It’s the first thing many visitors will see as they arrive in our beautiful, friendly little town…
The native tongue, done out in tantalising topiary, shouts out a big WELCOME to all who have chosen Greystones as a port of call.
But wait, what’s this…?
In our three-foot, carefully-manicured Fáilte sign, the F is off.
The F? Off? Shurely some mishtake…?
Could this be a subliminal message, a reflection of that great Irish tradition of pulling you through the door with one hand whilst pushing you out the window with the other?
A warning that the invitation whilst holiday in Majorca to come and visit us anytime in Greystones, well, it was just drunk talk. The last thing we want is to actually see you come and visit us in Greystones.
Which is why, perhaps, Greystones Municipal District – only a scone’s throw from the sign – are subtly trying to deliver a spiked Irish coffee here.
It’s as though they’re saying, ‘Hey, pull up a stool beside the roaring fire and bask in the diddley-aye as the sun sends red ribbons fluttering across our harbour sky. Come on in, my friend, come on in! But only IF YOU DARE!’.
Hopefully, that dynamic young Whitmore can figure this one out at the next town council monthly meeting.