Our Ireland

I was in Dublin for a few days last week on business/pleasure. It’s been some months since my last trip and a real treat to visit some of the old haunts and catch up with friends old and new.

Saturday morning I decided to head into town early from my parent’s home in Crumlin. I walked through Pierce Memorial Park on the way to the bus stop (Dublin public transport, as enjoyable as ever!) outside Our Ladies Hospital.

The park was bubbling with activity with several different age groups of boys and girls training for hurling and football. I couldn’t help smiling when I saw a group of toddlers decked out in the Crumlin hurling gear, protective head gear and all. The exercise was to hold their hurls at arms length with the hurl pointing towards the sky for as long as their strength would allow.

The expression of determination on each young face only became more serious as the ash sticks began to tilt this way and that. It was evident that the protective helmets were required even for this tame exercise as the hurls occasionally tapped the heads of neighbouring kids. Proud parents watched their future Dublin All-Stars from the sidelines, smiles hidden behind cupped hands, laughter in their eyes.

The sound of whistles, parents and children chatting, football boots marching on the paths, calls of encouragement from the sidelines.

Ten o’clock, Saturday morning in a Dublin park.

Editor
Our-Ireland