Monday 18th to 5th June
Monday 18th May
Work
Tuesday 19th May
Work
Wednesday 20th May
Work (got a call about having an interview with Lloyds TSB Autolease).
Thursday 21st May
Work (received another call rearranging the interview time with Lloyds).
Friday 22nd May
Work in the morning and then had to leave early for my interview at Lloyds TSB Autolease. After which I booked my flights to Ireland return.
Saturday 23rd May
Bus to Oxford for the long weekend. Uneventful ride, walked around the town, along the canal/river and enjoyed the sights of people punting and sunbathing. Then in the evening went to see the Jazzchoir of Uni Bonn, really good music and well worth the free entry, shame there weren’t more people there to hear it.
Sunday 24th May
Spent the morning walking around Oxford again, before catching the bus back to Birmingham.
Monday 25th May
Public Holiday Monday, spent at the Hostel uploading pictures and downloading TV programs, also booked my hostel accommodation in Dublin.
Tuesday 26th May
Work
Wednesday 27th May
Work and booked my ticket onto the Paddywagon tour – 10 day all Ireland.
Thursday 28th May
Work
Friday 29th May
Final day at work. Got a call in the morning with the job offer from Lloyds, initially rejected it as the pay was enough to keep me in Birmingham. Went to lunch and then after lunch received another call (about 4 - calls all up in the day) about the job at Lloyds offering my rate I wanted to stay in Birmingham. So I finally got a new job, and didn’t have to worry about money while in Ireland.
Then after accepting the job, I ended up with about 20 odd pages of forms which I had to fill out for the job. Wasn’t able to fill them all in and spent Friday night and Saturday morning finishing the paperwork.
Saturday 30th May
Last minute shopping, shorts from Next, T-shirt’s from Primark, and exchanged some cash to spend while in Ireland. Then onto packing my bag for my 2 week Irish holiday.
Ended the day with a couple of drinks at the pub.
Sunday 31st May
Woke up early for my flight to Dublin, got to the airport early as I had nothing else to do. Flight was uneventful, a little bit of turbulence, but nothing much. My bag was the last bag in the lot when I went to retrieve it after arriving in Dublin. I guess one of the draw backs of getting there early.
Booked into Abigails Hostel (second time I’ve been there) then went for a walk to find Paddy’s Palace so I knew where to go in the morning for my tour pickup.
Monday 1st June
Up early, no breakfast as I had to leave too early to get any, and I had to get to Paddy’s Palace to make sure I got the bus.
Got on the bus and so starts the tour. Our first stop was in Drogheda for a visit to Oliver Plunketts Head (yes a semi-preserved head, which they have never done anything to to keep it that way). Here we had too pick up 3 more people (3 Irish girls). As there were not many seats left they each ended up sitting one behind the other, with one girl sitting next to me. We got chatting though the day. We stopped for lunch in a little town just over the Republic/Northern Ireland border. Forgot that we were doing that and so I need to take some pounds out of the bank in the town.
Onto our first stop Derry (not Belfast as per the itinerary). Went for a guided walk around Derry, been there before so wasn’t to fused with the sights and so no new photo’s there. The highlight of the tour was getting some of the history of Derry and the conflict’s etc that happen there.
Dinner was spent at the Ice Wharf (weatherspoon’s pub) followed by a night out on the town and drinks.
Tuesday 2nd June
Up and on the bus at 9am. Our journey first stopped at a seaside castle which we got to view from the distance for a photo op. This was then followed by our second stop for the day at the Giant’s Causeway, these were very impressive.
Our lunch stop for the day was at Carrick-A-Rede – where the marie-rose sauce (1000 island dressing) was caked onto the prawns of one of our unfortunate Irish girls. Some good jests came out of it though.
We followed this by going to the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge, where we had to pay ₤4 to cross it. One of the girls had trouble crossing it as she doesn’t like heights, and so stayed on the wrong side for a while. The view from the other side was just as spectacular as from to Ireland land side. The girl who had trouble getting across eventually joined us on the other side, and a few of us had some photo op’s taken of the group.
