Brett took me to Ireland for the weekend for my birthday. We flew into Cork and stayed at Blarney Castle Hotel. It’s a very nice old pub next to the famous Blarney Stone Castle.

The night before we arrived the Police Station next door to the pub we stayed in had been petrol bombed! Blarney seems like a quaint and even slightly boring little place. But when ever I asked anyone what happened to the cop shop they went all tight lipped and looked away. Seriously! It was like everyone knew, but was too scared to say anything. I felt like going all Veronica Mars on their arses until I realised I didn’t care.

They can kiss my arse, cos I didn’t kiss that stone. It was still worth the 10 euros to see the Blarney Castle which is a very impressive fortress ruin despite all the superstitious bullshit about the Blarney Stone.

County Cork isn’t very big. We drove all day Saturday and saw quite a bit of the south coast, with its classic green hills and misty beaches. You’d have to be a fussy bugger not to be impressed.

Kinsale looked like a very pretty and interesting old fishing town, but it was very busy. Glandore is further west and looked very nice, but much quieter. Near Glandore is The Drombeg Stone Circle which was a highlight for me. But then I’m a bit kinky for big rocks.