IRISH-IN-UK-L Archives

From: "Jean R." <>
Subject: [Irish-in-UK] More Recent Trips to Ireland
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 11:47:56 -0700

SNIPPET: In the May-June 2008 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes"
magazine, readers expressed their thoughts on the Emerald Isle:

Barton B. MacLEOD, Laguna Niguel, CA: "Your Jan-Feb 2008 issue featured a
great article on Strangford Lough. Although I now live in Southern
California, I was born in Ireland, and as a boy I spent many summers
visiting family at Sketrick Island, Strangford Lough. I remember crossing a
causeway to get to the island, turning right, passing an old castle to
continue on a dirt road. The road would run into the garage of the family
home. To avoid the house, the road would make a 'S' bend. Corn and wheat
fields occupied the centre of Sketrick Island. I sailed/raced in many
Regattas on these waters. You would really make my day if you featured this
island in the Lough in a future issue of IOTW." (My note, Strangford Lough
is in County Down.)

Eileen J. (Mahoney) RIDGWAY, New Haven, IN: "Last year I sent you an e-mail
because the calendar picture had no captions under them and you very kindly
e-mailed back with the locations. I also told you about not being able to
rent a car in Ireland due to my age and you checked this out for me too. I
was delighted to receive my 2008 calendar (with captions) and to be honest,
I didn't think I would like a calendar with just pictures of bridges
throughout, but they are great. I wish that I could have gone over the
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge when I was there in 1998, but unfortunately our
bus driver said we did not have the time. In your Sept-Oct 2007 issue I
read a letter from a man who said he and his wife had come to Ireland and
had used the bus system to get around by using a Bus Eireann Pass. I think
that this might work for me when I am able to go back again ... I know
that if I tried the bus route, I'd sure have to learn to pack differently
than I do at the moment, as I usually pack just about everything I own; then
when I get back home, I find that I only needed a quarter of what I took
with me. In 2006, I went to the rain forest in Ecuador and the Galapagos
Islands. This year, I'd like to go to Costa Rica too which is another
'adventure' trip, so at my age of 81, I think this will be my last adventure
trip. I'm hoping to figure out a way whereby I can go to both places this
year. I don't have anyone to travel with, many people are so afraid to
travel by themselves, but I'm not." The editor replied, "We really admire
your spirit of adventure and hope that you can find a way to make both your
trips this year. Our national bus company does a range of tourist travel
passes, to get further details on these, please see www.buseireann.ie .

(My note: Per Wikipedia website: Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope
suspension bridge, near Ballintoy, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge
links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. It is thought salmon
fishermen have been erecting bridges to the island for over 300 years. It
has taken many forms over the years. In the 1970s it featured only a single
handrail and large gaps between the slats. The current bridge, tested up to
10 tonnes, was built with the help of local climbers and abseilers in 2000.
Although no one has fallen off the bridge, there have been many instances
where visitors, unable to face the walk back across the bridge, have had to
be taken off the island by boat. The bridge is owned and maintained by the
National Trust, spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.
Today the bridge is mainly a tourist attraction, with 140,000 visitors in
2006. It is still used by fishermen during the salmon season, which lasts
from June until September, however there are now very few salmon left. In
the 1960s, almost 300 fish were caught per day, but by 2002, only 300 were
caught over the entire season. The bridge is now taken down every year in
late October or early November, depending on weather conditions, having been
put up in March. The area is exceptional in natural beauty with stunning
views of Rathlin Island and Scotland. Underneath large caves are visible,
these caves once served as shelter for boat builders during stormy weather.)

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• [Irish-in-UK] More Recent Trips to Ireland by "Jean R." <>