On the way back I promised to by a beer for the girl if she got across without and issue which she did, so I was thus down a beer, but was worth the offer.
From there we ended up in Belfast (where we were suppose to have our first night, but there for the second). Oh well whatever happens happens and it’s a holiday so who cares.
Went to dinner with the Irish girls, an Irish guy (Keith) who has lived in Australia for about 12 years and Emily, Keiths friend to the Globe. Ok food but good price for a burger and beer.
This was then followed by a night out at the Egg (shortened name but what it’s known as), where it ended up that they had cheap drinks (3 bottle/shots/pints for ₤5) and a quiz night. We ended up with two teams of paddywagoners competing against each other. Unfortunately the other team won third prize and we missed out. Oh well was a good night anyway.
Wednesday 3rd June
This was the third morning of the tour as such and where we split and parted ways between all the different tour types (up until now the 3 dayers, 6 dayers and 10 dayers were altogether). And this morning we all went in different directions.
In the morning we had a Black Taxi tour of Belfast and a bit more history behind the ‘religious’ divides in Ireland (which are more ethnic than religious as it turns out). It was a great tour of the Catholic walled area and what happens there.
This was finished with a stop at one of the walls to write some messages on it to those who care to read them.
From here we headed back to Derry, where we stopped for lunch (Big Al and I ended up at a place called Sizzler (not the same as the one that was in Australia) and got talking to a guy in the restaurant/café (not sure what his association with the place other than working there was) about the Irish and a few other people.
After lunch we made our was out to a castle/manor in the middle of nowhere, that was next to a big lake (apparently the cleanest in the country due to no pollution going in there).
The place was nice, but just another Castle/Manor. Nearing the end of our time there, and after my walking around the gardens for a while I stumbled upon Melissa (from Utah) and we got chatting.
From there we headed back to Derry for our second night there, and then out to drinks at the Ice Wharf for 5 of us (Al, Noelle, Aidan, Charlotte and me) where we ended up being approached by a drunken but friendly Irish guy.
2 of the other girls ended up back at the pub we spent our first night there in, and as it turned out when we were chatting in the morning met the same guy as us but with a different story to tell.
Ahh good times!!!
Thursday 4th June
Left Derry at 9am to travel towards Cong. We first stopped at a Stone Round Fort of Grianan Ailligh near Derry but just over the border into the Republic. We had about 15-20 minutes there while we explore the roundness of said fort.
We followed this with a stop at Bundoran beach (one of the main Irish surfing beaches – unfortunately there really wasn’t much surf there). The ironic thing at the beach was a sign saying that the beach and water was unsafe for Bathing due to dangerous rocks, currents and soft sand.
Our next stop was for lunch at another beach called Strandhill.
Our first stop directly after lunch was at Creevykeel – on of the finest Court Cairns in Ireland built in the 3rd millennium B.C. and is basically a wedge shaped building containing a burial chamber. There were a few more photo op’s here and as for the last few days was warm and sunny.
After then driving for a bit Joe (our driver) stopped for another 15-20 minute stop (by now we had all pretty much figured that it was just a smoko for Joe and we’d have these fairly often.
Our next stop was at Drumcliffe Monastery founded by St Colmcille in about 574 AD.
Our next stop was at Knock at the Catholic shrine to 3 children/people who claim to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary.
This was our last stop until we got to Cong, visited the local church and abbey ruins then a shop for our breakfast and dinner (a few of us decided to cook in at the hostel due to limited dinner options).
Our hostel was quite a nice place that was quiet and snug, although it was hot due to very little ventilation.
Friday 5th June
This morning we all decided to give Joy and Betty (the older American mother and daughter) the front seat behind Joe. Turned out to be a good thing and was quiet entertaining. Betty had been semi-vocal near the back seat as every bump we went over she’d mutter ‘oh Joe’ because of her surgery she’d had on her back 3 times. As a result this was one of the reasons for allowing her to be in the front seat behind Joe so no-one else had to put up with it.
