Visiting the Old Dart

While these other posts are going on, friends Neil and Toula Bishop are tripping around the Old Dart. So, all of the stuff below is from Neil as our Host Guest. No censoring allowed. The following is the notification we received from Neil before they departed.

Just to let you know that Toula and I are having a month or so’s break, looking for slightly warmer weather , some relaxation and shared new experiences. My last day in the office will be Friday, 20th July and I return to hard work again on Monday, 27th August .

Our itinerary is broadly as follows:-

Fly to Dublin on the 22nd and after a couple of settling in days we will tour the southern areas , including Kilkenny, Kinsale , Dingle before heading up the west coast to Doolin, Clifden and Galway before returning the VW to Dublin on 9th August and add a couple of days there , but in a different location.

We will then take a train or bus to Belfast, learn about The Trouble s and make a fullish one day tour of the Antrim Coast to view the geologic wonder of the Giant’s Causeway, the cliff-edge ruins of Dunluce Castle, etc.

Neither of us has been to Ireland before. We will not be hurrying and be looking to absorb the culture , history, literature, engaging with people, listening to the brogues of south and north, enjoying the pubs and the music. Then there is the physical side, the green hills, narrow roads, sheer cliffs, craggy islands, crashing waves (and golf courses!).

On 12th August we take the short flight from Belfast to Edinburgh for four nights where it will be busy at festival time. Whilst we’ve each been before we thought we thought another taste of Scotland would be worthwhile and as simply as we can make it. We’ve booked an evening at the Tattoo, because it is on at the time.

Then on the 16th we go to London by train for the last leg of the journey, staying for six nights in Bloomsbury. We’ve not made definite plans yet and will simply will do what comes naturally at the time .

We leave for home on Wednesday 22nd, arriving on the 24th and some jet lag out of the way before my return to work on the Monday, 27th August.

Greetings from Kinsale

Day 5 of our trip, after 2 nights each in Dublin and Kilkenny.
Just arrived in our fairly plush resort in seaside Kinsale, where there was a wedding reception underway from well- heeled families, given the outfitting and presentation.
I think I may have mentioned that friends from Melbourne are staying here at the same time. We have just made contact and drinks are on soon, followed by dinner. They are generally on the same itinerary as us and we will meet again in Galway, all co-incidental.
Had a great day in Kilkenny yesterday. Toula likes markets so we went there first after the usual big Irish breakfast. Then a worthwhile visit to Kilkenny Castle, I think about 700 years old with a great history. There were quality shops nearby and Toula found herself with a nice new jacket. Then we took the car on a hike through nearby villages, aided by our smartphone as a GPS, without which we certainly would be still finding our way out from the narrow, winding roads. There was one village, Inistioge, that had an historic bridge worth photographing. Back on the motorway we reached Waterford Crystal, but nothing acquired. On returning to Kilkenny needed refreshing and went to a pub called The Hole in the Wall. It was built in 1592 and only about 12 people can fit in. It was so crowded that you just have to engage with the other customers which was really interesting as it was a mixture of locals and tourists, coming and going. Very eccentric, very entertaining and we got good info for our forward travels. Polished off the day with an excellent Italian dinner. The black Dover sole, topped with a few prawns was completely to my liking.

20180730_181833 — Same pub, cast of Jack Irish ??

20180730_175130 — Enjoying a quiet one in the hardware shop

20180730_193921 — Irish musicians plying their trade

Enjoying the very lively pub scene in Doolin, although the still picture doesn’t do it justice. Good conversations with the locals.

Toula, tripping along the Cliffs of Mohe

Bish in the rain at mighty Ballybunion, what a challenge that was.

Attending the Connemara pony show, near Clifden.

Neil explained: This event was so interesting to view as outsiders. This particular shot of one event is for mares with a foal. The foal, when fully grown, will end up white like the mother.
We stood and chatted the whole time to an Australian lady who was a judge of this breed, but was not doing so on the day. We learned a lot.
The actions of the judges and handlers was as fascinating as the horseflesh.