Safely home

Leaving Dublin

Not much to report for this final post. I left the hotel in Dublin, then went to the airport and checked in etc... etc...

The flight home was good. The 8 hours first flight from Dublin to Dubai went reasonably quickly, then it was a quick change over in Dubai before boarding the next flight to Perth. The eleven hours went relatively quickly as I was able to sleep a little. To pass the time I watched  a series called The First Ladies, which followed various First Ladies of the American Presidency, and I thought it was quite well done.

It was lovely to come home to Perth in the end even though it was raining!  The weather in Ireland had been outstanding, and Marie reported it was going to be 25 Degrees today. Fortunately the rain stopped overnight, so that Wattle could do her own washing!!! I kissed my washing machine when I came home and it was a beautiful sunny day for drying!

Wattle's washing!

So, that's the end of the penny section, folks! I had the best time and my favourite moments were those spent with my family over there. Some of my favourite times included Susie's 90th at the Atlantic Hotel, which we just happened upon, the day out to Thurles to watch the Hurling, and time spent with Nora, recording her memories of days gone by. And I loved Sean's tour of the farm, and visiting the Holy Wells was pretty unique too!

But my favourite time each day was just my routine every morning, where I would go to Mass, walk along the beach and then have my coffee. It was in these moments that I most felt part of the village and almost a local. And the evenings spent having meals at The Atlantic Hotel where Declan the the boys and girls always made me feel welcome.

I'm very grateful to Marie and her family for the time they spent with me and the welcome they gave me. I really do feel part of the family now and hope our paths cross again in the not too distant future. 

And thanks to you all, my lovely readers, who offered your comments and emails and messages. You are my lifeline while I am away, as you help fill the void of being apart from the regular contacts I have with you all.

Wattle is going to have a rest from Wandering for a little while, but who knows what life holds next?? 

So... as quoted by one of my faithful correspondents!!!

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Just a late addition...

This song just sums up for me the last month. Brings a tear to the eye!!

Clare, my heart, my home.

 Day 30 Titanic Exhibition in Belfast

Titanic Exhibition Building

I think I saved my biggest excursion for my last day!  My friend Kerry Brown had been encouraging me for ages to go and visit this exhibition, even though it was one and a half hours away in Belfast.

Balbriggan was on the right side of Dublin (north) and it was feasible, although it turned out to be a big day to finish off.

So I had my breakfast and checked out of the hotel in Balbriggan. It was ok, but I wouldn't rush to go back there again... shouldn't complain I guess!

And off I went on my last big journey.

The road was good - double lanes all the way.

But today my Google Maps decided to have a hissy fit and just kept opting out..

When I arrived in Belfast it took me to the Titanic Exhibit but not to the car park, so I had to do a few laps around the block before I eventually asked a taxi driver and he pointed me in the right direction.

Lucky I had booked my ticket before I came.. because I think it was significantly dearer if you just rocked up on the spot.

The exhibition was great, but it was really crowded... I'm so glad I didn't come on a weekend, I think it would've been much worse.

It started with a synopsis of  Belfast town in those days. It was the linen production  that gave Belfast its wealth to construct ships like the Titanic.

Story of Belfast

Story of Belfast

It went through a lot of history of the time and it also showed the growth of the shipyards by Harland and Wollf and the immense structures that they built to accommodate the construction of ships like the Titanic.

Harland and Wolff Gates

Harland and Wolff xtructures

Harland and Wolff info

View of Shipyards

View of Shipyards

Me with shipyards in the background

But it really started to get interesting when they started displaying the info about the Titanic

First Class Cabin

Second Class Cabin

Second Class Cabin

Third Class Cabin

Third Class Cabin

Sanitary Conditions on board

Apparently there was no steerage class on the Titanic, so even the lowest class still had  decent facilities.

It was sad reading about all the "Marconigrams" that were sent from the Titanic and the consequences of each one...

Marconigrams 1

The last messages

The inquest made a few very significant finding...

Inquest findings

Inquest findings

They exhibit then went on to explore how the Titanic was found... 

It also shared a few models of the Titanic

Model of the Titanic

So, after all that mental energy was spent, I needed a coffee..

Coffee Time

Then I had to drive home again - this time to the Radisson Blu at Dublin airport, where I dumped my bags then went to deliver the car back to the depot. Once again my little Google Maps was having a mind of her own and tried to take inside the terminal to the Sixt desk. So I had to go around the block a few times... I even ended up on the road to Belfast again... Oh no...!!!

But eventually it all was sorted and now i'm  back in my hotel and hopefully will have a good night's sleep before I board the plane tomorrow to fly home.

So that's the end of the penny section..

