A visit to Knocknagree Co Cork

I was in Ireland for a half term break with Son of Duke and had arranged to travel down to meet Laxie on the Tuesday. It was a balmy morning in the West of Ireland, the sun was surprisingly warm as I set off from Lahinch for the wilds of Cork. Son of Duke decided he wasn’t going to travel and stayed behind to sample the delights of the local hostelries. I was on my way to sample the hospitality of Mr & Mrs Laxie and maybe if I was lucky, take in a poker game. I set off towards Killimer to catch the Kerry ferry, driving along the Atlantic coast I was lost in my own little world marveling at sights I took for granted years ago and now seemed to be seeing for the first time. I drove onto the ferry that crosses the mouth of the Shannon river (for which I paid 30 Euro return, FFS the flight to Shannon was cheaper) and settled down for the 20 minute trip.

Driving off on the other side I headed for Listowel, home of the legendary Irish playwright John B Keane and took the Tralee road. Passing through Tralee and onto Killarney where I was to meet Dawn and be guided to the village they call home. Reaching Killarney the mobile conversation went like this.

D: Where are you?
G: Don’t know ?
D: Name a landmark?
G: Ulster Bank
D: Don’t do banks, name a shop
G: <named a few shops>
D: Turn a funny right at the next cross
G: <turns funny right> I am in a housing estate
D: You are in the wrong place
G: No shit
D: Turn around and tell me what you see
G: My back window, and an Aldi
D: What are you doing there?
G: <sigh> I can see a hotel, I will park there
D: Stay there, I will find you.

I got found, and we had a pint in town before heading to Knocknagree across the border in the county of Cork. We parked the cars and I was introduced to the family (and other children in their wonderfully warm and open house). I met Rocky the unfortunate cat and “Whoop Whoop” the dog (Dawn can elaborate on that one). We headed up the village (first of all calling into a few houses to greet the natives, including “baby” a 96 years young wonderful lady) to sample the local brew. The doors were closed but Dawn has the personal phone numbers of all publicans within a 20 mile radius and we were let in. Tim joined us after work and we whiled away a couple of hours in nice company and warm surroundings. We got the call and headed down for a meal of steak and ten veg, wonderful fare. The time came and we set off for town and a lift to the local poker game in a neighbouring village. We arrived at close to 10pm and the place was empty, two minutes later it was full with 4 tables of dedicated poker players. I was on the same table as Dawn and my eyes were opened in the beginning exchanges.

Pre flop two players
“Raise”, “re-raise”, “Call” – Flop JQ2 rainbow
“Bet”, “Raise”, Re-raise”, “call” – Turn 5
“All in”, “call” – showdown 77 v 88 – river K – “thought I had you” says the 88, “Aye, that you did” says the 77

Later Dawn proved that 10 5 is the new AK (Tim proved that on the final table as well) – and AQ will always fill a straight against AA KK. As usual I left the table after the rebuy period, my A 10 with an A high board obviously no match to a 5 4 runner runner two pair, and camped at the bar. Tim went on to final table and finished second to a 16 year old lad.

When 11:30 came I was just about to sneak out the back for a cigarette when as in response to an unspoken order nearly everyone in the pub just lit up (well Cork is the rebel county). I settled back, played a S&G and had a whale of a time.

At approximately 2am the door was rapped (“Guards on duty”) it was like a scene from a Brian Rix farce, bodies flying out different doors. Being too old and lazy I walked past the Guard at the door (a nice wee girl I recall), Tim disappeared out the back door with the 16 year old winner following him on crutches. They crept down the yard in darkness (until the movement sensors set off the security lights) and hid behind a wall.

Dawn and I were out the front and she decided to ring Tim on his mobile to see where he was. Imagine the scene, quietly hiding, as the Guards looked for them, and then your fecking mobile goes off – priceless……

We retired to Laxie Towers and had a couple more beers and I hit the sack. I woke up the next morning to a cooked breakfast that would sink a battleship and set off back to Clare richer for the night.

Thanks to Dawn & Tim, the nicest couple it has been my pleasure to meet in a very long while
Thanks to their son Brian for the use of his bed
Thanks to their daughter Sarah for the guided tour of the amphibian section

To meet people like this has an effect that lasts forever, wonderful family, wonderful people, I drove home with memories that will last a long long time.