He told me he wanted to settle down in a wooden house and have kids. “I couldn’t believe how straightforward he was, so open and honest. “We started sending each other long emails every day,” says Eilís. He sent a text message the next day and asked for her email address. I remember thinking she had a nice big smile. I didn’t even know where he was from – it could have been the other side of the world,” she says. “I wrote my name and number on a piece of paper as there were no electronics permitted. On the last day, she decided to take the plunge. Other than exchanging pleasantries, they barely spoke during the festival. I had offered to wash up in the cafe,” says Eilís.Īlthough she thought Sam was “lovely”, she was too shy to talk to him. “As soon as you arrive, you put your name on the volunteer list. Although he was officially a member of festival staff, everyone else pitched in to help, too.
“I was friends with the woman who ran the cafe and she offered me a free ticket to work there,” he says.
