For over 30 years Gilley Myles and the gang from Pontardulais have made the bi-annual pilgrimage to watch Wales play Ireland in the 6 Nations Rugby championship....but they watch it on the telly!!! It is now a time honoured tradition to follow the Welsh team onto Irish soil for the match in Dublin, but crossing the Irish sea is as far as it goes. After that many bands of Welshmen hunker down in favoured watering holes across the length and breadth of the country. That's not saying that there isn't any Welsh support in the stands of Landsowne Road or Croke Park, wherever the match may be....but there is by far a bigger contingent not at the match at all!!! ....and so it was again this year, as hordes of our near Celtic neighbours descended onto our shores once more.
This year Gilley had a big gang with him. No doubt the fact that Ireland were coming into the match as Grand Slam champions had made it all the more attractive. However, the launch of the Cork Swansea ferry service seemed to make Cobh as a destination more accessible. Despite this some of Gilley's number actually flew over from London after driving all the way down from Swansea. Phew!
The lads from Pontardulais were not going to be alone though. There was also a gang over from Hendy, their neighbouring village from across the bridge.
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