Days like these
 MALCOLM ROGERS sifts through the mailbag and reveals just a few of your nominations for a great day out in Ireland.
Apparently, there are such things these days as travel counsellors — where you and your counsellor have each other’s phone numbers and you might end up discussing your travel plans over a glass of wine. An idea imported from America, in case you hadn’t guessed.
But no need for that with our special — though unofficial — Irish Post advisory service. And I’m talking about you the reader here. Because recently the travel section featured 10 unmissable days out in Ireland, and we asked you to come up with your best day out.
Well, we have been deluged with entries and are currently sifting through the best of them.
Of course, special days out in Ireland aren’t hard to come by. OK, maybe it rains a bit from time to time — but if you remember the old adage, there’s no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes, then you won’t go far wrong.
My own choice of a great day out (and in) usually centres round the seaside — a good bracing walk by a snarling, rocky shore — followed by a few snifters beside a roaring fire. Surf, turf and hot toddies make an unbeatable combination.
In the entries we have received, however, suggestions have come in many forms. City weekend breaks sampling the nightlife of Dublin and Galway are a favourite, as are visiting medieval towns like Carlingford or Kilkenny. According to Mr. Phil McCorcoran from Luton, they are “so enchanting that you have to keep reminding yourself that it isn’t an illustration from Hans Christian Andersen you’re looking at”.
And of course there’s the seisúns. Very few towns in Ireland don’t have at least one pub where the craic is going at full throttle every night of the week. This is a recurring theme in many of your entries, and is obviously an integral part of any visit home for manyof you.
Funnily enough, that strange bedfellow of the craic — the melancholy nature of the countryside — is also a regularly mentioned attraction of the country. Truly it can be said that Ireland is a country of contrasts.
Now, without further ado, we’re pleased to unveil a sample of your suggestions for a Perfect Day Out.
A meeting with history at Beal na Blath
Dawn Mitchell of Basingstoke writes:
My most memorable day in Ireland was 24th August, 2003 when I went to the Beal na Blath Address and was absolutely thrilled to meet Michael Collins’ grand niece Nora Owen.
I was so excited that I just walked straight up to Nora and started talking to her and she chatted with me for a little while about Michael and the Collins family. Nora is really nice and even signed a commemorative newspaper I bought at the event.
I was thrilled when I visited Michael’s family home (Woodfield), but I think meeting Nora is probably the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
I’m still thrilled about it even now. It was wonderful to be surrounded by people who also love Michael.
Sláinte to all who love Ireland!
A lazy day of luxury in the heart of Dublin
Joe McGloughlin from West Drayton writes:
My own favourite day would be in Dublin. I’d stay overnight in the Burlington in Ballsbridge — executive lounge of course.
Then after breakfast I’d stroll down to Stephen’s Green and watch the world go by. About mid-morning I’d make my way to Grafton Street and into Bewley’s coffee house. Doughnuts and latte -— it is a perfect day after all! — and I’d have a read of the newspapers.
Then I’d do a bit of tourist activity — maybe go to the National Gallery or perhaps the Natural History Museum (probably the best museum in these islands).
Drinks would follow at the Shelbourne — a gin and tonic would go down nicely — and hopefully fall into conversation with convivial company. Never a difficult thing in Dublin.
Over dinner — probably at Le Coq Hardi — I would then decide which pub or theatre to spend the rest of my perfect Irish day in.
Beat that if you can...
A moment of tranquility by the Kenmare River
Brian Luff (who didn’t give his address) writes:
I wrote a journal in 1997, just a rough memory of a great visit to Ireland, after taking a well-earned break from my job as a fork lift truck driver.
My most memorable entry from the journal was reaching the bridge that crosses the mouth of the Kenmare River, and turning right to the bay, I walked down to the beach — it’s not a sandy strand, but a stony beach.
I walked along the shore and found a large boulder to sit down on.
The stone was split along the middle, as if it had been struck by lightning, or maybe the sword of some ancient Celtic warrior.
As I sat there the only sound I could hear was the meditative ebbing of the water before me and the gentle hush of the breeze in the canopy above me.
I sat and enjoyed the most perfect peace I had ever experienced.
Singing to seals on the coast of Mayo
Bridie Meyers, originally from Strabane, now living in Weymouth writes:
My most perfect day was in Belmullet in Co. Mayo.
My husband and I were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and our three children had paid for us to stay in Westport, where we were having dinner that evening. But during the day we decided to drive northwards, round Clew Bay and on up to Belmullet.
It was a spring day, the trees were beginning to bud and the turquoise water of Clew Bay looked more inviting than any bay I had ever seen in the Mediterranean or Aegean. Scores of islands just floating in dreamlike beauty.
We reached Belmullet and walked down to the strand — and there, just about 20 yards away from us was a family of seals. We sat down for what seemed an eternity and watched the seals cavorting in the water.
My husband Declan even sang The West’s Awake to them, but they seemed fairly unimpressed!
We eventually left the seals to themsleves, and walked along the beach with the pebbles scrunching under our feet. After a mile or so we began picking up driftwood from the beach, and in the shelter of a rock built a wee fire. We sat down beside it, opened our flask of coffee and reflected that on a fine summer’s day Ireland really is a piece of heaven that has fallen out of the sky.
Truly a memorable day.
Braving the ocean swell on a trip to the Cilffs of Moher
Mandy Mulligan from Harlesden writes:
My most memorable day — but perhaps not my most enjoyable — was the boat trip I took from Doolin Pier to the Cliffs of Moher.
Me and my friends booked the journey the day before, but when we woke the following morning it was the windiest day of the summer! A gale was blowing — well the radio said force 4, but if you normally live in Harlesden that’s a gale! Anyway, I wanted to call it off, but my two mates were all for it, so off we went, with my heart sinking further every yard of the way.
My spirits sunk even lower when I saw the Atlantic angrily braking over the pier wall. Even my two friends, Marion and Caroline seemed noticeably quieter.
However, the captain PJ said “it’s only a light breeze” so off we went.
It was unbelievable. Frightening, but I have to admit quite exhilarating.
PJ was so calm, and so knowledgeable about the currents, the rocks, the seabirds and so on, that
I soon forgot my nervousness and began to really enjoy the spray in my hair and the wind tugging at my anorak.
The Cliffs looked amazing from the sea —the stone stacks look like temples, and the sea was crashing against the shore. You haven’t really seen the Cliffs of Moher until you’ve seen them from the sea,
The journey going back was quieter — the wind was behind us — and I have to admit I was glad when the boat finally moored at Doolin Pier. But it was a day I’ll remember for ever.
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