Step aboard the USS Fort McHenry!

We toured the USS Fort McHenry Naval ship this evening down at Dublin Port.  It was just wonderful.  We saw so many elements of the ship and the weaponry. All of the personnel aboard were just great, just so friendly and informative.  They said that they loved Dublin.  They head on to Africa next to do humanitarian work.

The above is a picture of myself and my sisters at the entrance to the ship.  

A perfect end to a Navy weekend in Dublin!

Notre Dame v. Navy

Wow what a weekend so far!

Ciaran was offered a ticket to the Notre Dame v. Navy game!!!

I had to work so I couldn't go!!! Unfortunately the Navy were not up to Notre Dame and were badly beaten but Ciaran had a great day with a group of people from the Navy that he had met through the Navy Squash.

After work I cycled over to the Schoolhouse Bar and met up with Ciaran along with the Navy Squash team and all of their families after the game.  We had dinner and cocktails it was a lot of fun.  We walked home pushing my bike and then stopped in to the club for 1 drink before we fell into bed, a long fun day for Ciaran. With all the Americans coming into town for the game it was a weekend unlike anything we will  ever see in Dublin or Ireland ever again.

USS Fort McHenry

Wow Dublin is full of Americans for the Notre Dame v. Navy!  There is loads of events going on with a pep rally in Temple Bar this morning before the game this afternoon.

The USS Fort McHenry is docked down at the port  and through a lottery held by the US Embassy I won tickets to go aboard  on Sunday!!!  So excited to see this! 

We have been given instructions to make our way down to the East Wall at the port.  We will then be taken on a bus to the ship.

Photos to follow......

Sex & the City - Kristin Davis

While in New York my sister Amy went to see a play called "The Best Man".  Starring Kristin Davis and John Stamos, Amy was very lucky to get meet them and get a photo!

Check it out....

Amy with Kristin Davis!

           John Stamos (of ER and Full House fame) with Amy

Amy said that they were both so nice.  She chatted with John and he told her how he had visited Ireland as a child.  He was in a marching band and he agreed with her that he visited Ireland to be in the St. Patricks Day Parade.  She told him that he should come do theatre in Dublin and that Al Pacino was in Ireland doing "Glengary Glen Ross".  He told her that this play was coming to broadway.  Amy was very much starstruck and said that he had a "million dollar smile".  Gorgeous!

Barefoot Contessa - my favourite cooking show!

It's lashing raining here, I had planned on going for a cycle before work but it is just to wet.  Instead I am catching up on my favourite cooking show Ina Garten's "Barefoot Contessa".  I record all of her shows and then watch them when Ciaran is not about.  Today Ina is cooking clams on the beach for her friends - it is another world and it certainly helps me forget about he dreary weather outside my door!

While she was prepping the food for her guests she asked a friend to set the beach up for a simple beach party.  "Simple" does not seem to be in this man's vocabulary! He is a florist so he planted 4 palm trees on the beach along with bringing some fabulous beach blankets and a bench and a grill.  It was all finished off with some hydrangea's and glass vases filled with sand, shells and candles - it looked amazing.

After clams and burgers topped with caramelised Ina's guests were treated to "S'mores".  I always see S'mores in American films but have never tasted one, they look delish - might make some next time I am in Key West and using the bbq!  

Next up she is cooking swordfish with a garlic and ginger marinade!!!

PS. I should mention dinner yesterday in my parents house.  My mother cooked Pulled Pork for the first time using a recipe given to here when she was in New York with my sister last week.  It was amazing!  She got up at 6am to put it on to cook.  Wow, it was worth it!

Gobble gobble! Turkey time!

My twin sister came back from New York on Monday.  She brought Bones a new toy.  It's a turkey!

We are driven insane by him, he loves it.  I've never seen him pounce on something with such gusto!

For fun we put it up on the mantlepiece - he goes wild for it.  All of his toy chickens have been relegated, the turkey is his favourite.....for the moment ;-)

Tall ships in Dublin

We just got back from the Tall Ships festival.  It was great, town was really buzzing and all of the pubs were packed with people.  Most of the pubs had put on entertainment which really made the atmosphere fantastic.  We also heard The Undertones performing Teenage Kicks which was cool!

We cycled into the city but walked back home which was not so great for Ciaran given that he had played a few hours of squash today :-(