Christmas Eve in Dingle

On Christmas Eve morning we planned to get up early and do some grocery shopping before the crowds descended on SuperValu for last minute food shopping.  It opened at 7:00 AM and we planned to be there then.  Alas, we slept like logs and didn’t wake up until almost 9:00.  The sun doesn’t even start to come up here until 8:00. Went to the store and we did get there before the big crowds.  We drove by later and it was jammed.  Since it was Sunday, I thought I would have to go back later to get the wine as Ireland prohibits alcohol sales before 12:30 on Sundays.  Praise be to God, they make allowances for Christmas Eve and allow it after 9:30.

Later in the morning Elaine took a walk into town while I did yesterday’s blog post before taking a nap.  At 3:30, I drove into town to visit the Dingle Pub.  Elaine would walk in just after 4:00 to meet me there.  The drinks were on the house from Tom for Christmas.  At 4:30 we walked down to O’Flahery’s because Elaine had read that the local fife and drum band was going to be practicing in the pub at 5:00 to get ready for their traditional march through town on New Year’s Eve.  It started to sprinkle as we walked, so I got the car (parked right outside the Dingle Pub) and drove down.  I got a space right at O’Flaherty’s front door.  The pub was crowded, but we found seats, sharing a table with a family of three generations.  The place quickly filled up and was packed by the time the drummers and fifers started the music.  There were families with little kids all about.  The music was grand!   You’ll have to watch and listen the video below to get the idea.  What fun on Christmas Eve!

That’s a real Christmas tree on the column in O”Flaherty’s

A good crowd

It’s a family event

Fergus O’Flaherty

The drummers await the start

Decorations a la Guinness

A Fifer

Fergus plays

Guinness for strength

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

Fifer with baggage

Fergus fifing

Ready for bed?

A young fifer

We each had a couple of pints while enjoying the music and the good cheer throughout the pub.  The music continued as we left to go home for dinner.  Moving the car turned out to be a good idea as it was pouring when we left.  At home I put my CD of the Irish Rovers Christmas on and tried to start a fire in the fireplace.  The fire starters and the kindling burned great, but the logs never caught on fire.  Oh, well, I’ll try again another night.

Elaine’s dinner of seared scallops, asparagus, and garlic bread was great.  The wine was fine.  (I’m still gimlet free in Ireland, but that will end shortly!)  We traded cards by the (non) fire and went to bed happy.  Our rule this year was only one present and it had to be bought in Dingle.  With arriving on the 23rd, there wasn’t  a lot of time for shopping, so the exchange of gifts will be during the upcoming week.