A wee spin to the 6 counties and the Free State.

Within a few hundred yards I turned right and headed towards the coast. Roads and scenery like this are the reason I make such slow progress in Ireland. I'm not going to tear through (not that I ever tear anywhere) and I stop regularly to soak it in, give thanks to God for the joy life brings me and take the time to enjoy the moment - something I've only learnt to do recently.

Enjoying this Bill and good to read those comments :thumb2
 
A great tip I've picked up from one of the young kids on this site (PMVern) is the joy of a flask. I'd brought one with me which I topped up each morning from the facilities in the room and along with stolen biscuits they give you the licence to A) Save a few euros and B) Stop when you feel like a drink and have a nice vista. Thanks Pablo - you da man!
 

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There was an interesting looking island along the way that could be reached via a tidal road. I was urged to do it by a young couple from Belfast though she didn't inspire confidence when she told me her brother had destroyed his brand new Jaguar when he timed it wrong and got stuck halfway back last September. It looked a little too damp this time, but next time definitely. Maybe.
And from sea crossing by bike (or not) and car it was on to sea crossing by cable and aeroplane.
 

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Time was closing in again and a combination of backtracking and ridiculous optimism about mileage I could cover in a day meant that my bed for the evening was a ridiculous distance away so I passed through another fabulous coastal village, Roundstone(?), which provided me with something else for the bucket list* before heading inland to Cashel House and ending this year's leg of the WAW.

*
https://www.connemaraireland.com/events/tourdebog/
 

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I set the Sat Nav to 'Fastest Route', quite brilliantly getting caught up in Galway City's rush hour traffic takung time out to enjoy one final meal of traditional Irish fare.....(sorry Andres).
 

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My bed for the night was at the excellent Carrygerry Country House, a place steeped in local history having been built 3 years before the United Irishmen and Wolfe Tone's attempts to free Ireland from British rule.
If walls could talk. (More about Wolfe Tone tomorrow).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_United_Irishmen

https://www.carrygerryhouse.com/

This is an excellent place to stay if you're in the area, great value for money, terrific hosts and only 10 minutes from Shannon airport. I was warned in advance that no evening meal would be available (hence the dirty McD's) but a French family who were there must have been on a DBB rate as they were eating and the food looked fantastic. Next time.
The host were kind enough to bring me a pot of tea and the most delicious chocolate cake I've ever had as I sat outside and reflected on the wonderful trip I'd had.
 

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A quick look across the river over the hills to Kerry before turning in, listening to the dulcet tones of Ireland's greatest wordsmith.

 

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Thursday: Home time. So obviously the sun was shining as I set off towards Dublin.
The Sat Nav took me through Limerick, a place I've always known as Stab City but it looked lovely to me, and right past the Gaelic Grounds, season just finished but already preparing for next year. I love a sports ground so I popped in on the way through - shame I wasn't here a few weeks ago for the party (though I was rooting for Kilkenny).
 

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I had a little time to spare as I got to the outskirts of Dublin and as there's a place I've wanted to see for a long time now seemed like a great chance to finally do it.
The catalyst for the trip was to pay respect to my dad and leave a small tribute to his life so why not round off the trip by calling in to pay my respects to another great Irishman?
I was really surprised given my understanding at the importance of Wolfe Tone at how understated the entrance to Bodenstown churchyard is and shocked at the tatty state of his memorial. If you didn't know it was there you wouldn't know it was there. No flags on the flagpole, weeds growing around it and generally scruffy. What a shame.
Have I missed the point? Is it part of history the Republic would rather forget now they have their freedom or am I just a foolish outsider romanticising a forgotten time?
 

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Off to port I went. I decided, given the relatively cheap cost of fuel here and the abundance of E10, to fill up before getting back to Wales. There's a fuel station at Dublin Port which was no more expensive than anywhere else so if you're heading this way that's the place to top up.
While I was in the ferry queue I got chatting to a young man from Larne and his 14 year old son who were on an 850 (I think?) GS. The dad had recently moved over to this from an R1 and he and his lad were on their 2nd holiday of the summer, on the bike - they were going to 3 theme parks in England then the Moto GP at Silverstone. It was really wonderful to see how excited they both were about this trip and future trips to be looked forward to. Health to enjoy chaps.:thumb2
Once again I'd pre-ordered a meal o the ferry, it really is excellent value and very tasty and as we approached Holyhead I got ny 1st glimpse of the weather my dear, darling wife had been gloating about all week. :D
 

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Great ride report, Tommy and excellent photos. I must call you to task, though, on your choice of ‘Ireland’s greatest wordsmiths’.

Worrabout Samuel Becket, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan…to name but a few?:rob:)
 
Great ride report, Tommy and excellent photos. I must call you to task, though, on your choice of ‘Ireland’s greatest wordsmiths’.

Worrabout Samuel Becket, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan…to name but a few?:rob:)

Thank you for your kind words. Of course Becket, Wilde and Behan were good, but were they McGowan good? I think we both know the answer to that. :augie
 
We both know the answer: and mine is - Beckett .

But the great virtue of motorcycling is: ‘Each unto his own ‘.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Love Connemara. Great report:)

Thank you also. Let's be honest though it's average in the extreme compared to most of the ride reports on here and the photos are pretty poor as well given the spectacular scenery of the area.
But you're all very kind.
 
Conclusion.
It was a trip that I'd ummed and aaahed about for some time given the lack and cost of available accommodation.
Last minute circumstances gave me an unexpected week off work so I thought 'why not' and I'm pleased I did.
What did I learn?
1) If you're going to go to Ireland best to go June/early July or September ( perhaps avoid the 12th of July if you're heading north).
2) Contact Nutt travel to book your ferry, they seem to do good deals.
3) If you're going Holyhead to Dublin with Stena pre-book a 2 course meal at £12.20, you're sitting there for 3 and a half hours and the food is very good so why not. I'd also pay the extra £10 to access the quiet lounge and keep away from the masses.
4) Petrol in Ireland is currently much cheaper than the UK and E5 is readily available.
5) Fill up at the Dublin port both going into and out of Ireland.
6) If possible don't pre-book your accommodation, give yourself the freedom to stop, look, relax and enjoy the wonderful sights you'll see along the way.
7) If you're doing the WAW don't over estimate the daily mileage you'll do. You'll be surprised how slowly they pass and how quickly the day will disappear.
8) And this will be controversial so I apologise but in my experience if you have limited time and want to see the best bits of the WAW, based on what I've seen so far start in Muff and go anti clockwise as far as Killybegs before scooting down to Westport and carrying on from there.

It's been a cathartic trip for me. I lost my dog last year and have really struggled since. Going 'home' if I might be so bold as to call it that, spending time with friends and relatives, and particularly revisiting my relationship with my dad has lifted some clouds.

It was wonderful being back in Ireland but hasn't it changed enormously over the years? I love 'Old Ireland' and I'm delighted it's still there to be found but I also love the modern Ireland I saw today. No longer weighed down by the past it felt open, youthful, vibrant, optimistic and European rather than an inward looking, insular, forgotten remnant of the British Empire as it seemed to be when I was much, much younger. Some of the changes aren't as good as others, how did the cities get so big and the traffic in and around them so hideous? But it's a wonderful place; a place the Irish should be very proud of.

I can't wait to go back. Co.s Galway and Clare are calling me.
 

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Thank you, Bill... I thoroughly enjoyed your trip and your photos have certainly given me something to think about for a trip sometime in the future! :beerjug:
 
Thanks for your insightful RR and has helped me this week in Ireland to check out some sights
 


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