James Galvin

The woman at the counter grunted to inform me that there was no ketchup. Cafe Kylemore will win no awards for service, but my god, what joy their sausages bring. No better way to say goodbye to Corcaigh and to Ireland… that is at least until Lennox chipper opens in the new terminal. I wonder if they’ll be open for the early flights… what a fine breakfast my traditional fare would make - breast in a bun, curry chips (with two onion rings “accidentally” thrown in for free if its not busy) one cheese and onion pie and a battered sausage. I’d skip the fried chicken on account of it being 6am.

There was a time when Cork airport was, without a doubt, the best airport in the universe. You could relax with Jack Charlton beside the well-stocked fish pond. You could tip your hat to Christy Ring before a quick game of Tekken 2 in the arcade. There were exotic fish tanks everywhere, and the whole place was pristine clean without a queue in sight. Getting off the plane, you could be carrying a nuclear bomb and the passport man would wink and let you through. I estimate that 2001 was the beginning of Cork Airport’s descent into mediocrity. In fairness, it is still a decent airport, and I don’t expect them to maintain the high standards they set for themselves in the past.

As much as the idea of a Lennox breakfast appeals to me, Terminal 2 - aka “the moneypit” can only be bad news for those of us who like to get off the plane and back home in 26 minutes (my current record). The long term parking lot is a disaster. A little minibus which can fit approx 4 and a half people put-puts back and forth to airport, so if you have a pram and some luggage you might as well call a taxi. At the moment I’m sitting outside gate 5 (I didn’t even know there was a gate 5) with my Examiner.

Trout stocks in Shannon threatened by chub. The irish Fisheries board have decided to clamp down and ban the introduction of new non-irish species into Irish waterways. Does this mean that it wasn’t illegal before now? I can’t even bring a turnip into the country from Romania, but up until now it would have been OK to set loose a colony of these Eastern European wels catfish?

Drink ads are banned during Joey. The examiner claims that “the hit TV series” attracts many young viewers. I’m wondering how they can label this a hit TV series when it got axed in its second season after ratings dropped 89%. And whats all this about attracting lots of young viewers? Feel free to correct me on this, but I don’t think there is anybody in Ireland (young or otherwise) who has watched more than 1 curiosity-satisfying episode of this absolute flop.

Shay Given has been granted Freedom of Donegal. This means that he can graze his sheep in Gweedore Park, and plant guns in any caravan he chooses.

Finally, cheers for the completion of the Mitchelstown bypass. Although Cheeseville was never as deadly a bottleneck as Monasterevin or Abbeyleix, there have been times when I caught badly caught there (usually during a festival or a rally). Thats another 10 minutes saved.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 4th, 2006 at 16:26 pm and is filed under Cork, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.