As we were driving along quite quickly, Joe had to suddenly put his breaks suddenly on to avoid hitting the bus or wall, as a result with Betty asleep and without her seat belt on, she went flying into the back of Joes seat – from then on Joe was known as Crazy Joe to her. She was alright, however as the rest of us had seen it coming, it was no surprise that this would eventually happen. Having said that, Betty wore her seatbelt all the time after that.
After this we arrived out our first destination of the day – Croagh Patrick – one of the 7 holy mountains of the world. We all started up the mountain at different intervals. Kate was well ahead of us early on. Myself, Al and Melissa trailed behind before Big Al (named for being 6”5’) with his big stride took off to try and catch Kate. Behind us came Inya and Vjeran (the Croatian brother and sister), then Charlotte, Aidan and Renee. Then somewhere behind them were Noelle, and Joy and Betty. Joy and Betty never made it past the steps, Noelle we are unsure where she got to, Renee stopped about half way and turned back. Inya and Vjeran wandered off somewhere halfway up (probably onto another route).
Melissa and I kept going slowly loosing Big Al and Kate in the distance, we stopped halfway up for a 5 minute rest before starting on the most difficult and steep part of the climb/hike. We both made it up there in a little under 1.5 hrs, about ½ hr behind Big Al and Kate and about 10-15 minutes before Aidan and Charlotte. We then got a few photo ops, off the whole group who made it up by a couple of German students who came up while we were there.
We all started to descend together, but Big Al with his stride got well ahead of us. We all eventually made it down the mountain to Joe waiting for us (I didn’t stumble on the hard stuff only the easy stuff).
When we got to the bus it was off down the road 100 metres to lunch. From there we stopped at the Acsleigh Falls, down along the Famine walk and black lakes to Galway our stop for the night.
Al and I did a bit of exploring of the city with a few photo’s taken before heading back to the hostel, and going out for dinner and drinks and to enjoy the Volvo Ocean Race festival. It was an interesting night, and at the first pub we went to for dinner and drinks there was another group of Paddywagoners there, a few from Australia – on from Adelaide another from the Yorke Peninsular.
Work
Tuesday 19th May
Work
Wednesday 20th May
Work (got a call about having an interview with Lloyds TSB Autolease).
Thursday 21st May
Work (received another call rearranging the interview time with Lloyds).
Friday 22nd May
Work in the morning and then had to leave early for my interview at Lloyds TSB Autolease. After which I booked my flights to Ireland return.
Saturday 23rd May
Bus to Oxford for the long weekend. Uneventful ride, walked around the town, along the canal/river and enjoyed the sights of people punting and sunbathing. Then in the evening went to see the Jazzchoir of Uni Bonn, really good music and well worth the free entry, shame there weren’t more people there to hear it.
Sunday 24th May
Spent the morning walking around Oxford again, before catching the bus back to Birmingham.
Monday 25th May
Public Holiday Monday, spent at the Hostel uploading pictures and downloading TV programs, also booked my hostel accommodation in Dublin.
Tuesday 26th May
Work
Wednesday 27th May
Work and booked my ticket onto the Paddywagon tour – 10 day all Ireland.
Thursday 28th May
Work
Friday 29th May
Final day at work. Got a call in the morning with the job offer from Lloyds, initially rejected it as the pay was enough to keep me in Birmingham. Went to lunch and then after lunch received another call (about 4 - calls all up in the day) about the job at Lloyds offering my rate I wanted to stay in Birmingham. So I finally got a new job, and didn’t have to worry about money while in Ireland.
Then after accepting the job, I ended up with about 20 odd pages of forms which I had to fill out for the job. Wasn’t able to fill them all in and spent Friday night and Saturday morning finishing the paperwork.
Saturday 30th May
Last minute shopping, shorts from Next, T-shirt’s from Primark, and exchanged some cash to spend while in Ireland. Then onto packing my bag for my 2 week Irish holiday.
Ended the day with a couple of drinks at the pub.
Sunday 31st May
Woke up early for my flight to Dublin, got to the airport early as I had nothing else to do. Flight was uneventful, a little bit of turbulence, but nothing much. My bag was the last bag in the lot when I went to retrieve it after arriving in Dublin. I guess one of the draw backs of getting there early.
