Things I know about Ireland now that I didn't know last week

• Just like there is a conversion rate for money, there also different distances in Ireland. 1 mile in Ireland is the equivalent to 5 miles over here. When I go somewhere that's "just down the road", to me that's somewhere you can go without taking off your slippers. In Ireland it means "take the car".



• Knock airport only has a finite quantity of Bulmer's. Since Jim was there, this quantity is now zero.



• Pubs in Ireland DO have bicycles on the ceilings. Bugger.








• When airline companies say check-in closes half an hour before the flight, they MEAN check-in closes half an hour before the flight. 28 minutes before the flight is TOO LATE.



• Drinking a bottle of Lucozade is a good hang-over cure. Drinking THREE bottles of Lucozade will make you sick.



• Chilled drink technology is 20 years ahead in Ireland. Apparently. (Paddy Mac's, Ballina)



• It is perfectly acceptable to put up a piece of tarpaulin over an alley-way next to a pub, put in tables, chairs & a pool table and call it a smoking area. (Brennans Lane, Ballina)



• Jack Charlton really isn't that tall, but can still raise a smile to a car full of lads waving to him.



• Guinness tastes a lot better over there. To be honest, I've learned this before, but you've got to keep testing this one.



• McDonnells bar in Belmullet isn't the best pub in the world (only in my humble opinion), but it would most certainly be in my top 5. It also seemed to appeal to everyone in the West of Ireland on Saturday night.



• While Dublin is full of tourist traps and looks like London, Mayo is without doubt full of the friendliest people I have ever met. Every single one of them.