Here is Barry continuing his holiday in Boston by taking a few hours to go shopping with Marguerite. Here they take a stroll down Newbury Street.
Jude used to think Barry was the luckiest man alive. He always seems to get jammy football bets up and stuff like that. But it must be said that recently he has had his fair share of dodgy luck. For example his original planned trip at Xmas was canceled, then on this trip his planned Boston Celtics game did not happen and he booked his trip for an eight day period during which the famous Red Sox were out on an away trip on the west coast. Here is Barry with Wally the Green monster (Red Sox Mascot).
Jude didn't let these wee mishaps beat him though. He did a little research and, as a back up plan for missing the Red Sox, he found that Boston College was due to play Harvard in the Beanpot final at Fenway Park on Tuesday (the night of the planned Celtics game). So they went along to that on a cool misty night in Boston.
Here are Jude and Barry in Fenway Park posing with the 2004 & 2007 Baseball Championship trophies. So the craic is, in America if you win something you are crowned World Champions.....eh.....even though there are nearly 300 other nations in the world. Nah...forget about them, 'we're World Champions'....that's just the way it works. It's hilarious. It like calling Cork the World Champions of Gaelic football. Wha?
Yes, technically speaking you are the best at Basketball, Baseball, US Football, etc, but to be world champions you should need to compete against other countries!!!
Don't get me started!!!!!
Oh yeah, back to the baseball........so Jude was able to scrounge a baseball off one of the Harvard players, which he then gave to Barry as a souvenir of his trip to the oldest baseball ground in America.
Luckily, and much to Jude's relief, Barry managed to see a very entertaining game of Baseball tonight. Here are Boston College leaving the field after having beaten Harvard 8-0.
Jude used to think Barry was the luckiest man alive. He always seems to get jammy football bets up and stuff like that. But it must be said that recently he has had his fair share of dodgy luck. For example his original planned trip at Xmas was canceled, then on this trip his planned Boston Celtics game did not happen and he booked his trip for an eight day period during which the famous Red Sox were out on an away trip on the west coast. Here is Barry with Wally the Green monster (Red Sox Mascot).
Jude didn't let these wee mishaps beat him though. He did a little research and, as a back up plan for missing the Red Sox, he found that Boston College was due to play Harvard in the Beanpot final at Fenway Park on Tuesday (the night of the planned Celtics game). So they went along to that on a cool misty night in Boston.
Here are Jude and Barry in Fenway Park posing with the 2004 & 2007 Baseball Championship trophies. So the craic is, in America if you win something you are crowned World Champions.....eh.....even though there are nearly 300 other nations in the world. Nah...forget about them, 'we're World Champions'....that's just the way it works. It's hilarious. It like calling Cork the World Champions of Gaelic football. Wha?
Yes, technically speaking you are the best at Basketball, Baseball, US Football, etc, but to be world champions you should need to compete against other countries!!!
Oh yeah, back to the baseball........so Jude was able to scrounge a baseball off one of the Harvard players, which he then gave to Barry as a souvenir of his trip to the oldest baseball ground in America.
Luckily, and much to Jude's relief, Barry managed to see a very entertaining game of Baseball tonight. Here are Boston College leaving the field after having beaten Harvard 8-0.
Here are Barry and Jude in front of the Red Sox dugout after the game. At the game they bumped into Jude's friend Tom (from Derry).......eh.....Tom aint in the pic as he took it!!!!!
Barry supports Liverpool FC (hehehe) and as most folk know by this stagwe, they have been taken over by the Fenway Sports group in Boston who are also the owners of the Boston Red Sox. Got it? Well you could say that Fenway Park is now the home of Liverpool FC. Jude decided he would wear his cool Man Utd top tonight just to be a melter!!!
Being former teammates on the hurling field at Ballygalget it was of course appropriate that Jude and Barry got their pic taken at the 'Teammates' monument outside Fenway Park.
After the baseball game Jude took Barry to Jillian's for a spot of pool. Barry showed he could still put it on the table as he took the honours this evening.