Booked into Abigails Hostel (second time I’ve been there) then went for a walk to find Paddy’s Palace so I knew where to go in the morning for my tour pickup.
Monday 1st June
Up early, no breakfast as I had to leave too early to get any, and I had to get to Paddy’s Palace to make sure I got the bus.
Got on the bus and so starts the tour. Our first stop was in Drogheda for a visit to Oliver Plunketts Head (yes a semi-preserved head, which they have never done anything to to keep it that way). Here we had too pick up 3 more people (3 Irish girls). As there were not many seats left they each ended up sitting one behind the other, with one girl sitting next to me. We got chatting though the day. We stopped for lunch in a little town just over the Republic/Northern Ireland border. Forgot that we were doing that and so I need to take some pounds out of the bank in the town.
Onto our first stop Derry (not Belfast as per the itinerary). Went for a guided walk around Derry, been there before so wasn’t to fused with the sights and so no new photo’s there. The highlight of the tour was getting some of the history of Derry and the conflict’s etc that happen there.
Dinner was spent at the Ice Wharf (weatherspoon’s pub) followed by a night out on the town and drinks.
Tuesday 2nd June
Up and on the bus at 9am. Our journey first stopped at a seaside castle which we got to view from the distance for a photo op. This was then followed by our second stop for the day at the Giant’s Causeway, these were very impressive.
Our lunch stop for the day was at Carrick-A-Rede – where the marie-rose sauce (1000 island dressing) was caked onto the prawns of one of our unfortunate Irish girls. Some good jests came out of it though.
We followed this by going to the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge, where we had to pay ₤4 to cross it. One of the girls had trouble crossing it as she doesn’t like heights, and so stayed on the wrong side for a while. The view from the other side was just as spectacular as from to Ireland land side. The girl who had trouble getting across eventually joined us on the other side, and a few of us had some photo op’s taken of the group.
On the way back I promised to by a beer for the girl if she got across without and issue which she did, so I was thus down a beer, but was worth the offer.
From there we ended up in Belfast (where we were suppose to have our first night, but there for the second). Oh well whatever happens happens and it’s a holiday so who cares.
Went to dinner with the Irish girls, an Irish guy (Keith) who has lived in Australia for about 12 years and Emily, Keiths friend to the Globe. Ok food but good price for a burger and beer.
This was then followed by a night out at the Egg (shortened name but what it’s known as), where it ended up that they had cheap drinks (3 bottle/shots/pints for ₤5) and a quiz night. We ended up with two teams of paddywagoners competing against each other. Unfortunately the other team won third prize and we missed out. Oh well was a good night anyway.
Wednesday 3rd June
This was the third morning of the tour as such and where we split and parted ways between all the different tour types (up until now the 3 dayers, 6 dayers and 10 dayers were altogether). And this morning we all went in different directions.
In the morning we had a Black Taxi tour of Belfast and a bit more history behind the ‘religious’ divides in Ireland (which are more ethnic than religious as it turns out). It was a great tour of the Catholic walled area and what happens there.
This was finished with a stop at one of the walls to write some messages on it to those who care to read them.
From here we headed back to Derry, where we stopped for lunch (Big Al and I ended up at a place called Sizzler (not the same as the one that was in Australia) and got talking to a guy in the restaurant/café (not sure what his association with the place other than working there was) about the Irish and a few other people.
After lunch we made our was out to a castle/manor in the middle of nowhere, that was next to a big lake (apparently the cleanest in the country due to no pollution going in there).
The place was nice, but just another Castle/Manor. Nearing the end of our time there, and after my walking around the gardens for a while I stumbled upon Melissa (from Utah) and we got chatting.
From there we headed back to Derry for our second night there, and then out to drinks at the Ice Wharf for 5 of us (Al, Noelle, Aidan, Charlotte and me) where we ended up being approached by a drunken but friendly Irish guy.