I've had such a lovely month in Ireland. I just loved the village life at Lahinch and the beauty of the Ocean there. 

But I know it's time to go home now, and I will take all my treasured memories with me.

Thanks to everyone who has hung in with me over the journey. and especially to those who have sent emails and messages and comments along the way.... they kept me going!

Hope you have enjoyed and I will look forward to catching up with people in person, so I can share my journey with you if you are interested! i might bore everyone to death!!!

Take care and stay safe and may your God go with you!

 Day 29 Balbriggan

Balbriggan Beach

Well I've crossed the country from one side to the other and it only took me a little over 3 hours. I went via Limerick today and most of the road was excellent - double lane highway. I stopped at the roadside stop near Roscrea and had a little break, but it was easy driving. 

It was sad leaving Lahinch this morning. I went up and had a quick cuppa with the Shannons and dropped off all the stuff in the fridge that I couldn't take with me. Then Patrick and Ellen jumped in my car, as Marie was going to lead me out via the back roads, which meant I missed all the local traffic. She left me in Inagh and it was only a short journey to Ennis from there.

Ellen Moira Patrick

Patrick in Moira's car!

We had hugs all round and then I had to journey on alone! But I was taking with me so many memories and wonderful warm feelings that will keep me going for a while.

So I knew I had to return the hire car to Dublin airport today... unfortunately all the hire car companies in Ireland only allow you 28 days use of their  car and then you have to re-book it! I only needed it for 2 more days, because I had already booked my airfare and couldn't change that, so I decided to spend 2 nights in Dublin. I'm spending tonight in Balbriggan - more about that later! And tomorrow night I'm staying at an hotel near the airport, in preparation for me flying out on Tuesday .

It was an expensive exercise to book for just 2 more days, and because I'm hoping to go to Belfast tomorrow to see the Titanic Exhibition, I had to pay another fee to enter Northern Ireland!

Anyway, I successfully managed to keep the same car so I don't have to learn a new car for two days! And I have all my plugs inserted and my phone paired etc...

So... why Balbriggan.??? Because my maternal grandfather came from Balbriggan... Mum's father was born here and sadly his Mother died when he was only about 11 years old. So his Father took the rest of the family and emigrated to Leicester, where my Grandfather (William Andrew Nolan) met my Grandmother (Florence Georgina Hunt)  and the rest is history.

We don't have much information on my grandfather, as apparently the records were all destroyed in a fire, but I still come here to feel his presence.

Balbriggan Church

Inside Balbriggan Church

I went inside but there was a Mass on - I suspect  it was in Ukrainian, as there are a lot of refugees in Ireland, but that's only a guess!

So here's a few more landmarks from around the town.

Balbriggan  beach - bit different from Lahinch!

Balbriggan  beach - bit different from Lahinch!

Balbriggan Beach is located on the Irish sea between Ireland and the UK.

And we have another link with those dastardly Black and Tans!!! You may remember the Black and Tans were involved in murder and arson in Clare, as a revenge for the Rineen Ambush.

The movie below describes how they were once again involved in murder, arson and looting as they destroyed many parts of Balbriggan in what was known as the Sack of Balbriggan.

My cousin, John Nolan, put me on to this...

I have found a few interesting links to the Sack of Balbriggan.

There is a memorial to Seamus Lawless and Sean Gibbons on Bridge Street in Balbriggan just near Quay Street. 

From memory, it is on a small bridge over a stream - it can be seen at 6:55 and 15:25 on the YouTube video below which is a good coverage of the whole event and the town today.

So here's the video

And here's the bridge as mentioned by John. Actually, it's virtually across the road from the hotel where I'm staying....

Memorial

Little brook near the memorial

And this view looks down Quay Street to..... The Quay!!!!!

Looking down Quay Street

There was also a round tower near Balbriggan Beach, which was not labelled in any way, so, as you do, I googled it - and once again the Black and Tans got a mention...

Martello Tower

It is called a Martello Tower  

This website tells us..

The North Dublin towers are numbered one to twelve starting at Red Rock Sutton Creek on the Dublin side of the Howth peninsula. All twelve towers constructed remain standing but only the tower at Howth harbour is open for viewing, being recently restored and now a Vintage Radio Museum

The tower at Balbriggan is in a very poor condition with the entire top of the tower is missing. The Town of Balbriggan was ‘sacked’ by the Black and Tans during the War of Independence in the 1920’s and the extent of the damage to this tower would suggest that it may also have been subject to plunder in a reprisal attack but it was otherwise vandalised

The historical records of the period circa 1910 include several Valentine collection photographs of the Balbriggan Martello tower in excellent condition.