No rest for the wicked was the theme for this week. Here Jude and Barry are up early the next morning as they hit the local tennis courts a rattle. It can be hereby reported that rumours of BC's demise as a former 'Cloughey courts great' have been greatly exaggerated, as he clearly displays here how he tried to frighten Jude by hitting a 70 mph serve right down the middle in the warm-up!!!!!
Jude and Barry managed to play tennis on two separate days. We'll not mention the score but let's just say the quality of the games were unreal. Think........Wimbledon final 1980 (Borg v McEnroe).......or Wimbledon final 2008 (Nadal v Federer).......well it was kinda like that.
Barry said, 'Hey JC, ye know, I could have been a contender in the auld tennis game mucker. Bifford and I played every day that summer in Chicago..........by the end of it we were so good they were considering giving us a place in the US Open!!!!
Barry loved these wee single seat park/street benches, hehehehe, loved them he did. Every time he and Jude walked past one he would dive into it and ask to have his pic taken, just like here. However today Barry was more keen than ever to take breaks in these wee seats as Jude had gone and planned a wee historical walking tour of Boston, i.e. the Freedom Trail.
Jude took Barry up to beautiful Charlestown to see the Bunker hill monument. The lads were feeling a little dodgy today from the night before and therefore opted not to climb to the top today, maybe another day though!!! Charlestown has had a little more fame recently bestowed upon it due to the film 'The Town' being based on the area and indeed filmed there.
It sure was hot today, and after having clocked up a couple of miles BC spotted this here super cool Ice Cream van.
But just what could he be buying?
Ice Cold Wadda, that's what. Brill, I mean come on, that's just magic that is!!! Ice cold wadda!
The tour then took Barry and Jude to the USS Constitution, but rather than take the full tour of the ship Barry opted for a dander around the upper deck. When he spotted this life ring thingy he pleaded to have his pic taken with it. But Jude tried to explain that it would look silly and folk will only laugh but Barry insisted.......and here is the result. Wha?
Here is Barry leaving the USS Constitution.
When continuing the dander around some of the major historical sights of Boston Jude and Barry made their way into the North End. So when Jude was rambling on about the beginning of the Revoluntionary War, and how this area and it's people were so important then, to Jude's surprise Barry picked up the story and was able to tell Jude a few pieces of it. It turned out Barry had did a piece of work on the subject when teaching at his school.....you could say that before arriving in Boston Barry certainly did his homework on this one!!!
Here is a great pic Barry could use when discussing this with the kids in his school. It shows the statue of Paul Revere who was signaled by 2 lit lanterns in the Old North Church (in the background) to ride to Concord to warn of the movement of British troops to intercept an arms dump in Concord. The rest as they say is history.
One of the most eagerly awaited events of Barry's holiday was the softball game. Here Marguerite warms up for the Irish Red Sox by getting in a few hits. Meanwhile 'the Mit' of the Boston Green Sox looks on in a desperate bid to steal a few tips for the game.
As Barry stepped up to bat he was heard mumbling, 'Hey Rob, let's get one thing straight here mate, form is temporary but class permanent, this'll be no bother to me at all mucker, I've swung more sticks and bats that ye've had hot dinners mate, I say I should be ok at this lark'. 'Strike one!!!!! Aye dead on Barry', replied the Mit.
Barry was selected on the same 'Irish Red Sox' team as Jude and Marguerite. But tonight it was Marguerite who led the way for the Irish Sox as the lads struggled bigtime!
As always the softball game finished up in Emmetts for a beer and a curry chip. Here everyone relaxes after tonight's strenuous exercise!!!! Don't they just look wrecked......wha?
Robert, Ally, Mark Tom, Ciaran and Stephen are all smiles after Darren (of the Green Sox) commented, 'here Jude, you were our best player tonight'. Cheeky git!!!!
Barry again trotted out the same lame excuse about being dodgy tonight as a result of having a few nights on the beer. He can't understand why no one believes him!!!
Now it's Barry's last night in Boston and the gang have hit Mr Dooleys for a jolly up. Here Barry Stephen, Tom, Roberto 'the Mit' and Kielan are all smiles as someone has just announced it's Jude's round!!!
