Confession I’m not very proud of – I didn’t watch any of Ireland’s Euro games
I have a confession to make. One I’m not particularly proud of: I did not watch the Ireland match. In fact, in the spirit of full disclosure I must reveal that I did not actually watch any of the Ireland matches during the course of Euro 2016.
I know, I know how very unpatriotic of me. And I do feel a bit bad now that they’re out.
The children have disowned me because I refused to buy them Ireland jerseys in Dublin airport en route to our summer holidays. In my defence they were 70 quid each – bloody daylight robbery – and I knew for a fact once the Euros were over they’d never see the light of day.
But the atmosphere was decidedly frosty in the O’Mahony household after I decided to spend the day by the pool instead of joining them to watch the Ireland v France game (it was France wasn’t it??) in an Irish bar up the road.
‘It will be packed, every Paddy in the Costa Blanca will be there spilling pints and singing Ole Ole Ole and I don’t understand the offside rule,’ I said laying my towel on a sunbed beside a deserted pool.
They stormed off in a huff wrapped in giant tricolours. It’s kind of hard to ‘storm off ’ when you’re wrapped in a flag so really it was more of a shuffle. I wish I’d taken a picture.
I spent a glorious afternoon on my tod listening to music and having the occasional dip in the pool. There wasn’t a sinner in sight.
I hadn’t a clue of the result but three hours later I knew straight away when I saw their little faces coming towards me, tricolours scrunched up in their arms.
Himself couldn’t even talk, he just shook his head, although that could have had something to do with the several pints he’d imbibed.
‘We lost!’ said The Youngest, flinging off her clothes and jumping into the pool all thoughts of the Irish team erased from her mind. A fair weather supporter.
The boys were gutted. ‘Ah lads I’m really sorry. Sure look, there’s always next year,’ I said cheerfully. They both shot me disgusted looks.
‘ They only take place every four years,’ Himself replied through gritted teeth. Ooops! There was only one thing for it. Only one way I could even slightly redeem myself. I went to the fridge and returned with an ice cold beer.
‘Here get that into you. Numb the pain.’ He nodded sadly and took a swig. ‘Shane Long’s on fire...your defence is terrified...’ He started singing quietly to himself.
Roll on 2020 yaaaaaaaay!
I HADN’T A CLUE OF THE RESULT BUT 3 HOURS LATER I KNEW STRAIGHT AWAY WHEN I SAW THEIR LITTLE FACES COMING TOWARDS ME