We visited Ireland in the 90s for 30 days. My brother-in-law lives in Germany and is married to an Irish woman. They have a little cottage in West county Cork. So we went on an extended visit. I drank Irish water, Old Paddy Irish Whiskey (Uisce Beatha, the water of life), Guinness Extra Stout drawn in an appropriate manner. I ate Irish Atlantic salmon in various forms as well as fruit and vegetables, and of course, the ever present potato.
I think all that drink, food and good craic (fun) changed my genetic make up permanently. In my life I have moved around a bit and I have never been homesick. I didn't know what that feels like so I could not be properly compassionate to a sufferer. After 30 days we boarded an Aer Lingus plane in Dublin bound for NYC. We flew over Ireland and when I could no longer see the emerald green, I knew homesickness. There is a hole in me the shape of that crappy little island. I will never be the same. All it takes is to hear some Irish music especially the uilleann pipes, or penny whistle to reopen the wound.
This is probably too much information, but you opened up the floodgates of my heart.
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