We here in the Her.ie offices are big fans of our Dads. In the lead up to Father’s Day, L’Oréal asked us to share some of our favourite stories about our fathers over the years and honour them for being our heroes.
Michelle’s Memory
My dad is pretty much my favourite person on the planet (sorry other friends and family, I love you too).
I’m lucky enough to have had almost three decades of happy memories with him so far, but in recent years the stand-out is Clare winning the 2013 All-Ireland. Two thrilling days out in Croker, voices gone and hearts almost broken – the entire family had a ball. My dad’s language during a match is colourful, to say the least. It drives my siblings mad, but I find it hilarious and I get quite caught up in the enthusiasm of it all.
I was at the 1997 final when the Banner last claimed the Liam McCarthy cup, but probably not old enough to appreciate what a special day it was to share with a sports-mad dad. This time around, I soaked up every minute of it, on both days, and it’s a memory I’ll treasure forever.
I arrived home for a weekend visit about two months later, and I wasn’t in the door two minutes when he produced the DVD.
“Will we watch the match, Michelle?”
“We will, Dad. Go on the Banner.”
The magic lives on.
Rebecca’s Memory
I found it really difficult to come up with one single memory because (I know it sounds clichéd) there really are so many. In the end, I decided to go with one of the more recent memories. Last September, I headed to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt with my parents so that dad and I could go diving in the Red Sea. While I was incredibly proud to have received my PADI Open Diver qualification, the moment that will always stick in my mind happened during our last dive of the trip. Dad and I were about 10 metres deep with an instructor when we spotted a nest of baby Clown Fish (or as I liked to call them baby Nemos). We carefully kneeled down on the seabed and approached them. My face was literally about a foot away from these tiny creatures and it was easily one of the most incredible moments of my life and one that I will never forget, not least because I got to share it with my dad.
Cathy’s Memory
There’s three girls in my family, and a female King Charles pup who is so spoilt she might as well be the fourth daughter. While Dad has often been heard to make a point of being the only man, secretly I don’t think he minds too much! I get my love of writing and reading from Dad and can remember asking him to read my “stories” from a young age. Even now he’s my first port of call if there’s something I need help with and he always does his best to help. Added to that he’s pretty funny and often has us in stitches with his songs, stories and even dancing on occasion. I won’t say any more for fear I’ll embarrass him but suffice to say my Dad can always be relied on to make me smile.
Grace’s Memory
Five years ago I accompanied my mother and father to the Galway Races – it was a last minute decision but one of the greatest spur of the moment choices I’ve ever made. I was a newbie to the races and so my Dad, Robert, made sure to show me the ropes… and the bar! Ladies Day is a renowned event in Ballybrit and so I was decked out in my finery, topped off with a trendy fascinator to ensure my folks couldn’t lose me in the crowd. Myself and my Dad left my mother perched in the stands with her racing programme while we went off to place a bet. We decided that we’d share beverage and betting responsibilities and so we took it in turns to queue up at the betting ring and the bar. It was the perfect system until the rain began. Towards the last race it was safe to say myself and Dad were merry (mainly to do with our winning streak) and so we returned after several well executed trips to my Mother, however this time we were under a huge umbrella and crowing ‘Singing In The Rain’ whilst doing our best attempt at the can-can. Mother Dearest wasn’t exactly impressed, members of the crowd appreciated it though and we were on cloud nine – one of those days that I’ll never forget!
Marie’s Memory
When we were little, my dad used to take us on a day out every Sunday and as he is an avid fisherman, this often meant trudging through the fields and having a go at catching something for supper.
One day, we went down to Lough Atorick in County Galway and picked up a hot chicken from the deli with the idea to have a little picnic. We ended up getting targeted by a swarm of flies and having our picnic in the not-so-scenic surrounds of our Nissan. While it wasn’t what we had in mind, we had a great laugh and it’s still one of my favourite childhood memories.
Liz’s Memory
My favourite memory of my dad was the year he looked after all of us, on his own and did an amazing job of it too. My mum was in hospital so dad acted as both parents – everything from putting my hair in curls for my Irish dancing feis, to throwing a princess birthday party ’cause that’s what I decided I wanted last minute. He wasn’t always perfect, and I think I’m the only person who had lunch sandwiches with giant thumb prints where he was trying to cut them into triangles, but he was amazing, made the effort and that year really stands out to me.
Sue’s Memory
My favourite memory of my Dad involves my 21st birthday. For the birthday that was in it, my parent’s asked what I would like for my present and I said I wanted all my friends under the one roof for a big party in our old house which was in Kilbaha in Co. Clare. My parents had been trying to sell the house in Clare and were renting a new place in Galway so they agreed to let me use the house before they sold it on. My Dad was an absolute hero that weekend, he rented a camper van and drove us all to Clare, a journey of about two hours, stopping in pubs along the way, buying us all drinks and giving us a tour of the locality. He organised a barbeque for us and made sure we had enough food. Then he drove off into the sunset and returned in two days to pick us all up. My friends still talk about it as one of the best trips they have ever been on and my poor Dad had to put up with a lot of sore heads on the trip back.
