Ireland in July

Trips to Ireland in recent years have tended to be out of Summer, but a few weeks ago the bug got to me and I booked a fortnight at Chez Lennon.

I have had multiple eye problems recently - periorbital stuff - psoriasis, blepharitis, plus conjunctivitis which started before my trip to Wales and have waxed and waned since then. The previous week everything was looking good, but that had a sudden reversal on Sunday, 6th July, such that driving the next day was a problem. For this trip I had decided to stop at motorway services a couple of hours from Holyhead to get several hours rest and that proved wothwhile. The original reason for this was Travelodge/Premier Inn dynamic pricing. Uusally at Holyhead I pay £30-£40, but both chains had taken the price to £140+. The 04.00 ferry from Holyhead was almost empty. Arriving in Dublin at 07.15 on the 8th meant a leisurely drive to Dundalk and the first of many cups of tea. 

Pamela kept reminding me of how, on my last trip, within a couple of hours of arrival she needed me to give her a lift to the nearby Dunnes store and then I had immediately to repack for our nights away in the Irish Midlands, but this wouldn't be the case this time. My eyes were bad so we did nothing until the next morning. At that time my eyes were a little better and Pamela asked me to take her out for a photoshoot, which was accomplished at the Gateway Hotel. This was repeated on Wednesday at The Fairways Hotel. The second was a little less successful as the sun and heat were becoming testing for both of us. My eyes remained quite poor so I wasn't dressing as Thursday was Warrenpoint day and I was saving myself for that. 

On Carlingford Lough

Knowing the predicted temperatures, Pamela thought it unlikely she would accompany us and even early in the morning it was getting hot so Pamela stayed at home while Debbie drove Mary and myself to get the ferry from Greenore (RoI) to Greencastle (NI). I was wearing my new short-sleeve Seasalt dress. At Greenore we had drinks at the COOP (an old coverted COOP shop). The ferry ride was fun and when we arrived at Greencastle we drove to Rostrevor to Kilbroney Park and its Narnia Trail where we had tea. Unfortunately, although I was wearing my old comfy town shoes, something was wrong, especially walking in the park ... blisters, blisters, blisters! (I think that my feet have changed over the last few months). 

With Aslan

We cut short our walk in the park and made our way to Warrenpoint, which is a nice little seaside resort at the head of the Carlingford Lough that I remember fondly walking round with Pauline (we even did a bit of tentative house hunting there in the one year that prices seemed affordable). We had a snack at the Whistledown Hotel before heading back to Dundalk via Newry. The Whistledown Hotel was where, years before, Pauline had insisted finishing a snack despite us being due back at Dundalk in 20 minutes to pick up a Christmas cake ... we made it, just! Back at Chez Lennon it was apparent, on inspection, my right foot was a mess where the skin had blistered over a bunion and bled. I had really enjoyed the Carlingford ferry and I hope it manages to keep going despite a bridge across the lough near Warrenpoint.

 

Three's A Crowd in Next, Newry!

 On Friday, the weather was getting hotter but we got away fairly early in the morning with Debbie who drove us to 'The Secret Garden', part of Carrickdale Hotel and Spa. I was wearing a t-top and long peasant skirt over my flatties. More tea was drunk by the others - I was sticking to black coffee - and photos taken, before a drive into Newry, The Quays. We visited Next and M+S (including tea at Next!) before going into the shopping centre itself. I picked up some things for my blisters in Boots and then we did the tour of the sadly diminishing shops there - River Island, H&M, and even Waterstones. Then it was back to Dundalk again.

 

My right foot was now outdoing my eyes as a source of difficulty and it was very hot. Saturday was a day for doing nothing.

On Sunday, realising that my flatties wouldn't do for the whole time away,  I took myself off to Newry and managed to buy two pairs of sandals - a female pair in Regatta and a male pair in JD Sports, both at half-price. I thought that would be sufficient to cover eventualities.

On Monday, Debbie came and picked Mary and myself (Male mode) up to go to Newgrange, a Neolithic site. The heat and the length of the tour (3.5 hr) had dissuaded Pamela from joining us. It was a long day, but very successful. I'll write about that separately. 

In the Judge and Jury

Tuesday and we headed for Trim for a two-night stay. I was wearing my Regatta sandals which worked perfectly. I was back in my first dress for the day, but wearing the new RW wig. We stopped at Bective Tea Rooms for lunch on the way but it was very crowded and noisy; a different experience to the previous visit for me. At Trim  Castle Hotel, I changed into the blue/blk/white dress for photos and dinner. Unfortunately, the white sling backs I had for evening wear were too uncomfortable and I stuck with the sandals. The hotel was very busy and there was a large group of middle-aged women (from NI) who were clearly having a riotous time! We had mocktails, provided by Debbie on the roof terrace. Dinner was uninpsiring. We decided to go for a drink and after passing plenty of closed bars and cafes stopped at the 'Judge and Jury', near the hotel. 

