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Published: October 31st 2006
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highkings
a burial site, with irishman?? no this was found with egyptian bones inside! Hey all out there!!
Just putting up some photos of our shamrocker 6 dayer, from 23/10/06-28/10/06. Dubbed the 'Random Balls Tour', it certainly was just that a bizaare surreal experience, infected by the armed forces, tradesman, office workers, teachers and the disgruntled um-employed.
Day 1
After a strange comedy night the night before, Jayne and i were up nice and early ready for battle with 18 other individuals. After realising the night before we had woken up a future member of the group (Hayden) we set off out of Bublin, with our tour guide, Kevin, and our bus driver Tadgh "pronounced Tige". We made our way along to Tara, the ancient seat of the high kings or ireland. Notable events of this include two females failing to negotiate the ditches around the site, and therefore covering themselves with mud and dirt. I wont name names but if jaynekate can be recognised then its not my fault.
Afterwards we journeyed to an ancient castle in a small village which for the life of me i forget, and then onto Kilbeggan the home of the oldest independant whiskey distillery in Ireland. The tour guide seemed absoltuely enthralled at her own job.
bum
one of the ancient sites in ireland She spoke with so much enthusiasm and genuine excitment. More acurately she would much rather watch grass grow and paint dry while watching a sand castle erode away. Anywho it was all good because it gaves our first taste of booze for the week and started a long week ahead of pubs, beer, whiskey and food.
After lunch we journeyed onto Knock where the Virgin Mary appeared and saved the world from themselves or something. Some of us took to the place literally and filled our drinks up with holy water. so bring on being 110!!
We then headed down to Westport with a bit of banter developing on the bus, particularly at the back of the bus with myself, Hayden, Aidan and Dan.
Whilst on the bus we introduced ourselves as well
Arrived in Westport to same sex dorm rooms which was a bit funny but also a welcome change (accoring to Martin anways, lol)
Went out for tea where the boys and gals seperated which would be a common theme for the tour, then headed over to a pub called Matt Molloys and drank up a storm and carried on till we were kicked out. Jackie and Hannah
jayne1
jayne showing us what went wrong on the tv show 'build my house' mixed with the locals with some singing and Kumbayah type antics after we left also.
day2
Up early with a few hangovers, it wasnt too bad though as most had some decent sleep. Today we were going down to galway. This moring we walked up the side of a mountain which St Pat supposedly scaled back in his youthful prime. I tell ya what it would have been twice as hard back then, it was so very steep and i realise how so very unfit i has, puffing and panting all the way up.
Everyone made it back down in good time as we made our way to a sleepy town on the waters edge for some irish coffee, then followed down to Doolough Valley with a lake that was dark murky past. We had lunch and beers in Clifden, before more driving into Galway the student town where guiness is water down there. That night we had dinner at a local pub followed by some pre fun drinks at 'The Quay' then onto Monroes pub for some irish set dancing. All the girls got swooned around the dance floor with the old irish blokes. Everyone was drinking and
nickwhiskey
nick tasting the whiskey with the more than intersted guide..... just having a great night. We all piled out about 12.30 after another session of booze.
day 3
Today we were met all day by glorious torrential downpour. Each stop we made involved having to put jackts, jumpers, scarves, beanies, gloves rain coats and any other keep out of the rain/keep warm attire everystop we made. We made our way over to the Cliffs of Moher, which was freezing cold but well worth braving the elements for some happy snaps. we visited an 3000 year old tomb around the galway bay. After lunch we headed into Doolin.
After a great irish pub feed we were treated to some traditional music. Everyone got stuck into the Guiness and whiskey while it was belting down outside. So very cold today, i dont think i have seen weather like that for a long time!!
day 4
A few heavy heads in the morning, we took a ferry across the river Shannon on our way to a fishing village, Dingle. There is some dolphin there which attracts people but being from australia, we have one in our pool out the back, so it wasnt that big a deal.....
We had great fish
pee
the boys getting some holy water on there 'spots' and chips, and there Tadgh our bus driver told Amy and Jayne a very interesting tale that if you ever run into him, get down on the floor and worship him like the stud muffin that he is!!!
We travelled around the bay there, and stepped out to the western most point of Ireland, and indeed Europe. After that we legged it into Killarney for what woule prove to be a very fun and interesting night.
We took a horse and cart ride around the national park. Girls in one guys in other, us guys had a good chance to talk rubbish and drink while the girls did there thing on there cart.
We all went out to a fancy type place, all dressed up followed by some story telling from the infamous Pa at O'Connors Pub. He was absolutely fantastic very funny and very entertaining. One thing to come out of this night was that i was indeed a 'thinker' and a 'feeler' according to our tour psychologist.....
Afterwards we went to a club in town which had a celtic rock band which were superb. Everyone was boozing it up, being merrying dancing like crazy, looking drunkenly into each
molloys
the pub where we drank and spied on a patron in the doorway others eyes........
Anyways after the melrose place/oc/neighbours/hollyoaks episode that took place in front of everyone it all started to wind down. Dan the ladies man was having a crack, Emma assumed she was still at school instructing everyone on how to dance, Jayne was a willing student. Martin had the 'im really drunk' look seared across his face, and failing to find a comment for the rest of them, everyone was just having a blast most likely the best night we had!! Night ended about 4am
day 5
Next morning everyone was up early to head down to Blarney Castle. The castle was amazing and we all kissed the blarney stone, but some of us didnt need the 'gifit of the gab' anymore than they already born with, i.e Kate..........lol (just kidding love you Kate) We explored the caves around the castle, well Hayden and Martin proved that they were Vietnam war vets in disguise with there adventure in the tunnels, as well as the dungeons.
Anywho we had lunch in a pub where Aidan had a pint after convincng everyone he was 'rough as' so Dan got himself one 'so he didnt feel lonely' haha
We had a
hill
everest seemed easier good look at the rock of cashel, a large medieval castle with all the trimmings.
We arrived in Kilkenny and decided to eat in tonight at the hostel so a family meal of spag bol was organised by keving and lauren which was great. Although Hayden thought it was pretty average and decided to show up late and miss out on a plate of meat sauce....whoops!!
Im sure there is fun stuff in Kilkenny but all of us only managed to see the mystical supermarket, and the ancient pub across the street, where we boozed it up once again for a quite one, which finished about 2am!!
day 6
Next moring it was our sad last day. We all headed off down to a local pub to have an irish breakfast and just wind down from the busy week.
We then stopped off at Glendalough, and old monk village that had been sacked and pillaged by vikings and irishman alike. we had a nice old game of killer pool at the hotel there, with myself showered in glorious victory which was a special moment (thanks mum, jesus). Then we had the long trek back to Dublin where plenty of
fozzjayne
an eclectic couple, trying to be abstract stories unfolded and rumours of inuendo surfaces. We all said our goodbyes around 5 where a few of us broke away, and the rest of us staying in Ireland went over to the Bull and Castle and ate and drank till about 1am again.
miss you guys hope you like this recap, im real busy at work doing this haha!!
fozzman (matt)
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mj
non-member comment
ballls
how bloody not random how do you remember so much crap? v. nice i think we should all go back again! great photos made me luahg well done. mary