I think that the best way to have a good night’s sleep is to down a few Bailey’s on ice the night before - it always seems to do the trick! Thursday was looking like a pretty miserable day - weather wise, but we had to make the most of it - after all, we were driving through the Ring of Kerry. I am sure that the majority of people who visit Ireland would take time out to view this remarkable stretch of coastline - many say it is the most spectacular part of Ireland, and I would be hard pressed [View Full Entry]

---

---

After a good night’s sleep in Westport, and a hearty Irish breakfast, minus the black and white pudding (been there, tried that) we managed to lose KB and Ryan on the first turn out of our B and B! In hindsight, we should have told them which way we would be turning, but as Kristelle waited at the top of the hill, we made our way to the bottom, realised our mistake, and backtracked, only to find they had already left. We did another quick sweep back into town, but gave up, and decided to head to Galway and meet there…at [View Full Entry]

---

---

Driving around Ireland certainly isn’t as bad as driving in Australia - there is a lot more to see for starters! But today, we had a bit of a boring drive - through Sligo and onto Westport. We didn’t stop much along the way, and after a quick visit to the Tourist Info Centre to book our accommodation, we split up and went our separate ways. Ryan and KB wanted to check out the coastal sights, while Iz and I were more than happy to take the more direct route, straight into Westport. This is a charming town with flowering hanging [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today was the start of a beautiful travelling relationship. Michelle and me winding through the Irish country side with Kristelle and Ryan in hot pursuit. Well that’s how it started anyway. We quickly realised that our car was a bit sluggish and KB and Ry’s had no worries keeping up. We headed out of Belfast after a quick goodbye to the old fella (thanks for the lift Al!) - destination Londonderry. First up was a standard pit stop at a Castle on the Antrim coast at Carrickfergus. The weather was a bit rough so we decided to drive on - hoping [View Full Entry]

---

---

It is never easy saying goodbye, but as dad says, at least, sometimes, you have the chance. So with a heavy heart, we did the final rounds. Our first stop today was to visit dad’s old stomping ground - the Cregagh Estate. Dad was born at home in The Straight, in a small townhouse-style building. These flats comprise of a small lounge room, kitchen and dining room downstairs, and three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. They also have a little corridor on the bottom level that the coal man used to frequent to top up their supplies. Grandma and Grandad stayed [View Full Entry]

---

---

Seeing the coastline was the plan today, so after another lazy sleep in (you can’t avoid them here) we set out towards Donaghadee. Mum and dad always sing a song about ‘Kristelle Leigh from Donaghadee, did a pee under the tree, oh goodness me.’ Nice! I think I have one too, but unfortunately I can’t remember it, and nor can Ryan. Oh, yes he can…’Michelle Brown from County Down, went to town with her pants hanging down, did a fart behind a cart, and blew the bloody thing apart.’ Thanks mum - she yelled it out at the top of her [View Full Entry]

---

---

After several jam-packed days, it was decided that Thursday would be ‘lazy day’. We all felt like doing different things, so after a sleep in, and no rushing about to get ready, mum and I headed off for a spot of shopping at Bloomfield’s. Dad and Izzy went for a bike ride around the Bangor coastline and Kb and Ryan hit the shops in Bangor. It was great to have a day of doing whatever we liked. That evening, Margaret and Dave came around for some home-cooked spag bol, and a few drinks. It was a really interesting evening, as I [View Full Entry]

---

---

I woke feeling great this morning…but would have been the only one. The rest of the crew were feeling a little sorry for themselves, and were at different stages of ‘hungoverness’. Mum was definitely the worst, and had spent the night on the dunny, ‘wanting to die.’ I don’t think she’ll be having any red wine for a wee while J We had a pretty busy agenda today, the first activity being the hop-on hop-off bus around Belfast. This was a great idea for everyone, including dad, who grew up here for the first 18 years of his life. We all [View Full Entry]

---

---

Despite the overcast skies, the 6 of us still decided to stick with our plans and head out into the wilderness for a day of sightseeing. WE crammed into our car like a bunch of sardines (the boys in the very back playing Yahtzee and Connect Four) and made our way towards the Mountains of Mourne. You can see the mountains from quite a ways away, and we decided to stop and have a quick snack in Newcastle, and then headed into Silent Valley - which houses a reservoir that feeds the city of Belfast. It is as big as our [View Full Entry]

---

---

We had a full schedule on our 2nd day in Ireland, that started with the Ulster Folk Museum. This place is absolutely FULL of old planes, trains and automobiles. We started in the train section, which we had visited as kids. The trains have arrived here from all over Ireland, and vary in size, from tiny guiness carrying carts to massive steam engines. Kids are allowed to clamber all over the trains, and us big kids did as well. Just as we were heading into the automobile section, our Unlce David, and Aunty Jill showed up, with their friendly grandson, Fraser. [View Full Entry]

---

---