A WEEK IN IRELAND

 Following my Christmas stay with Pamela and Mary, I returned in early March. Pamela was due to have an operation at the end of May and it seemed a fortuitous time given that Stena had offered a 50% discount on sailings following the closure of Holyhead through Christmas. At Christmas we had hoped to have a night away in the Irish Midlands, but that didn't come about, so that was planned by Pamela for this trip.

As I normally do, I drove to Holyhead on the Sunday, 9th March, and spent the night there before getting the morning ferry to Dublin.  

                              Coming into Dublin Port

That would ensure that I arrived in Dundalk in time for tea. As it happened, Pamela asked me to drive her to Dunne's supermarket as her knee (the subject of the proposed, but again delayed operation) was bad. That done, it was repacking for me ... two nights away in two different hotels, completely en femme. We were to be joined by Debbie who I had met in 2022 and we would take two cars for convenience. So it was that we left in convoy on 11th March ... with our first tea stop in mind!

IF IT'S TUESDAY ... IT'S SLANE, BECTIVE ABBEY AND TRIM

I took Pamela in my car, while Debbie took Mary and we headed to Slane and the Conyngham Arms Hotel for tea, scones (for some, not me, I've enough weight) and stretching of legs. Oh, and pictures, of course!

Me, Debbie and Pamela in the Function Room at the Conyngham Arms Hotel

The others had been to the hotel before and were warmly welcomed. This approach was to be repeated throughout our time away and when we visited somewhere completely new, it was at times difficult to pull ourselves away from chatting with staff! 

Bective Abbey

Bective Abbey was chosen as a location for more photos, although I am as interested in the history as anything and this was a good introduction to the central Ireland. Bective is in Co. Meath - a daughter house to Mellifont Abbey which I finally visited at Christmas! Bective was founded 1147 although the remains today probably date from the 13th to 15th centuries.

After leaving Bective Abbey we headed West towards Trim, where we stayed the night at Trim Castle Hotel. The hotel is right next to Trim Castle and my room looked out on the Keep. Debbie did suggest we might have a walk around the castle, but all the travelling had taken its toll on me by now and I preferred to relax in the hotel.

The Keep at Trim Castle is the highest in Ireland and this had a nice resonance with me as I see Dover Castle Keep (the highest in the UK) almost everyday! 

Trim Castle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We had cocktails, posed for photos and then ate at the hotel, which was very pleasant. Well rested, we met at breakfast the enxt morning in preparation for the next leg of our journey. Debbie and Mary were going to Athlone for shopping while Pamela and I were heading south of Athlone to Clonmacnoise Monastery on the River Shannon. But first Pamela needed tea and scones! That was a bit of a struggle as none of us knew the area. I checked tripadvisor for Kinnegad, only to be directed to place that was permanently closed. Luckily, Debbie found a bar, Brackens, along the road and we went there. 

Pamela and I then headed off to the monastery across the boggy central part of Ireland via the Esker Riada - a glacial feature (more to be found here ). The monastery seemed a tricky place to find as there were no signs until we were there! The staff at the entrance were great fun and informative. The monastery was one of the earliest and most important centres of Irish Catholicism, dating from the 6th C.  

 One of two of the Round Towers at Clonmacnoise Monastery with the Shannon in the background

The more complete Round Tower

The site also has a theatre for showing a fine video of the development of the monastery as well as a museum with high crosses and other stonework. I must admit that I found the high crosses at Monasterboice were more powerful, partly because of their imagery, but also they were 'in situ' whereas at Clonmacnoise a replica is placed outside the abbey.

Also, nearby are the remains of the Anglo-Norman Clonmacnoise Castle. The castle is curious as it was a stone keep built to replace an earlier wooden keep within the traditional 'motte and bailey' design. During the14th C 'gaelic resistance' the keep was undermined and now sits, toppled, on top of the motte.

 Clonmacnoise Castle with the River Shannon beyond 

 As with Trim Castle, a short visit begs for more. 

WEDNESDAY AND HEADING BACK TO DUNDALK VIA BECTIVE TEAROOMS

I shall not dwell on finding our hotel at Athlone ... except to say it wasn't in Athlone, it was on a business park outside the town and didn't live up to our expectations (which, after Trim, were quite high!) 

The next morning after breakfast it was time to head back. By this time Debbie had checked distances and we settled on stopping at Kilbeggan for morning tea/coffee/scones. The cafe was was clearly there just for locals, but as with everywhere else, no one turned a hair at three Tgirls. Then it was onto lunch! The others had been to Bective tearooms before and it was ideal. The cafe there was full but they had 'covid' pods outside and we took one over. 

Then it was back to Dundalk. I can't express my thanks enough to Pamela and Mary, and also Debbie, for making these three days 'en femme' so enjoyable.

I should say that I arrived on Monday and it was now Thursday with still a few days to spend in and around Dundalk. I've curtailed this a bit as it's three months later and soon I shall be back on the ferry across the Irish Sea, but there are more pictures of our few days on flickr. 

Now, the planning for the next adventure begins!