Before long Barry got into conversation with the security fella in Mr Dooley's for a while. It turned out Frankie (the security fella) played in the 1995 All-Ireland 7's championship for Clarecastle, losing to Young Irelands (the great DJ Carey's team) in the semi-final. It was Young Ireland's who went on to beat the mighty Ballygalget (with Barry playing) in the final. Yes, it was an All-Ireland final and yes, Ballygalget played in it. Actually Ballygalget repeated the feat the following year by reaching (and losing) the final again. So while Ballygalget is certainly a small place but it is also a talented small place!
It's getting late and Robert and Ally are on the water as they have the office in the morning. Two wise auld foxes they are, I say they are two wise auld foxes!!!!! (Meanwhile spot Barry there still chatting to Frankie about thon game in '95).
The last pic taken on Barry's holiday was a pic of the last folk standing on that Thursday night at Mr Dooley's, namely: Tom, Barry, Stephen and Jude.
Barry supports Liverpool FC (hehehe) and as most folk know by this stagwe, they have been taken over by the Fenway Sports group in Boston who are also the owners of the Boston Red Sox. Got it? Well you could say that Fenway Park is now the home of Liverpool FC. Jude decided he would wear his cool Man Utd top tonight just to be a melter!!!
Being former teammates on the hurling field at Ballygalget it was of course appropriate that Jude and Barry got their pic taken at the 'Teammates' monument outside Fenway Park.
After the baseball game Jude took Barry to Jillian's for a spot of pool. Barry showed he could still put it on the table as he took the honours this evening.
No rest for the wicked was the theme for this week. Here Jude and Barry are up early the next morning as they hit the local tennis courts a rattle. It can be hereby reported that rumours of BC's demise as a former 'Cloughey courts great' have been greatly exaggerated, as he clearly displays here how he tried to frighten Jude by hitting a 70 mph serve right down the middle in the warm-up!!!!!
Jude and Barry managed to play tennis on two separate days. We'll not mention the score but let's just say the quality of the games were unreal. Think........Wimbledon final 1980 (Borg v McEnroe).......or Wimbledon final 2008 (Nadal v Federer).......well it was kinda like that.
Barry said, 'Hey JC, ye know, I could have been a contender in the auld tennis game mucker. Bifford and I played every day that summer in Chicago..........by the end of it we were so good they were considering giving us a place in the US Open!!!!
Barry loved these wee single seat park/street benches, hehehehe, loved them he did. Every time he and Jude walked past one he would dive into it and ask to have his pic taken, just like here. However today Barry was more keen than ever to take breaks in these wee seats as Jude had gone and planned a wee historical walking tour of Boston, i.e. the Freedom Trail.
Jude took Barry up to beautiful Charlestown to see the Bunker hill monument. The lads were feeling a little dodgy today from the night before and therefore opted not to climb to the top today, maybe another day though!!! Charlestown has had a little more fame recently bestowed upon it due to the film 'The Town' being based on the area and indeed filmed there.
It sure was hot today, and after having clocked up a couple of miles BC spotted this here super cool Ice Cream van.
But just what could he be buying?
Ice Cold Wadda, that's what. Brill, I mean come on, that's just magic that is!!! Ice cold wadda!
Here is Barry leaving the USS Constitution.
When continuing the dander around some of the major historical sights of Boston Jude and Barry made their way into the North End. So when Jude was rambling on about the beginning of the Revoluntionary War, and how this area and it's people were so important then, to Jude's surprise Barry picked up the story and was able to tell Jude a few pieces of it. It turned out Barry had did a piece of work on the subject when teaching at his school.....you could say that before arriving in Boston Barry certainly did his homework on this one!!!
Here is a great pic Barry could use when discussing this with the kids in his school. It shows the statue of Paul Revere who was signaled by 2 lit lanterns in the Old North Church (in the background) to ride to Concord to warn of the movement of British troops to intercept an arms dump in Concord. The rest as they say is history.
One of the most eagerly awaited events of Barry's holiday was the softball game. Here Marguerite warms up for the Irish Red Sox by getting in a few hits. Meanwhile 'the Mit' of the Boston Green Sox looks on in a desperate bid to steal a few tips for the game.