One more unknown landmark was the Bremore Castle

Bremore Castle

Bremore Castle sign

Once again I had never heard of this, so off to Google we go again..

The Fingal Council provides the answer...

Bremore Castle is a large tower house located north of Balbriggan, County Dublin. Estimated to have been built in the 14th century, the Norman Barnewalls family held it from the time of construction till 1727, the year in which it was sold. However, the first mention of this castle or its location was in reference to William Rosel De Brimor, who held land in England and Ireland at the end of the 13th century. Its deterioration began much before the sale, and by 1783, it was termed as “not many years ago inhabited” by Austin Cooper, a prominent antiquarian of that time.

So that's just a little snapshot of Balbriggan. Because I had to muck around with the cars, my time here has been very limited.

So just to finish up, here is my  hotel

Bracken Court Hotel

It looks a bit posh, but it's comfortable, but a bit faded, elegance!

So it's a whole new world being in Dublin. Already I miss my Atlantic Hotel, as the dining room here is closed on Sunday and there's only bar food on offer. And I desperately miss the beach at Lahinch... that was my favourite part of each day, just walking along the Promenade and seeing the different moods of the Atlantic.

But I guess it's a bit of a hiatus between Lahinch and flying home.  Just gives me time to adjust...

I've been so blessed over the last month - I should just be extremely grateful for everything!

 Day 28 The Cliffs of Moher again

Moira at the Cliffs of Moher

As you can see from the picture above it was another perfectly splendid day in Lahinch. It is my last day here and I have to admit that going back to the Cliffs of Moher was not my first thought. But Ellen is in a little singing group that was performing up there to raise money for local charities, so Marie, Ellen and I went up there for the afternoon. (Patrick and Pat went to Kilrush for Patrick's dancing competition.)

The first thing you noticed was the traffic. It's Saturday and the sun is out and I think every tourist in Ireland came to the Cliffs today.  It took us 15 minutes just to get into the Car Park - it was chaotic!

Then once we actually got over the road and into the Cliffs of Moher Park, there were just millions of people. I tried to keep away from them, but that was a bit hard! But there were lots of attractions to look at and lots of people collecting money!!!

I think Marie knows every single person in the area, so she met up with her former boss from when she worked for a short time at The Cliffs.

Joe and Marie

Here's a small sample of what was available!!

Marie went for the cars!!!

This Morris Minor was complete with Mr Bean!

And of course there were lots of crafts to have a look at...

Spinners

And of course you could always have a look at the actual Cliffs of Moher!!

Cliffs of Moher

But what we had come to see was the young people singing..

Ellen's singing group

Here's a small selection of their performance

That one was called "Clare my heart my home" and a lot of the Mums were singing along too!!!

Ellen on the fiddle

There was also a  group from the Clouna school and they sang great little song, which they had made up themselves. It was called "In County Clare we have it all" It received a great clap at the end!

When I asked one of the Mums if that was the entire school, she said "Oh no, we have 51 students"

I think one of the first classes I taught had nearly that many students in it!!!

Clouna is about half way between Lahinch and Corofin.

Here's their song - it's a ripper!!!

So after all that musical entertainment, Marie offered to buy some drinks, but the queue was just too long. Even the toilet queue went forever!!!

So we stopped and had our photos taken with the virtual background..

Cliffs of Moher Background

O'Brien's Tower

We stopped at the tourist shops on the way out and Ellen selected a necklace with her name on it!

Ellen and Moira and the necklace

Ellen and Marie

Then to compensate for not being able to get some refreshments at the Cliffs we stopped on the way home at Liscannor and Marie and I both had a half pint of Smithwicks! It was lovely and cold after all that  thirsty work.

Ellen and Marie in the pub. 

So that was my last day in Lahinch for now... and what a way to spend it!

I meant to mention I was up very early again this morning to watch my footy match. It was on here at 4.30am

Have to admit I don't mind getting up early if we keep on winning. What a match!!!

So it's been a very full day and it's still not over. I'm going to Mass at 6.30pm then I taking pizzas up to the Shannons for our last meal for this time.

Then tomorrow I'm on the road to Dublin - actually to Balbriggan - from whence my maternal Grandfather came. I'm not planning on doing much family tree stuff there though - we've gone about as far as we can go with him.

What a wonderful month this has been. I have been so blessed with family, with the weather, with so many people in the village who were kind to me and suggested places I could go. I feel very much at home here and hopefully I will return one day to continue the story!

PS Had a lovely dinner with the Shannon family - think I've nearly convinced them to come to Oz!!!

Beautiful sunsets from their house''

Patrick Pat Marie Ellen Shannon

Sunset over Tullygarvan