Went on holiday to Ireland for Gillian’s birthday and had a great time in Dublin, Cork and Inish Beg. The crossing from Fishguard to Rosslare was rougher than expected and some members of the party experienced the joys of seasickness. Coming as I do from a long line of sailors I remained manfully at my post as the Irish Sea rocked and rolled. To see James’s misery lift, as he watched his mother reaquaint us with the earlier snacks, was what family holidays are all about. Gillian spent the rest of the trip hinting for an airticket as part of the birthday surprises.
In Dublin we shopped for presents for the big day and ate fine food at Eden , Elephant & Castle and Rolys. In Grafton St at Thomas & Brown I discovered a shop upmarket enough to have TVs in the toilets. It was here I discovered that Bobby Robson had died as I unzipped my fly.
From Dublin we shot across Ireland to Adare and the Dunraven Arms Hotel. A bit stuffy as a hotel but the food was OK and James continued his research into Irish soups whenever faced with a menu that Gillian and I might enjoy.
As the rain fell in torrents next day, we drove down to Inish Beg with a stop off in Kilarney. This is where I came across musicians and dancers outside a pub. Passed through Bantry Bay and arrived in Skibereen with the rain still teeming down.
The next few days the weather improved and we had a great time exploring this West Cork peninsular. It’s our second visit and was a delightful as the first. We continued to shop for Gillian’s birthday and as expected had great succes at the Breacon Knitwear outlet near Balitimore. The big day went well with a great breakfast at Glebe Gardens and a trip to Lough Hyne. In the evening we finally made into Annie’s in Balldehob after looking in the window on two previous visits. Wasn’t quite as I’d imagined and the lady on the next table complained her steak was tough. My food was wonderful and I was the most stuffed I had been for a long time.
We finished the week with a couple of days in Cork while ignoring England’s demise at Headingley in the 4th Test. Stayed at the Clarion Hotel, a very spiffing place right in the centre of Cork. We ate both nights at Market Lane, a place we had discoverd on our last visit. The combination of really very good food and a children’s menu is rarely done so well. Shopping was continued and I almost bought myself a mandolin but hesitated on the Saturday and missed my chance as Ireland is not so relaxed in its Sunday trading laws. Gillian continued to give full vent to her shopaholic tendencies with great success. Packing the car for the return journey was some what harder than on departure.
There was much checking of the weather in the Irish Sea for our return trip and a demand that I issue the travel sickness pills. In the end we raced across Ireland to the ferry, the sea was calm and after a day’s travelling we returned home all about half a stone heavier, so I guess that means it was a good holiday.
Oh the pics….. Leica M3 and 50mm Summicron DR. Shot with Ilford HP5+ processed in my own mixed D23. Scanned with Epson V700.
