Gaynor's bar seems to have undergone a facelift since I was last there. Not sure I approve.
Ireland - tips?
- Thread starter SBD
- Start date
It looked like it had a lick of paint outside recently. Inside looked like it had been the same for many a year.
Thats reassuring
As you've noticed the fada over E (É) it's the Gaeilge version, the passport also says Ireland under Éire. So thats just being bilingual. As mentioned, bilingual is good.Very enlightening, thank you.
So it's okay for my Irish passport to call it Éire but it's not okay for me, the passport holder, to call it Éire?
It's a bit of a minefield isn't it?
And your obviously Irish since you have the passport.
You think that's a minefield? Wait till you hear what happens when someone wants to identify as non-binary.... like as both Irish and British as per the GFA!
Thanks to all for the advice, comments, and news of Gaynor’s facelift, not that we saw it.
We’re back, 1858 miles, all safe & well, except my twisted ankle (on the way to the pub).
Some wonderful roads, glorious sights, lovely people, great bars, excellent meals and a truly memorable holiday. Will surely do it again, once the memory of the pain of getting to/from the ports on this side of the Irish Sea has subsided. I really didn’t realise how truly horrible the typical UK car driver is til having to share the M4 and M25 with four million of the fuckers today.
A more considered report, with photos, to follow.
We’re back, 1858 miles, all safe & well, except my twisted ankle (on the way to the pub).
Some wonderful roads, glorious sights, lovely people, great bars, excellent meals and a truly memorable holiday. Will surely do it again, once the memory of the pain of getting to/from the ports on this side of the Irish Sea has subsided. I really didn’t realise how truly horrible the typical UK car driver is til having to share the M4 and M25 with four million of the fuckers today.
A more considered report, with photos, to follow.
You sure it was on the way to the pub? 
Millions might doubt you but I believe you. 
Delighted to hear you had a good time!
Millions might doubt you but I believe you. Delighted to hear you had a good time!
It didn’t start well. M20 only 25 miles from home, a truck had some kind of accident or breakdown in the contraflow which brought us and almost everybody else to a halt for over two hours. Filtering was not an ideal option as two-up with wide panniers and my daughter is a novice rider, coupled with narrow lanes.
Shame, it was a nice day…
Anyway, we got to the first stop in Bath without further ado, and before dark. Next stop Ironbridge, mostly a lovely ride up the Wye valley, and cross country from Leominster to Ironbridge. The A49 was much busier than I remember it, but I last used it regularly some forty years ago, so I guess that’s to be expected.
We stayed at the Best Western Valley hotel, and wandered around the Ironbridge, sadly didn’t have time to do the museum. Difficult to recommend the hotel, as the showers didn’t work…. Dinner in the Thai was good, but had some after effects…
Saturday, we met our lad at Weston Park, and rode to Birkenhead. The weather was appalling from Chester onwards, and we were very grateful to get a very satisfactory fish supper at the Fox & Hounds at Barnston before boarding the Stena ferry at Birkenhead docks. Bikes board first, which was welcome due to the weather.
Unfortunately, we booked late, so had “recliner seats” rather than a cabin. Not recommended
, but crossing was otherwise ok, and arrived on time.
Antrim coast - early morning, slightly damp, drying by the time we stopped for a coffee, empty roads, no potholes. Got passed by one crotch rocket hero, otherwise very relaxed.
Turned inland over Orra bridge, and up to Armoy, where they were setting up for the following weekend’s racing. Mildly odd to find yourself on a racetrack…, after which, the Dark Hedges.
And then onto the Giant’s Causeway
It’s a stiff walk back up the hill in biking gear.
Followed by lunch, somewhere outside Coleraine and then across the Foyle bridge, and turned off to visit the Grianan of Aileach. Recommended, fabulous views, amazing monument.
Thence to Letterkenny, stayed at the Radisson Blu, perfectly fine if a bit boring, and no options for putting the bikes out of sight, so locked them up in the car park outside reception, and hoped. We ate at the Oasis, couple of pints, decent snap, early night…
Tomorrow, more of Donegal.
Shame, it was a nice day…
Anyway, we got to the first stop in Bath without further ado, and before dark. Next stop Ironbridge, mostly a lovely ride up the Wye valley, and cross country from Leominster to Ironbridge. The A49 was much busier than I remember it, but I last used it regularly some forty years ago, so I guess that’s to be expected.
We stayed at the Best Western Valley hotel, and wandered around the Ironbridge, sadly didn’t have time to do the museum. Difficult to recommend the hotel, as the showers didn’t work…. Dinner in the Thai was good, but had some after effects…
Saturday, we met our lad at Weston Park, and rode to Birkenhead. The weather was appalling from Chester onwards, and we were very grateful to get a very satisfactory fish supper at the Fox & Hounds at Barnston before boarding the Stena ferry at Birkenhead docks. Bikes board first, which was welcome due to the weather.
Unfortunately, we booked late, so had “recliner seats” rather than a cabin. Not recommended
, but crossing was otherwise ok, and arrived on time.Antrim coast - early morning, slightly damp, drying by the time we stopped for a coffee, empty roads, no potholes. Got passed by one crotch rocket hero, otherwise very relaxed.
Turned inland over Orra bridge, and up to Armoy, where they were setting up for the following weekend’s racing. Mildly odd to find yourself on a racetrack…, after which, the Dark Hedges.
And then onto the Giant’s Causeway
It’s a stiff walk back up the hill in biking gear.
Followed by lunch, somewhere outside Coleraine and then across the Foyle bridge, and turned off to visit the Grianan of Aileach. Recommended, fabulous views, amazing monument.
Thence to Letterkenny, stayed at the Radisson Blu, perfectly fine if a bit boring, and no options for putting the bikes out of sight, so locked them up in the car park outside reception, and hoped. We ate at the Oasis, couple of pints, decent snap, early night…
Tomorrow, more of Donegal.
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