Identity crisis in Galway

Tigh Neachtain - The chatty pub of Galway

Touring around Ireland has been fantastic. Using Boobydo for her intended purpose. Having fun and travelling - discovering new places, meeting new people and catching up with family and friends.

We set off to Ireland just after my official ill health retirement day so little time to dwell about giving up work. Yes I have lost a lot in giving up work. I have lost out financially less contact with friends and colleagues, fulfilment and enjoyment. I have also lost a bit of identity when folk ask one of the first questions everyone asks "What do you do?" Isn't it odd that we ask that? Are we really defined by our jobs rather than who we are?

The walls and ceilings covered with pictures and posters at Tigh Neachtain

We have had some brilliant times in Ireland with friends but with COVID and Mabel not being allowed in many pubs meeting with locals hasn't been as frequent as we would have liked but the other night we fed and walked Mabel, leaving her to snooze onboard the lorry. Catching the bus to explore the pubs in Galway. We were not to be disappointed. When 2 old boys sat down and said that they loved this particular pub because there was no music or TV's to distract the main purposes of the pub. Drinking yes, (well that's a given). One went on to say that meeting people was far more important. If you were strangers that was even better. He started his fact finding mission with "Tell us who you are?" That little change in words meant so much. I wouldn't have to start a conversation by feeling apologetic about having to have given up work. I could choose later in the conversation if I was going to tell them about my cancer. I didn't feel pushed into starting the conversation on a potential low. It was refreshing to talk about a whole range of topics: The beauty of the area, the meaning of the pub name, the changing view from his window which faced the sea. The call of the different seabirds, the reduction in their numbers. Naturally we talked about COVID, the effects on society, isolating people through lock downs etc. We chatted back and forth about so many things. They asked what brought us to Ireland, and yes, we did talk about our driving force to do it. So inevitably I did tell them about my cancer. But it was my choice to do so. With it being much later in the conversation I had actively demonstrated the key fact "I have cancer but it doesn't have me!" We chatted for about 40 minutes before Mark & I headed to our reserved table. I hope they felt as good about that chat as I did.

Street art Galway style