2 of the other girls ended up back at the pub we spent our first night there in, and as it turned out when we were chatting in the morning met the same guy as us but with a different story to tell.
Ahh good times!!!
Thursday 4th June
Left Derry at 9am to travel towards Cong. We first stopped at a Stone Round Fort of Grianan Ailligh near Derry but just over the border into the Republic. We had about 15-20 minutes there while we explore the roundness of said fort.
We followed this with a stop at Bundoran beach (one of the main Irish surfing beaches – unfortunately there really wasn’t much surf there). The ironic thing at the beach was a sign saying that the beach and water was unsafe for Bathing due to dangerous rocks, currents and soft sand.
Our next stop was for lunch at another beach called Strandhill.
Our first stop directly after lunch was at Creevykeel – on of the finest Court Cairns in Ireland built in the 3rd millennium B.C. and is basically a wedge shaped building containing a burial chamber. There were a few more photo op’s here and as for the last few days was warm and sunny.
After then driving for a bit Joe (our driver) stopped for another 15-20 minute stop (by now we had all pretty much figured that it was just a smoko for Joe and we’d have these fairly often.
Our next stop was at Drumcliffe Monastery founded by St Colmcille in about 574 AD.
Our next stop was at Knock at the Catholic shrine to 3 children/people who claim to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary.
This was our last stop until we got to Cong, visited the local church and abbey ruins then a shop for our breakfast and dinner (a few of us decided to cook in at the hostel due to limited dinner options).
Our hostel was quite a nice place that was quiet and snug, although it was hot due to very little ventilation.
Friday 5th June
This morning we all decided to give Joy and Betty (the older American mother and daughter) the front seat behind Joe. Turned out to be a good thing and was quiet entertaining. Betty had been semi-vocal near the back seat as every bump we went over she’d mutter ‘oh Joe’ because of her surgery she’d had on her back 3 times. As a result this was one of the reasons for allowing her to be in the front seat behind Joe so no-one else had to put up with it.
As we were driving along quite quickly, Joe had to suddenly put his breaks suddenly on to avoid hitting the bus or wall, as a result with Betty asleep and without her seat belt on, she went flying into the back of Joes seat – from then on Joe was known as Crazy Joe to her. She was alright, however as the rest of us had seen it coming, it was no surprise that this would eventually happen. Having said that, Betty wore her seatbelt all the time after that.
After this we arrived out our first destination of the day – Croagh Patrick – one of the 7 holy mountains of the world. We all started up the mountain at different intervals. Kate was well ahead of us early on. Myself, Al and Melissa trailed behind before Big Al (named for being 6”5’) with his big stride took off to try and catch Kate. Behind us came Inya and Vjeran (the Croatian brother and sister), then Charlotte, Aidan and Renee. Then somewhere behind them were Noelle, and Joy and Betty. Joy and Betty never made it past the steps, Noelle we are unsure where she got to, Renee stopped about half way and turned back. Inya and Vjeran wandered off somewhere halfway up (probably onto another route).
Melissa and I kept going slowly loosing Big Al and Kate in the distance, we stopped halfway up for a 5 minute rest before starting on the most difficult and steep part of the climb/hike. We both made it up there in a little under 1.5 hrs, about ½ hr behind Big Al and Kate and about 10-15 minutes before Aidan and Charlotte. We then got a few photo ops, off the whole group who made it up by a couple of German students who came up while we were there.
We all started to descend together, but Big Al with his stride got well ahead of us. We all eventually made it down the mountain to Joe waiting for us (I didn’t stumble on the hard stuff only the easy stuff).
When we got to the bus it was off down the road 100 metres to lunch. From there we stopped at the Acsleigh Falls, down along the Famine walk and black lakes to Galway our stop for the night.
Al and I did a bit of exploring of the city with a few photo’s taken before heading back to the hostel, and going out for dinner and drinks and to enjoy the Volvo Ocean Race festival. It was an interesting night, and at the first pub we went to for dinner and drinks there was another group of Paddywagoners there, a few from Australia – on from Adelaide another from the Yorke Peninsular.
posted by Matt at Monday, June 15, 2009
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