Have fun, but please clean up afterwards

West Cork basked in the sunshine on the beaches last week and resembled any summer Sunday. The water was warm and summer had arrived. So too had droves of school holidayers, just out after months of incarceration in drab buildings and ill fitting uniforms.

They took to it like French or Spanish kids who are used to the beach lifestyle from an early age and for long hot summer seasons every year. Of course the behaviour was much the same, high jinks and posturing, from both sexes. And sure no real harm in that, that is how nature designed us.

Most of these kids I would guess had never spent a day in the armed service of their country, but their loud and repeated use of the “soldier’s” word led one to wonder if they were paying attention in English class. If they had been they may have learned some varied alternatives.