Finding the perfect cure for a hangover

For any of you that have read my previous articles, you are probably aware that late nights and ‘fun times’ have been a big part of my time here in Dublin (and I make no apologies for them – I love every pint, conversation and good time I am having here with every Irish person I meet).

Hangovers though have been a little tougher to deal with than back home. (I’m telling you people, the beer is definitely stronger here, I don’t care what anyone says). Wanting to find out from Irish people what they do to get rid of the ‘drink demons’ the next day, I got some pretty interesting methods which I vowed I would try, considering I really want to survive the upcoming Christmas party season before I leave.

As told to me by a Galway guy when I asked him how he survived the next morning after a boozy session, his response was “Ah, there’s nothing like a good hearty Irish fry-up, love. Sure that’ll sort you right as rain”. Now, a fry-up with beans, sausages and rashers are all fine to soak up that alcohol, but the black pudding, made from pig’s blood, on my plate was a little too much to stomach. I decided more research had to be carried out.

‘Hair of the dog that bit you’ was a phrase repeatedly told to me during my investigations and although I have to admit trying it, I have found it just prolongs the agony into another day of hangover hell.

My new favorite pub in Dublin, Grogan’s, was where I actually found the true remedy for this ‘Irish flu’. No, readers, not the actual pub, but there was a group of guys in there who had just been talking about doing a swim in the ’Forty Foot’.

The Forty Foot in Sandycove, County Dublin, is a wonderful inlet that used to be a nude male only bathing spot, until those fearless feminists decided to dive in and bring it in to the 21st century. I admit that I was about to chicken out by the time I got there as the temperature was 40 degrees Fahrenheit and there was a strong current in the sea; but I decided to suck it up when I saw a group of 50 year old women strip down and plunge right in.

As I tip-toed my way into the icy cold water I seriously started to consider my sanity; but as I closed my eyes and told myself “Maggie, quit being such a wuss and just get on with it”, I just jumped right in. My body felt like it had pins and needles jabbing it as the pain of the freezing sea went right through my bones.
The only thing I had to do was tread quickly to get my body adjusted to this shocking experience.

Five minutes later, with the sun gloriously shining down over the crystal clear blue waters and my body beginning to finally warm up, I spotted a seal happily swimming around near some other swimmers; and at that moment, I realized I was in absolute heaven. With a wonderfully refreshing feeling all over me as I floated along the waves, I felt alive again and ready to take on the rest of my day.

To be honest, it was a bit of a shock seeing older naked men diving head first into the water (that still happens here) and the artic water itself can feel like a cruel punishment at first, but it definitely took the cobwebs away and is probably my best discovery in Dublin so far.

Next time though I might not drink like a fish the night before swimming like one on a Sunday morning!

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