What makes a whole town get behind the Irish Rugby World Cup team? Is it that shared mindset of making the most out of any and all occasions? Or the fact that they gave our Aussie mates a hiding? Or is it just the fact that they play rugby with all spirit and heart? Either way their game on Sunday night against Italy was a spectacle to behold: 30,015 vs 15. Dunedin can be proud of its gusto and love of a warm-hearted party. And please don't take offence Italy ... it's just the way it played out.
A few days before the game, I met Irish journalist Simon Hick enjoying his time in Dunedin between filing stories – he'd picked a challenging 4-6 foot offshore afternoon at Blackhead to sample some of our surf. His mates back at Newstalk Ireland call him "Posh Boy", but he deserves a more manly nickname for even paddling out into surf that had some of Dunedin's best watermen working hard.
It was a week of waiting for the storm swell to subside enough so you could sneak out and play and that moment came at the end of the week and throughout the weekend. The wait was worth it with some stunning conditions on Saturday morning ... again at Blackhead.
Watching the ocean every morning and every afternoon this past week reinforces what a great part of the world we live in. Just look at the smiles on the faces of the people in this report.
The week ahead looks a bit all over the place for surf – might be reward on the North Coast for those with an eye on the southerly change. Beachgoers, it looks like Sunday and next Monday will be the pick of the sunshine.
See you at the beach ...
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