Cork for St Patrick's weekend

It was brilliant. Marvelous parade in the swirling driving sleet and rain. Everybody from the Chernobyl children's project to the Royal somebody pipers band was there.

Finally got to St Finbar's church (He was a Catholic, no? The current church is Anglican!) Cork Butter museum is quaint, but not really worth it unless you want to learn some advanced business tactics. The elevation of Ireland's dairy industry to world class was a remarkable achievement on the part of the Cork butter trade association.

The Old Oak is probably the coolest pub in Cork. Live music downstairs, everbody dancing, Cailghee dancing upstairs. They wouldn't let the kids in near 21:00, and by 22:00 the line to get upstairs was down the block and around the corner.