Touring holiday of Southern Ireland
11th Aug 2007In late July and Early August we had an excellent holiday touring Ireland in the campervan and found the weather drier than that in the UK. Click on the headline for more text! Hasta luego.
In company with Pieter and Marilyn Koops we set off in the camper vans for Fishguard after spending a night at Keith and Cath's site near Ammanford. Sadly Pete and Stella Edwards could not come with us as planned as Pete's back/prolapsed disc was still troubling him. After a night at Margaret's campsite Rosslare we set off for Cork and stayed at Blarney, visited the castle and rekissed the blarney stone like the proper tourists we are, Margaret kissed it as well so watch out for her persuasive powers in future! Then to Kinsale where we met up with Henry and Elizabeth Dorman who have made tremendous improvements to Rafeen, thank you for your hospitality. After Kinsale we head for Skibeereen and the Hideaway site, then to Kemmare and the Beara peninsular, up over the Healy Pass and Creveen for the night. Next we headed for the Ring of Kerry, around Killarney and down to Cahersiveen for a night, beatiful site right beside the sea inlet in Dingle Bay, long drive the next day to Co Clare, past Castlemaine home of the wild colonial boy, over the Shannon at Tarbert and up to Ennis, checked on Mum and Dad's grave (all tidy) then into Burren country to stay at Corrofin, pleasant site right in the town but very soft ground and much bogging down. On to the Cliff of Moher, Marilyn not impressed and then down to Doolin, another good site in a great situation. After visiting the Burren, Ballyvaghan and Kinvarra its off to Cong, cycle tour around Cong and visit to the Abbey and dry canal. Clare and Rob made contact with us and came down from Bellmullet to spend a night with us and go out for a meal to the Fennel seed. From Cong to Ballina with its beautiful Moy river, excellent for salmon fishing or cycling beside, did a trip out to Sligo to see Yeats' grave and walk up Benbulbin, also visited Bofeenaun in Glen Nephin to see Barbara and Clive's new bungalow. Next day was my 60th birthday and on way to Clifden in Connemara climbed up Croagh Patrick, quite a stiff climb very rugged, impressive to think 25000 pilgrims did the climb last Sunday; Reek Sunday for mass on the summit, did the climb in my boots but several where doing it in bare feet. From Clifden we visited Birr castle to marvel at the 3rd Earl Rosses leviathen telescope now very well restored, for 73 years until 1907 it was the largest telescope in the world, gardens also well worth the visit. Next call was the Rock of Cashel and Hore Abbey once a seat of power to rival Tara. An excellent holiday was had by all and it was lovely to meet up with Clare and Rob in Cong, back to Pill via Rosslare and Fishguard to find 3 weeks of grass growth waiting to be cut. See you soon; John and Margaret.
[Croagh Patrick view to Clew bay]
