When I heard of the Lions Rugby Tour to New Zealand, the land of the Long White Cloud beckoned me for my sixth visit. The invasion of Lions was far greater than my expectations and caused considerable problems in obtaining tickets.

With the help of my daughter Niamh, my sister Evey and my daughters-in-law in Palmerston North, I arrived in Auckland very early on the last Monday in May to begin my holiday.

What a relief to be made most welcome at 6.15am. It certainly lifted my mental fatigue, let alone the physical side of twenty-eight hours travel from Dublin, then London and Los Angeles.

I had visions of being told that my room would not be available until noon, but the ‘red carpet’ was out for their visitors. This was just typical of the welcome extended to the Lions supporters throughout the whole of New Zealand.

Obviously, not all towns were visited but, with camper vans and coaches wending their way along the roads, it resembled rural Ireland as the big day in Croke Park approaches, with flags and bunting and banners. They love their rugby and after a gap of fourteen years they hungered for this tour.

In Ireland, with approximately the same population as N.Z. we have three big sports, Rugby, Soccer and Gaelic Games and all experience a cross-over of support which, in a way, perhaps dilutes our fanaticism. These people long to see top-class rugby on their own soil, to meet rugby idols from the other side of the world, to have them visit shops, schools, veteran homes, rugby clubs and local parades.

Rotorua was the venue of the first match on Saturday and what a super welcome was extended to us. The slogan on banners and shop windows was ‘Lions make yourselves 100% welcome’. Easily thirty minutes was given over prior to every kick-off by wonderful dancing, singing and parading of Maori culture, tribal war dances and fireworks.

There were upward of 15,000 Lions supporters by the time the first test of three was held in Christchurch, where Niamh and her many friends gave me a special welcome. Christchurch is the largest city on South Island and credits its lovely buildings to English traditions. However, it has no port but about twelve miles away lies Littleton a port of reasonable size at which a large cruise liner housed two thousand fans.

This suited admirably because the second test was in Wellington and the third in Auckland, both sizeable ports. It’s hard to believe that at noon on Saturday 25th June (almost their shortest day) the sun shone beautifully on the milling crowds all over the city, bands playing all over the place: marching bands, jazz bands and pipe bands (allegedly NZ has more pipe bands than Scotland). Seven hours later, we had fierce hailstones just as the match started; the second half of what was to be the worst night for the Lions.

Our captain, Ireland’s own Brian O’Driscoll, was deliberately spear tackled by an over-hyped All Black Captain and ably assisted by his hooker, this all happened in the first ninety seconds of play. Bitter taste or not, it did not stop us all enjoying ourselves, the pubs and restaurants never had it so good.

New Zealand comprises two islands with a population of only 4 million. There are super roads on which travelled the army of Lions bedecked in the colours of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Of course there was a lot of drinking done, coupled with a hell of a lot of singing by all of us– but the bouquets went to the Welsh. While on the subject, Guinness has taken off big-time and so has the quality coupled with a great upsurge in Irish Traditional Music.

My sister, her husband Bob and daughter Ciara are all great exponents of our music in Nelson and recently recruited Gale Hogan from Swords to teach Irish dancing to their established classes.

My best experience this time of a great session was in O’Carroll’s Bar in Christchurch with Larry Egan from Tinakely Co. Wicklow, a three times winner on the button accordion who also works as a bar man. He was just one of the excellent musicians supported strongly by Barry and Kathy McDonald.

In my seven weeks I slept in eighteen different beds and I met some great people. When people say to me “How did you get on in Australia?”, I feel half Kiwi when I emphasise New Zealand. I greatly admire their attitude to life, pride in their environment and their ‘can do– will do’ attitude that I would commend to young people when they seek overseas experience.

So Australia may be first on the schedule but do not omit at least four weeks in New Zealand, the experience of a lifetime.

Main picture: Michael with his sister Evey and daughter Niamh and below, in the Big Country.