A few days in Ireland - August 2014 - Part 1 of 2

Monday the 11th of August.

Up early for the half seven boat from Cairnryan to Belfast.

Quite a rough sea, but the crossing was ok.

The M1 motorway soon had me down as far as Augher. The twin villages of Augher and Clogher soon slowed me down. I took as long getting the last third of my journey as the first two thirds had taken me.

After arriving in Glangevlin and sorting out my sleeping arrangements, I drove south through Mohill and Drumod to get to Rooskey/Roosky. 

I was hoping to meet up with the good folk, Phil and Anne from Florida that I'd visited in December.(as it happened they went up to Glangevlin, but no worries, they were on their way back and I was warmly welcomed (and fed) in the house above ). 

I headed out for a look at Rooskey.

The sign on the left intrigued me so after a Google search the only place to find 'Maanpano' in English is in Rooskey. 

As the mighty Shannon flows through the town there would be boats.

This hotel was once called the Shalimar (or Shalamar) and was run by Phil and and Anne.

 It's changed quite a bit by the look of it. 

Not really a panorama but it gives the right impression of the layout.

(You can actually get a better picture on Google Street view)

Views across the Shannon as I'm walking down to the lock gates.

These guys are heading to Dublin.

The lock-keepers told me that the gates were 170 years old.

Heading back to the village I met Phil and we called into a local hostelry for refreshments.

(I was meant to meet up with Phil and Anne later in the week in Tubbercurry, but I somehow missed them. I also missed Phil on Thursday in Glangevlin, I'll just have to head back to Florida sometime soon)
That's not Phil above though, he looks much meaner !

So it's back to the 'Peaceful Hills O' Doon' (Dunmakeever) to catch up with my other brother in law.

Tuesday morning and the weather forecast wasn't a particularly bad one.

I decided to take the chance and climb Cuilcagh.

Remember this Climb in 2012

I decided to take the easiest way up and down.

There were a few of these creatures about.

Over to the west I see Benbulben

After crossing the stile that denotes the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland I crossed to the path that comes up from Marble Arch.

In the last few years this has become a very popular climb from the northern side and the erosion is now beginning to show.

I see too that it's recently been closed on the WalkNI website.

Brackley Lake (note, not lough) view.

I got better pictures in 2012 but the clouds were more interesting on this climb.

Recently there has been a lot of development and promotion of the Geopark and the Brefni Burren

Marble Arch Caves and Cuilcagh Mountain Park.

Belcoo and Lough Mcnean.

 Bottom right above and not so clear is Benbulben again.

Another 'Selfie'

I might have mentioned this before, but the theodolite mounting plate in the middle has been inscribed 'P.McGovern 1948'. The last picture in this post will be the self same P.McGovern. As a young man he assisted in the construction of this 'Triangulation Station'.

Beginning my descent I saw a group heading my way. I got to the junction before they did, so I waited to say hello. They were the seniors from an outdoor group from where I can't remember. They all looked to be between seventeen and twenty one anyway. 

Onwards and upwards they go.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the litter I'd spotted on a previous climb had been cleared away.

So on my descent I begin taking pictures down towards Glangevlin.

My great nephew Barry is muck spreading.

The more I zoom in the more distant houses are foreshortened, the houses at the top of the picture are much further away than they appear here. The previous picture tells the story a little.

Now even lower, many of the houses in the valley are no longer in view.

These are probably the highest maintained meadows on Cuilcagh Mountain.

Back down to the house and after a bite to eat and a cuppa I'm up 'Brian's Hill' to take a couple more pictures.

To identify the road turning into Dunmakeever go to the last visible telegraph pole (on the left), two thirds down and a little to the right.

Zoomed in from the same spot, here's a closer look at my nephew's house.

Mr P. Mcgovern of the Trig Point atop Cuilcagh.

Part two will follow soon.

The Old Fair at Tubbercurry and Florence Court will feature.

I'm having a great time. 

Ireland August 2012 - Day 9 & 10 - Lough Erne car drive, Splash, Claddagh Glen and Home

Day 9

Thursday the 9th of August

Me and the twins are going for a car ride around Lower Lough Erne while the others are away doing their own thing.

Our first stop should have been at the Ferry Terminal to Devenish Island to see if we could get a view of the 12th Century tower. We somehow missed it.

