Sunday in Schull - July 22

There was an awesome market down by the poet in Schull and even better: an amazing park brimming with English speaking kids.

A crew of boys around Jackson's age started playing tag and off he went! We went to check out the darling market and picked up some fudge and cheese along with some home baked goods. Upon returning to the grassy park, we started visiting with the parents of the boys Jackson had taken up with and hit it off. The two women had grown up in Schull, even though Kim now lived closer to Cork and the other was visiting from Dubai. They were full of suggestions and recommendations on things to do. Kim laughed when we explained where we were staying and said in her full-on Irish accent "ah, the back ass a' nowhere, eh?!" We learned about the largest Irish drug bust off the coastline a couple years ago and the multitude of white-powder beach jokes and snarky comments about checking for wreckage on the shore that have entertained them since. We had great conversation with them.

Then I look up and see Jackson returning from the marina with the crew with a giant cotton candy in his hand. I don't know which was bigger: the "candy floss" or his ear to ear grin. It was such a darling sight. Kim laughed and said, "ooh, they've found the candy floss, have they!" And a few minutes later, we learned that one of the boys had "treated" and Jackson was sure to thank the other dad quote promptly. Even though that dad clarified that it was the other dad, and Jackson brightly extended thanks again. The other dad was charmed enough with Jackson's gratitude that he seemed to quickly overcome any annoyance with his son.

After that, they headed down to the other side of us towards the water and out of sight. They must have stayed away for another 30 minutes or so before Joe went to collect him so we could get on our way. But we were all delighted with the encounter with the Irish families.

We tried a couple different restaurants with no luck and ended up back down by the marina where we had fish and chips once again before heading home along the lush roadways back to the house.

Hooray for English speaking kiddos who are willing to be welcoming and kind to a foreign traveler. 💕