“Farmers’ sons — just like their fathers, only down-sized”

I’M UP on the west coast in deepest rural Ireland, lying on the sofa in a friend’s sitting room.

Looking out of the window, I can see a car weaving in and out of view on the lakeside road — my friend returning home from work. She comes in, throws her keys on the kitchen table and drops her bag. Then she sits down on the sofa and leans back, smiling.

“How was your day?” I ask.