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When he apologized that hed recently had a vasectomy (Im fixed, darlin!
Taylor Swift performing the Eras Tour in Dublin.
), I asked if he knew Colin Farrell.
Which is to say, Ive always been obsessed with the Irish.
I idolized them, and all their shenanigans.
Photo: Courtesy of the Shelbourne
My Irish fetish never faded.
And why would it?
Lucky Charms!Normal People.
Photo: Getty Images
So instead, I leaned into mainstream Irish grandma-core, and named my baby Hazel.
Hazel is now nine years old.
Anda lot has happened.
Photo: Courtesy of Cashel Palace Hotel
I met a great guy (a quarter Irish!)
when she was a baby, and weve since had another child, a boy, named River.
We all love each other very muchbut possibly not quite as much as Hazel lovesTaylor Swift.
Photo: Courtesy of Cliff House Hotel
In case our travel plans went sideways, I waited until the airport to tell Hazel about the concert.
Then another Delta One Swiftie came over.
Each time, my heart swelled.
I was told by my jet-set literary agent thatthe Shelbournewas the place to be, and she was right.
The lobby, restaurants, and lounges were aflutter with bubbly, attractive people all day and night.
The concert was, needless to say, heaven on a homemade scone.
Hazel sang and danced for hours straight.
(Ireland will do that to youits heavy!)
The friendship bracelets and free hugs came faster and more feverishly at the show.
Ive never seen such an extroverted, inclusive, open-hearted community as the Swifties.
And Ive been to BravoCon.
(ThinkSaltburnmeets Logan Roy meets Champagne all day.)
The best part about the Cashel Palace, for me, was the location.
Which leads me to mention that Ireland is… not Lake Como.
The July weatherchilly, rainy, with seldom suncan be disheartening.
Luckily, baggy clothes are probably for the best.
The food in most of Ireland, while hearty and honest, is what one might call gut-unfriendly.
(Would a wee kale salad kill ya?)
But if it sounds like I was turning on Ireland, I was not.
Which is fine, as it was a family trip, but would I actuallyyearnto return?
And it slowly unfolded to be what I would call: Irish Malibu.
The Cliff House was built so that every room faces the sea.
The whole thing has a funky 1970s feel.
Cause we never go out of style, we never go out of style.
But we had a marvelous time.
The country is as warm and welcoming as the band of Swifties.
Our trip embodiedThe Tortured Poets DepartmentandFolkloreall at once.
I felt proud that I made the concert happen, just as I made my own motherhood happen.
