Cormac MacConnell: Uncrowned king of Burren Paddy eile

For the day that is in it, I am driven to pay compliments to a very special Patrick I have known for years and, truthfully, have always been much fonder of than our extremely austere and distant patron saint.

This Patrick has no warning at all that I am penning this piece, and will threaten to kill me stone dead over the phone before the day is over, but I will take my chances and fire ahead anyway.

Ye may have read that the magically mysterious Burren of Co Clare came first in the world last week in a prestigious National Geographic contest for the most beautiful destination of all.