As Barry stepped up to bat he was heard mumbling, 'Hey Rob, let's get one thing straight here mate, form is temporary but class permanent, this'll be no bother to me at all mucker, I've swung more sticks and bats that ye've had hot dinners mate, I say I should be ok at this lark'. 'Strike one!!!!! Aye dead on Barry', replied the Mit.
In tonight's game though, Clare 'the closer' Saunders stole the show with an inspired pitching performance, though it has to be said that her opposite number, Jude, was decidedly dodgy tonight. His excuse...........'OK I was crap , but me standards have been affected because I've been on the swally for 5 days with BC, what did you expect like?'
Barry was selected on the same 'Irish Red Sox' team as Jude and Marguerite. But tonight it was Marguerite who led the way for the Irish Sox as the lads struggled bigtime!
'Eh.............what time do the lights come on muckers', asks Tom, as darkness falls fast. 'Lights??.......tight gits didn't pay for them, it's near total darkness here like', replied David.
The Boston, Green Sox won tonight's game by a score of 23-9, which does not say much for the Irish Red Sox, but like I said, some of the lads were struggling bigtime.
Here are the Green Sox: Daragh, Stephen, Ciaran, Darren, Roberto, Paul, Clare 'the closer' and Ally.
As always the softball game finished up in Emmetts for a beer and a curry chip. Here everyone relaxes after tonight's strenuous exercise!!!! Don't they just look wrecked......wha?
Robert, Ally, Mark Tom, Ciaran and Stephen are all smiles after Darren (of the Green Sox) commented, 'here Jude, you were our best player tonight'. Cheeky git!!!!
Barry again trotted out the same lame excuse about being dodgy tonight as a result of having a few nights on the beer. He can't understand why no one believes him!!!
Now it's Barry's last night in Boston and the gang have hit Mr Dooleys for a jolly up. Here Barry Stephen, Tom, Roberto 'the Mit' and Kielan are all smiles as someone has just announced it's Jude's round!!!
Before long Barry got into conversation with the security fella in Mr Dooley's for a while. It turned out Frankie (the security fella) played in the 1995 All-Ireland 7's championship for Clarecastle, losing to Young Irelands (the great DJ Carey's team) in the semi-final. It was Young Ireland's who went on to beat the mighty Ballygalget (with Barry playing) in the final. Yes, it was an All-Ireland final and yes, Ballygalget played in it. Actually Ballygalget repeated the feat the following year by reaching (and losing) the final again. So while Ballygalget is certainly a small place but it is also a talented small place!
It's Mr Dooley's, it's a Thursday night, the music's great, there is beer in the pipes, what more do you want? Jude, Robert, Kielan and Ian are certainly in the groove.
Sara and Barry chuck down their best smiles for this pic.
'Here Barry, I nutmegged Darren Gibson once, seriously like', Tom tells Barry. Barry and Tom became good enough buddies on Barry's trip. Tom is from Derry and he managed to hook up with Barry and Jude at the basball game at Fenway Park, playing pool, playing softball and finally coming out tonight also.
'Hey Tom, I think the bar is shutting', said Stephen. 'Eh........ok......I'd better get a move on then'. Bloody hell like, just as you're trying to take a pic he's making a pig out of himself!!!!!!
Tonight's band were pretty cool too, they were a bit on the nuts side mind, but a good auld rock n roll band all the same.
'Here folks, this one's nuts, I mean she's mad, like One Flew Over The Cookoos Nest and all that lark', says Ian. Sara joined into the 'Irish' craic like a duck to water!!!!
It's getting late and Robert and Ally are on the water as they have the office in the morning. Two wise auld foxes they are, I say they are two wise auld foxes!!!!! (Meanwhile spot Barry there still chatting to Frankie about thon game in '95).
Outside Mr Dooleys and the conversation is.....at least civil, most likely sensible but very defintely of a highly intellectual nature. I say, Tom and Barry are probably talking about the state of the rainforests, the state of the economy or maybe even global warming!!!! Maybe, maybe not!
The last pic taken on Barry's holiday was a pic of the last folk standing on that Thursday night at Mr Dooley's, namely: Tom, Barry, Stephen and Jude.
It was brilliant having Barry over in Bostonfor this week. Jude got to have the company of a great friend from home, which was just magic.
Good times!!!
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