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It’s such a pity that the Irish women are out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sport is such a distraction for people who are unwell or recovering. I wish the hurling championship had not come to an end just yet. Tim booked us a weekend away after my visit to the surgeon. The surgery will take place in mid-August. Our wedding anniversary had also been that week.
Tim decided on The Lyrath in Kilkenny some weeks ago, forgetting about the dates being All Ireland weekend. We’re so used to the traditional first weekend in September being All Ireland weekend!
As we neared Kilkenny, the black and amber flags and bunting were of cringe proportions for any non-supporter, especially ones from Cork and Tipperary! Still, I grew up very near the Kilkenny border and both my father and step-father were die-hard Kilkenny men. My Dad, the late John Campion, never lost the faith in the Kilkenny team. His mantra (to our annoyance) was “Kilkenny will come again!”
Campagne - a treat indeed
Tim had also booked a meal in one of Kilkenny’s top restaurants, Campagne, that has held Michelin Star status since 2013. Now, that’s no mean feat. It speaks of consistency of service and excellent food. Gareth Byrne, formerly of Chapter One, opened the restaurant with his partner, Bríd Hannon in 2008. The restaurant is hidden away under The Arches in Kilkenny. It’s lovely and spacious with comfortable seating. Their inspiration for their creations comes from regional France and its cuisine and they use beautiful locally produced food as well.
Tim and I both love France and its beautiful food. We had intended to holiday in France this year but as that couldn’t happen due to my health issues, we decided to have a few smaller breaks in Ireland. Remaining with the French theme, we both chose foie gras crème caramel with pickled cherries, caramelised walnuts with walnut and raisin toast. The foie gras was creamy and full of flavour; complemented by all the other lovely individual tastes. That’s the noticeable difference in Campagne - each morsel of food on the plate demands your attention and delivers a distinctive flavour.
By the time the third quarter arrived, we were all in awe of the Limerick team’s brilliance
For the main course, Tim had loin of spring lamb, creamed courgette and couscous and I went for the fish option, with langoustine lasagne and seaweed butter sauce. It was all so interesting, beautifully presented and scrumptious. For dessert, Tim had the cheese board. He thought it was one of the best he’d ever had for balance and flavour with two French cheeses - Sainte Maure goats cheese and Epoisses - and our own world famous Cashel Blue with quince and oatcakes. I indulged in the vanilla parfait with marinated strawberries and strawberry sorbet. It was fresh and delightful and just the finish required to round off a lovely meal.
All Ireland day
On the morning of the game, a cousin sent me a text wondering if I knew that Tom Phelan, the number 10 on the Kilkenny team, was my cousin! His Mum, Ellen is my second cousin. It was the catalyst needed to really enjoy the game although, I’m also connected through marriage to Nickie Quaid! His Mum, Breda trained with me in the Munster Institute. The GAA is all about banter and connections. We went to Langtons for our lunch, where my brother, Phil, and his wife, Mary, joined us. We went back to the hotel to watch the match because I was mindful of not putting myself at risk of infection by being in crowded places. We had great fun.
Point after point
I went overboard shouting for Tom in the first half and he did very well. By the time the third quarter arrived, we were all in awe of the Limerick team’s brilliance. The display of skill and team coherence was a sight to behold as they scored point after point, putting the game far out of Kilkenny’s reaches. Limerick truly were worthy of their four in a row victory. As John Campion would say if he was still around, “Kilkenny will come again!”
We enjoyed the atmosphere of the Lyrath Hotel: the beautiful gardens, the wholesome breakfasts and evening dinners. I came back with a clearer head; ready to endure the days ahead that have to be slow and measured according to my energy resources. That’s life for now.
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