We did however get to the shore at Killadeas. The boats top right in the above collage were moored at the next place we stopped..............

........................Castle Archdale

I'm absolutely thrilled with this place. There's a World War 2 exhibition here.

I also have a connection with this place.

My Uncle David was based here for a short period.

My Uncle David was a Flight Sergeant in the RAF who lost his life in a tragic accident on the 8th of July 1945. He was the flight engineer in a Catalina that crashed into Lake Victoria,Kisumu, Tanganyika.

Although I couldn't see him in any of the pictures on display, I'm sure he'd have known many of the ground crew who were based here.

How unlucky he was to die and the war was over.

We continue our tour going through Kesh and onto Boa Island....

.....where we took the pulley boat over to Lusty Beg Island

It was an interesting short visit, but we didn't spot too much lustiness happening !

On now to Castle Caldwell

Where we enjoyed cooling our feet in the glorious water

This is the Super Slow Motion Video on my camera

I added the sound effects later


After a short visit to Belleek we made our way down to Garrison on Lough Melvin

A short walk from the main road took us through to the waterfalls on the Roogagh river.

We mostly lazed the rest of the day and watched the Olympic games with Nicola Adams, Katie Taylor and Jade Jones's gold medals among the highlights.

To me though, I thought the most impressive of the day was David Rudisha's world record in the 800 metres.

The bars of Blacklion and Belcoo were visited for liquid refreshments that night.

Day 10

Friday the 10th of August

The Cheltenham contingent head down to Dublin Port today 

Me, Sarah and Marie begin the day with a walk round the paths of Corralea.

Sarah takes charge of my camera for some shots.

I have not got the foggiest idea of how she's got that effect on the above picture, but isn't it brilliant !

Is it an Irish Fairy ring ?

A collage of some of Sarah's other pictures.

My four lasses together.

L to R = Marie, Michele, Lynn and Sarah

The next couple of hours were spent in the water.

It's a wonderfully warm day

Callum and Erin.

Charlotte and Jack.

All girls together

The good old self timer get's the whole gang.

There'll be a lot more pictures going on Facebook

Cladagh Glen was where the first goodbyes were said.

I blogged a post on this wonderful glen in November 2010

I get another short video clip

Marie makes airborne water patterns.

So as Phil,Sarah and Marie were heading off, we met Michele, Callum and Erin coming up the glen.

I got a second climb up to the caves.

There are some weird and wonderful rock formations up here...........

.................and a lovely family

I love this picture.

Doesn't Erin resemble an angel

Our last visit this trip is up to Doon (Dunmakeever)

Me and Charlie walk up to the waterfall.

Many's the trout I've enjoyed from that pool over the years.

Jack and Charlotte wave me goodbye (I've not gone yet !)

Thanks for these pictures Marie.

This is the P.McGovern who helped build the Trig Point. Oh sorry ! The Triangulation Station.

It was earlier than I'd previously mentioned . Not the 50's but 1948

Here we are with our hosts at the top of Doon, Helen and John. 

Thanks for all the lovely food, drink and the wonderful Irish welcome.

We'll be back.

Day11

After tidying the cottages and settling the fuel bill we say our goodbyes.

(I'll see some of the family back in Newton Stewart as they're staying overnight)

I've a whole day till my boat, so I'll go via Ballyshannon.

It's a few years since I was up this way in a car, and I'm amazed at the road improvements.

Ballyshannon now has a bypass.

Donegal town was packed.

This is the famous (or infamous) Barnesmore Gap on the main road between Donegal town and Ballybofey

Have a read of some historic accounts including the hanging of three innocent men for sheepstealing here on The Finn Valley Website 

After passing through Ballybofey I head up to Letterkenny............

.........where I do some shopping in Penneys 

I double back to Lifford/ Strabane and make my way over to Claudy where I'll have my lunch

After looking at this memorial statue by Elizabeth McLaughlin and reading the wall plaques to the victims, I had to dry my eyes. I honestly hope we've seen the last of this kind of suffering.

Read James Simmons "Ballad of Claudy" , and see what you feel. 

Dungiven is the last big town I pass through before I get back to the docks at Belfast.

A little further down this wall (inset) reads 'Céad Míle Fáilte' a hundred thousand welcomes.

Thank you again Ireland, we had them.

Long may you be peaceful.