Memoires of Ireland by Sallie Attwell My family (Luke, Ben, Emily and Husband Dean) spent the February half term in that Jewel of an Isle, Ireland. We had a dreamy thatched cottage near Killarney waiting for us. As Feng Shui is never far from my mind, I knew things were a little mixed up as soon as we arrived in the country and felt we were been given flavour of “things to come”…. We arrived at Cork Airport had problems getting from the plane (by walking) into the terminal building ( no visible entrance)!!!! Everyone seemed to have disappeared except for a kindly Cork Lady who put us on the correct route. So a few “tuts”down the line arrived at car rentals – set off to find the car…. Couldn’t find it again no visible signs (except directions from the car rental people) up and down rows of cars finally arriving 40 minutes later at ours !! Great sighs of relief especially with 3 irritable children.. Then the fun getting out of Airport to Killarney- luckily we had a map bought in England. The Car Rental people said oh everything you need is in the car … It wasn’t. Actually the journey to Killarney was pretty good, except for a few signs that we hit i.e. Killarney 50km then 10 km down the road...Killarney 65km...and so on! Also huge signs with Motor accidents recorded on them which we have still not figured out.. for example 35 people killed on this road (this bit crossed out and then 32 This was a little shocking. Finding our cottage was a little traumatic – we followed the directions given but they were useless.. finally arrived at a paradise, quaint thatched cottage (in the middle of nowhere), log fire, bliss…. Already intrigued by the atmosphere of Ireland of course I was more attentive to what was happening. On travelling around, we found that the houses and businesses- especially pubs had no defined entrances – almost as if they were hidden – they were there but not prominent or sometimes were around the back of the building etc. The Leisure club (we were told was 5 km away) we eventually found at about 15km away – we just could not get into - the entrance had been closed and you had to go right around the building to get in. The way of life in Ireland is wonderful, so laid back, a picture postcard of a man with a donkey denoting “rush hour” said it all. The people were great, so friendly and enthusiastic to help and please so interested in their environment and history. So, I wonder, is it on purpose that everything is hard to find, does Ireland love its secrecy … I think so and I don’t blame them… We are returning to this Isle as soon as possible to escape the stress of our everyday lives.