Jude Marguerite & Ben's blog: It's all work.....and some play for Jude in Ireland Pt 2

Continuing his trip to Ireland, Jude had more work to do. This week it was a road-trip around the country visiting many Universities to promote the Irish International Immigrant Center's J1IWT graduate visa.

Here he is with his auld mucker Frank 'Novak' Mackey. You'll remember Frank worked with Jude at IIIC in 2010. He has since returned home to Cork so Jude took the opportunity presented by this trip to meet up again.

The Universities Jude visited included Letterkenny IT, Queens University Belfast, University of Ulster, NUI Maynooth, UCD (see pic), DCU, University College Cork, Crosscare, and University of Limerick.

As you can see he covered quite a bit of the island of Ireland there so it was a busy week.

While attending one meeting in Dublin's Grafton Street Jude met up with this dude.........it is of course the great Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy. Poor Phil has moved on to the great gig in the sky........but his music lives on....as it did quite eerily on this trip.

After leaving Dublin and having the song 'Whiskey in the Jar' stuck in his head for 2 days, Jude drove to Maynooth in Co Kildare and then on down to Cork the following day. Then as he was driving into Cork with a view of the Cork (and Kerry) mountains straight ahead he began to sing that song to himself.......well within 30 seconds what had come on the radio? Unbelievably 'Whiskey in the Jar' with it's classic line 'As I was going over the Cork and Kerry mountains.....' that's what. A spooky moment .........spooky indeed.........wha?

Jude stayed at Frank's place in Cork so they got to spend a bit of time catching up. It really was great to see Novak again.

Frank recently had surgery on his knee. Will this may mean the end of Novak's tennis career?

When Frank asked Jude what would he like to do while in Cork, Jude suggested they nip out to Kinsale. That's what they did and just as Jude suspected Kinsale was a beautiful wee town full of character and charm. Here is a view if the harbour area.

In June 2010 Jude, Frank, Marguerite and Jane went to the NBA finals together and watched the Boston Celtics beat the LA Lakers in game 4. They were the days.....I say.....they were the days!!!!

Novak loves his fish and chips.......and they served them good at this wee spot in Kinsale harbour.

Jude taking it easy in Kinsale.

Is it Monte Carlo, Miami, Marthas Vineyard or Bangor Co Down? Eh......neither.....it's Kinsale Co Cork.

Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork has been the scene of many a great game, but not tonight. Frank had hoped there was a game on but on arrival all he found was Jude dreaming of a mighty victory for the Down Hurlers over the mighty Cork. Here he is celebrating an imaginary point that's just been scored. Poor fella's losing it!!! Wha?

Eventually all his work was done and Jude made it back to Belfast just in time for weekend no 2.

No trip home is complete without a visit to the Roddies with Michael, Tony, Emma and David.

Michael tries hard, God bless him, but truth be told - he ain't very good at snooker. Keep on trying Michael, I say keep on trying, it'll come to you eventually - kinda like the way it came to Darren Clarke eventually.

Tony's got a swall problem....two beers and only one mouth!!!!!!

Do you spot the dirty mark on his top there?

Tony, Emma, David and Michael are just the best company for a night out.......all ye do all night is laugh and tee-hee at them and with them......sure look at David there, the poor lad never stopped laughing all night.

Tony doesn't really think he's good at snooker he just likes playing it ......he has his own cue and all....but don't let that fool you........he's even worse than Michael!!!!!!

Jude, Tony, Emma and David having fun in the Roddies.

Every now and again Tony thinks he's a cat!!!!!!

'Here Jude, do ye remember the day we went to Cape Cod and you crashed the Zipcar into the shop, wha? David reminisces about their Sep 2009 trip to Boston.