The weekends of May each year in Ireland bring with them a burst of celebration centered on children aged about 8 receiving the Eucharist for the first time – and for some, it seems, possibly the last time until Confirmation four years down the road. The hotels are full of family groups of parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and in-laws, some of whom are well under the weather by the time the day is over. Large bouncing castles, festooned with bouncing children, can be seen in many gardens, often with relatives relaxing nearby on garden furniture and consuming quantities of tasty finger food and cholesterol-packed desserts.