knew the first verse and chorus of both tunes).
Another Irish highlight, another magic moment, another reason to fall in love with Ireland.
The only thing left for me to decide is when I am coming back.
And that all depends on whether or not she accepts my proposal!
Josh Callinan
Ireland, will you marry me?
From the moment I laid eyes on the evergreen fields that lace the land of leprechauns and four leaf clovers, Ireland and its people have cast a magic spell on me stronger than a Harry Potter potion at Hogwartz.
It started with the girl at the airport who generously gave me the inside running on what pubs to frequent in Dublin, then the gentleman at customs smiled and let me through without a landing card, and to top it all off, the luggage trolleys were on the house.
Just when you thought it could not get any better, it did – the Australian Old Collegians (AOC) squad was picked up by a bus company called Callinan Coaches (Coach of the Year 2008).
It’s only the best service for Aussies in Ireland!
But the dream run did not stop there, it just upgraded from Erin McNaught to Jessica Alba.
Instead of going straight to the hotel we were transported directly from the airport, with uniforms still on and luggage in the boot, to the welcoming gates of Ireland’s finest institution – the Guiness Factory (I’m not sure if this says anything about the Callinan drinking habits but that’s another story!).
With such a top start to the morning it was little wonder that I felt completely at ease upon arrival in Ireland, especially coming from The Big Apple.
What a contrast downtown Dublin was when compared to the hustle and bustle of downtown New York and a district like Times Square.
In Ireland the district is Temple Bar and after a grade three Chinese burn it was off next door to this mystical community and the luck of the Irish kept falling our way – the beer was cold, the live Irish music was playing and the people were just happy.
The Irish are so friendly, so easy going and show a genuine interest in talking to you and sharing a laugh, actually, lots of laughs.
On the cricket field we won two from two (Malahide and then Strabane in Northern Ireland) and both were 10 run thrillers where victory was only secured in the final over.
I picked up two man-of-the-match awards, skippered the team at Malahide and broke my captain’s duck on tour but it was the shenanigans afterwards that struck harder than a Brett Lee bouncer.
Following the official post match presentation and dinner we shared in some sterling renditions of traditional Irish ballads like Danny Boy and When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.
We quickly replied with some Aussie classics such as Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair (despite the fact that most of us, except the man known as Stuart “the human iPod” Aley, only knew the first verse and chorus of both tunes).
Another Irish highlight, another magic moment, another reason to fall in love with Ireland.
The only thing left for me to decide is when I am coming back.
And that all depends on whether or not she accepts my proposal!
Josh Callinan
Pic: Another Guiness anyone?
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