12 things you’ll know if you always holidayed in IRELAND as a kid

If your final month of primary school was spent gnawing your knuckles as your classmates gushed about their upcoming trip to France or family holiday to Florida, you're not alone.

Spending another rainy fortnight in the wilds of the west coast of Ireland was not something to boast about… especially when you knew your BFF was about to get a private audience with Minnie Mouse, right?

And while we now know that grown-up issues – like finances and our dad's fear of flying – generally dictated, back then we wondered why we'd be spending a fortnight in a caravan while our mates would be living it up on Space Mountain.

And here, ladies, are just 12 things you'll know if the Irish holiday was your ONLY holiday.

1. The 'summer clothes' going into the suitcase were nothing more than a morale booster because we all knew we'd be in an Aran jumper and windcheater for the next 14 days.

"Do you want to wear this lovely pair of cycling shorts… under your galoshes, pet?"

2. The five-hour car journey to the caravan park was a test of all your nerves as you and your siblings jostled for space in the backseat.

"Tell him to stop looking at me, mam!"

3. If you were coming from the east, you stopped in Moate for 99s, no ifs, ands or buts.

"Get out of the car and eat your ice cream, your dad is losing his reason."

4. You spent more time than appropriate in old man pubs while your dad caught up on the football.

"Wouldn't you think that Jaysusin' caravan park would have a TV somewhere? Drink up your Coke."

5. You were signed up for some type of sport/water camp every single year, and every single year you feigned an injury after the first day.

"I'm not going! I've got the black lung, pop.

6. You got used to wandering into random pubs unsupervised to grab a quick packet of peanuts.

"The usual there, Mick."

7. There would be ONE day of sunshine, and your mam would bate you out of your fold-out bed to make the most of it.

"The sun is splitting the rocks out there. Didn't I wake up and think the caravan was on fire?! Get out there now and enjoy it."

8. You got used to bringing a duvet and multiple layers to the beach because that's just what life was now.

"Maaaaaam! He won't let me under the blanket, and I have frostbite."

9. You always made friends with at least one weird kid, who always happened to have siblings the exact same age as yours.

"Even I know we're the losers of this campsite." 

10. You had one big day out over the course of a fortnight, and it usually involved another hour's drive and a water park.

"You have six hours here, you lot, and not a second more. Do your worst."

11. The car home always smelt like vomit because your sibling got over-excited and wanted one last bag of chips before leaving.

"Maaaaaaaam, make him get out and walk."

12. When your friends returned home with Mickie Mouse ears, you returned home with a Bertie's Bog Festival cap.

"Don't look at me, I didn't want to go."