August 2006

 
Our first day, Tuesday, August 1, was an introduction to just how big Ireland is by van. The island is the size of Maine, with some 4 million people, But the roads are basically rural and winding.  50 mph is high speed driving there and we drove a lot of miles in the 10 days stay.

We met at the Shannon Airport, 14 savy tourists, JohnSmith, our organizer, and Tom  Pigott, our local contact and principal driver. We stayed overnight in The Yeats County Hotel in Curry,  Co. Sligo.   It is on the main Galway  -  Sligo road, 25 miles south of Sligo. We saw a fascinating church.  We paused at Kilkelly church for a moving song done by John.  That evening Gerry O'Beirne and Rosie Shipley caught our interest and held it.

Graveyard at Kilkelly Ireland John singing Kilkelly song Most of these pictures are by Reba

 

     
Rosie Shipley and Gerry O'Beirne Reba gets in this one! John and Tom.  Jack Sprat but both Irish to the core. Typical Tom pose.
Church Vic reading, with polartec jacket and 50th
anniversary ball-cap.		 Typical Donegal--Cloudy, mountainous, narrow roads. How high is the mountain?
 

Our second night was in Dunfanaghy and we staid in a comfortable hotel there.   Local music was in the hotel after our drive from Curry.   On our way we saw a big chunk of Co. Donegal, including some  amazing scenery and also the famous Carrick Cliffs,  Ardara ,   Glencolumbkille and Glenties. Late Thursday night Liz Rouse played hostess to an informal gathering of our group in her room.

Liz Rouse and Reba Good spirited Kelly Murphy was a major figure in making a great trip. An awful lot of people treated me very kindly.
Paul and Linda Jordon Tom Belinoski, heavy duty photographer, really nice guy and helpful to all around him. Anne Hoag, Paul Rutter's super-nice wife,  Penn State folk dj Paul Rutter, et al
John with Karyn Kujawa Peg Zurfluh, sister Karyn Kujawa, John in the middle.  Great people. Tom and Vicki Belinoski after a long day.

On Friday we went to Sleeve's League cliffs. The roads were narrow with tight turns and blind curves.  John was pretty freaked about the drive up there but well worth it.  Then we went to  Tory Island where a few of us met the King himself.   He has been elected by the people of the island and seems to be a fantastic character.   Most of the group went to an Irish Ceile (dance) that night. 

Laurel Rezeau Theresa Harper Eire (Ireland) was neutral in WWII.  This marker on the Irish Sea told German pilots that they were in Eire.
     
     
Tory Island, sand-bagged against storms. Ferry to Tory Island Tom and John having fun comparing John's real face to his TShirt
Also on Friday we saw the very interesting Doagh Famine Village. It was the product of one man's passion, featuring the story of the Traveling People in Great Britain and poverty in Ireland. See http://www.doaghvisitorscenter.com/doagh_new/main.html.
That's Guinness the sisters are drinking. Tory Island bus Strange green streak in waters off Tory Island

 
Watch tower. Vic and Reba Reba & Vic in the Bridgend pub. Photo by Karyn Kujawa
Swells on parade. The Ladies. The servants.

On Saturday, day 4 we went to the Ballyshannon Folk festival.   This entailed a drive of 65 miles each way but due to this being a holiday weekend there was no nearer accommodation.  There was a  brief buskers competition 

Young step dancer.  It is scary out there. Busker, good too. Darned good pizza.
Step dancing in front of  the Chinese Restaurant Dicey Reilley's van A very young pair of outstanding fiddlers in a pub
     
     

On the Sunday, day 5,  we went to the town of Derry and The Giants Causeway.

The locals singing in the pub Derry looks good Another view of Derry
Steep climb, brick streets in Derry. Another challenge, met successfully. Tower Museum, Derry
A gorgeous country Flowers Liz Rouse was everywhere, doing everything, loving her new camera.
     
     
     
     
     
     
Derek and Nula took us on a 1.5 mile walking tour around the Derry walls in the mist, filling in the dark past history. The visit to the Giants Causeway drew a mixed reaction, partly because of the hours of travel for little educational benefit and partly because of the crowds . We all enjoyed hearing Tom sing the "House of MacDonald" at the old castle. And that evening's dinner together was fun with our John Spillane toasts and our telephone game. And the songs in the pub with our Derry friends,
Long carriage artillery tp defend Derry. Cathedral Staggered housing in Derry
Our fine guides, Derek and Nula Blue and purple flowers on the hill A flower bed
Sculptures of emmigrants leaving The older generation staying. Derry city wall.
Learning Ceile dances from Eilidh Patterson Eilidh Patterson also played guitar and sang Watching and getting ready.
Here we go. Going through the arch. Great squezebox
     
Sheep, all over everywhere Peat (turf) ready to burn Lots of reminders of "the Troubles".  25th Anniversary of the Hunger Strike.
     
     
     
     
     

Monday we went to Malin Head. Donegal at it's best. And the Five finger strand was gorgeous. And of course our great meal at the hotel near Milford and the dancing and music afterwards with Eilidh and her father.

 
Beautiful beach. Kelly Murphy trying to get  2 camera self-timers to work together.  
 
  Australian Toni Wood flew in from Glasgow to spend the last day with Reba and Vic Last year Toni was pushing me around Glasgow in a wheelchair.  Progress.
     
     

Tuesday despite the "inmates" running the tour in search of the castle, it was all very well worth it. Especially the Beltony Stone Circle that sits high on my list of magical moments of the tour. We had fun that evening that crashing Patty McMenimum's party 
Beltony Stone Circle I think I can.  2 tenths of a mile at a 30 degree angle, plus 300 yards of high grass.  Oh well By George he did it.
Lighthouse Stones, lots of them These are horses, not cows.
 
Autographed T-Shirt We shared the hotel with a wedding party. We ha a perfect angle to shoot the wedding shot.  

 And how about our last night at the Honk. What a fine last evening.
Our next to last hotel at Milford--and our 2 rental vans. Mr Chippie is a leader in fast foods providers in Ireland and fish/chips is the favorite food Kelly Murphy playing at Honk's
Wrapping up--Tom John Toni and a local
Audience lights up Harmonica played well