The next morning I felt very sluggish and with all the bits to do - eyes and feet - I decided to skip breakfast. I chose to wear my other new, blue Seasalt dress. After meeting the others in the foyer we went to the Tourist Information Office where a chap was very helpful. We then went back to the hotel while Pamela and Mary went off to the chemists for whatever they needed. When we got together again we all went in Debbie's car to the outskirts of Trim where we stopped to visit the ruins of the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul and Marcie Regan's where we had a drink (my first coffee of the day!)

On the banks of the Boyne 

 

A few photos were taken and then back to the hotel so Pamela could rest - she'd had little sleep the night before through discomfort to her knee. Debbie and I stayed out for a stroll along the Boyne.

Trim By Night

It was very pleasant and then we went back to the hotel and I rested until it was time to meet up for an evening meal which we had at the Stockhouse. I had changed into my green Seasalt dress. My salmon was excellent but Mary's burger order was all wrong; they had to redo that and the apple pie desserts were very poor with curdled custard; sad really as the place had a good atmosphere otherwise. On the way back to the hotel we took street pictures. 

On the last morning, in my first dress again, I decided to join the others for breakfast but that took a while to sort out as the breakfast room was on the first floor and the signage was inadequate (only being in the lift and I was using the stairs). Breakfast over, we decided we would stop at the Conyngham Arms, Slane, for tea-top-up. We had to park a long way off and the hotel was shut for a wedding, so we just headed back to Dundalk. Knowing how hungry P and M would be I went off to Mullens to fetch chicken 'n chips, before we settled down to the TV series of the Ipcress File.

Friday was definitely a rest day ... and my eyes felt reasonably OK!!! In the afternoon we drove into town to get a cake for Mary and have dinner out - the Jockeys...full, the Windsor ...not serving for another 1/2 hours, so P and I dropped Mary off and got more food from Mullens before settling down to more Ipcress File.

Saturday was another rest day for me. I was feeling better than I had done for ages and wanted to enjoy that feeling! My eyes were still a tiny bit gritty and on close-up there was still blepharitis, much-reduced, but the periorbital odema to my left eye, which seems to be caused by psoriasis, was completely clear and the drooping on the left lower lid was gone (as far as the chalazion lets it go). Pamela dressed and we went to the Gateway for dinner to celebrate Mary's birthday. Then back for the final part of the Ipcress File.

Sunday was spent continuing rest. Debbie had indicated that she would like us to go out on Monday, and that was fine for me - more rest for my eyes and feet (almost better). Pamela had had a bad night so I decided to take the opportunity to take some pictures in Dundalk. I even managed Blackrock alone, much to the chagrin of my hostess. Sleep prevailed inbetween times - the house is very warm and I felt like an old dog!!! No Ipcress File, so we had Miss Marple (don't ask me which ...)

St Patrick's Church, Dundalk 

Dundalk was an industrial town, with the manufacture of shoes (five factories), cigarettes (Sweet Afton) and lager (Harp) - now all gone.

It is now focusing on tech, but many of the trappings of that history are visible.

Carlingford Priory

Monday, we were due to go to Carlingford, but the weather was dreek, so I took the time to pack. In the evening we went for a farewell drink at The Gateway, but we had reserved enough time for Debbie to kindly drive us to Carlingford on Tuesday morning, for a visit to the priory, tea and scones and a visit to a well-frequented (by Pamela and Debbie) dress shop!

 

 There will be more pictures on flickr, but by 6.15pm it was time for me to take my leave and head to Dublin for the ferry. The uneventful return may be more eventful (I might have triggered a speed camera) and, sadly, there was a major diversion before the M2 ... possibly a suicide. But I was back by 7am to unwelcome visitors  ... wasps - a queen has found a way in!!!

All in all, a wonderful two weeks at Chez Lennon with regular appearances of Debbie, who was charming.

 (Apologies if the format is odd, I wanted to get this up before going onto Newgrange and I have difficulty with Blogger, and everything else nowadays ... I've now tidied it up a bit, 23/07).

Footnote ... on 10/08 it is now passed the time for me to have received any summons re speeding ... phew! However, the lesson has been learnt ... there was no purpose to me driving the speed I was (I was simply bored with repeated speed reduction areas with nothing happening at 3am, so didn't slow down the third time I saw the 50 mph sign with no indication as to why the need for the reduction). And the hold-up at the M2 was because of a suicide, putting life into perspective.