Well, the genealogy has been packed up and the touring has begun.
Early yesterday morning - very early - I dragged my sleepless self out of bed and got ready for the drive to Dublin Airport. Heather's plane was due at 8:25 and it was on time. I left Bunclody shortly after 7 am and was in the terminal just minutes after the plane landed. We exchanged a few texts before she finally walked out through the gate. I don't think she realized how taxing the first day would be but she's a trooper, despite fatigue.
I'd had about 3 hours of sleep - about 3 more than she had managed on the plane. Being a good sport she was ready for the adventure. Instead of heading towards Bunclody, we set out for Banagher. This is a small town in Co Offaly in the central plains area of Ireland. Reaching it by motorway was easy. The Shannon flows through the town and we headed in that direction - downhill. I had no idea how to find the river but it was obviously not going to be at the top of the hills.
Just before getting there I spied the old pub J J Hough's. It is now quite famous and a tourist destination. To say the interior is seedy and tacky is to offer high praise. I think the curtains were hung about the time that weaving cotton came into fashion. They haven't been washed since either. The tables are small, the seats are either low stools or old armchairs. There is a small bar and there were a few loyal customers. This was Sunday morning - before noon. I guess it was 5 o'clock somewhere. We had a look around, saw the small open fire and left. They don't serve food and even if they did we would not have wanted to consume anything there. It was too dark to take pictures without the flash. If you want to see it you can google: J. J. Hough's Banagher. It would be a fun place at night with the music rocking the joint - possibly with a few handi-wipes on hand to wipe off the beer bottles.
Driving a bit further down the street we came to the marina on the Shannon River where we stopped for a picnic of sorts. It was a bit chilly but sunny. Nearby was a large ruined building which must have once been a workhouse or a mill. Turns out it was a workhouse. We roamed around a bit but there was no information posted.
Off again towards Meelick - the townland where an ancient Franciscan Abbey is still a church that is used all the time. We were given a tour by Mikey Horan who has lived in the area all his life. From there we drove, following Mikey, to the ancestral home of a friend's father. The cottage is now used by the family as a holiday home and is over 200 years old, still in the original family. A bit of misunderstanding meant that we missed seeing the little cottage next to Mikey's house, in which he still keeps a turf fire burning so moisture doesn't overcome it. That was the home of his grandmother and was the place Marg intended us to see. Next time.
The GPS and the Autoaddress app on the phone have been very useful in getting around. When I use the GPS I can glance at the screen to see if the instruction to "turn right" means immediately or in a few hundred yards. Well, even when using the GPS I didn't bother to glance at the screen. As a result we made some interesting turns and took a few more because my eye captured something of interest.
Driving through the town of Birr I made a mental note to come back next year and just walk around - it's eye candy. Parts of it reminded me of the Georgian Homes in Dublin and Edinburgh. Then there is Birr Castle - with its immense gates and walls. We didn't take the time to explore but it appears to be a huge parkland and I assume there is still a castle there. Absolutely on the list for next year.
Leaving Birr I'd had a look at the map and a bit of a plan for getting back to Bunclody. Well all plans go astray - especially on these roads with interesting views beckoning. The GPS was nattering away so I sort of paid attention. On a lovely narrow road we looked ahead to see what we thought was a herd of cattle crossing the road. Not so fast. They were coming down the road, towards us. Quickly I pulled to the left and parked, as did the vehicles behind us. A short video I've posted on FB will show you.
Thinking we were headed home on a main-ish road we ended up crossing Slieve Bloom and had the most magnificent views. We were on top of Ireland. From the first viewpoint we could see for miles and miles northwards. A few hundred yards later we could see just as far - looking south. I think we saw bits of Kildare, Galway, Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Tipperary and maybe Kilkenny. But I really have no idea. Needless to say it was spectacular. Pictures only begin to capture it. No decorated Christmas trees on this trip 'over the top'.
Eventually we arrived in Bunclody - after once more missing a turn going through Carlow. I hate that place. Well, that may be a bit strong, but even with directions being spouted at me I have never managed to get directly through on the same route. Sigh.
At Supervalu we picked up a roasted chicken and some salad and I cooked up some rice. Voila- supper. From then until bedtime, it was just a relaxing evening poring over maps and planning the adventures for the next day.
Here's a link to the photos I took.
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/nnmqn6fbsl2v5n5/AAC2V8D_ScVeX_vrherdCGnYa
Today - a slow start. Shortly we'll head to Coolross and Rock Tavern to see and feed some sheep. Maybe some will choose to make their appearance in the world while we're there. It's cold and windy and looks like rain could fall any moment. Best not to have a photoshoot in mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment