June 22 - 23

June 22 - 23 Newry, County Down; Mountains of Mourne; Belfast; Carrickfergus; Glens of Antrim; Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge; Giant's Causeway; Dunluce Castle.



Click on any picture for an enlarged view.
 Newry, County Down

Newry, County Down I stopped at a park south of Newry and started snapping some pictures when a gentleman approached me.

A panarama overlooking Newry, County Down with Tommy Jones (Irish - not Welsh (his mother was a McLaughlin)) pointing out where Ballyholland was with his cane. Ballyholland (pronounced Bolly-hole-in) is a hillside township S.E. of Newry where a Thomas McLoughlin leased some land in 1864 from The Earl of Kilmorey (pronounced Kilmurry) (yes, KilmurryJ), an English landlord who owned over 50,000 acres of land surrounding Newry.

The Mountains of Mourne can be seen in the distance to the far right. Very coincidentally, Jones' dog was also named Notagain! for reasons unknown.


Newry, County Down Two boys were sliding down the hill of the park when they asked me, "Wuchu-dwin?" I told them I was looking for 2 boys playing near the Mountains of Mourne like in my Dad's painting. They asked me where I was from. I told them, "I emerged from the bwinnngs via Notagain!" They said, "Oh, you're Australian." I asked them what it was that they were sliding down the hill on.

Jerrod and his brother Collin held up a sign that had fallen off the park shelter.


Newry, County Down The Newry Canal runs from Lough Neagh 20 miles north of the city through the center of Newry to Carlingford Lough and the Irish Sea 5 miles south. Here, I am standing in County Armagh with County Down across the channel. Up the hill lies Upper Ballyholland.


Newry, County Down The Mountains of Mourne can be seen in the distance from Newry.

A heavy-set man who looked like Bluto in "Popeye" comics came out of the boat buttoning his pants and looking angry and asked me, "Wuchu-dwin?" Not thinking very clearly, I told them I was looking for 2 buoys floating towards the Mountains of Mourne... He looked to be in no mood to listen to anything about bwinnngs or Notagain!'s so I turned and walked speedily away. I believe I heard him mutter, "...must be from Minnesota" as I made fast tracks far from his boat. I'm still not sure what that comment of his could have meant.


Newry, County Down After crossing the channel into County Down, I drove up Kilmorey Street (pronounced Kilmurry) (yes, KilmurryJ) to get to East Newry and Ballyholland. The "P32" means there's 32 parking spaces. That's 10 more than in the whole city of Dublin!


Newry, County Down The grounds of this church in Newry near Ballyholland with the Mountains of Mourne in the distance seemed to me a special place.



 Mountains of Mourne

Mountains of Mourne Even at low tide at Warrenpoint, the "Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea."



 Belfast

Belfast Overlooking Donegal Quay in Belfast. Two large yellow cranes can be seen in the distance. They are named "Sampson" and "Goliath" and are part of the huge Harland & Wolff Shipyards where the Titanic was built.



 Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus The winning fish is weighed-in at the Annual Carrickfergus Fishing Contest for the 8 - 16 year old age group. It's hard to say which of the young men has won, but my guess is *not* the ones with their hands in their pockets. Yes, believe it or not, there is a fish in the basket.


Carrickfergus The Carrickfergus Castle is Ireland's finest and first Norman Castle, dating from 1177.


Carrickfergus Because it is wood, and can be opened (like today), the door of a castle is its weakest point. This castle has arrow slits in the round towers (round towers have less blind spots than square towers and are stronger.) The high porch (the machicolation) above the door enabled defenders to drop missles down. If an attacker progressed further under the door frame, there is a murderhole above that defenders could drop boiling oil.


Carrickfergus This castle has been besieged many times over the centuries and has been defended by bow & arrow...


Carrickfergus ...by musket...


Carrickfergus ...and by cannon.


Carrickfergus "Roundabouts" replace signal lights at intersections of most roads and highways throughout Ireland and moves traffic well. One must yield to approaching traffic in the roundabout and then enter and exit gracefully using swift decision-making skills. Pedestrians and other drivers near roundabouts I've been through frequently called out the name of my car to me as I tried to read my maps while in a roundabout. I know the name of my car, thank-you!



 Glens of Antrim

Glens of Antrim Making my way to the very north of Ireland, I marvel at the number of sheep and cows. Ireland is very concerned about any spread of the hoof & mouth disease. There are disinfectant mats for us travelers to walk across at sites everywhere throughout the county. I think the animals should be the ones walking on the mats instead.



 Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge It's a mile hike to some islands ahead. To reach the islands, one must cross a bridge made of rope. Scotland can be seen in the distance.


Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge The Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge is 60 feet long and sways 75 feet above the rock-strewn water.


Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge They'd have 100% compliance if they would have put a disinfectant mat on the bridge.


Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge Looking down at the water.


Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge Successfully across, looking back at the mainland.



 Giant's Causeway

Giant's Causeway The Giant's Causeway is one of the world's natural wonders. 37,000 basalt columns have been thrusted up from the ocean some 60 million year ago.


Giant's Causeway The hexagonal columns are each slightly different than its neighbor, but each fits so well on all sides there is hardly any gaps.


Giant's Causeway Awesome & fun!


Giant's Causeway


Giant's Causeway My favorite picture.


Giant's Causeway



 Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle Dunluce Castle dates from the 14th-century.


Dunluce Castle The castle's grounds are huge.


Dunluce Castle In 1639, the kitchen on the castle's lower yard fell into the sea. Servants and a night's dinner were lost.




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 Main Index

June 19 - 21 Hill of Tara; Donaghmore Tower; Slane Hill; Newgrange; Monasterboice; Mellifont Abbey; My Rental Car; Ireland's Roads.

June 22 - 23 Newry, County Down; Mountains of Mourne; Belfast; Carrickfergus; Glens of Antrim; Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge; Giant's Causeway; Dunluce Castle.

June 24 - 25 Arboe High Cross; Tullaghoge Fort; Ulster American Folk Park; Redcastle; Inishowen Peninsula; Grianan of Aileach.

June 26 - 27 Sligo Town; Isle of Innisfree; Carrowmore; Carrowkeel; Aughanure Castle; Connemara; Kylemore Abbey.

June 28 - 29 Cliffs of Moher; The Burren; Poulnabrone Dolmen; Rothe House; St. Canice's Cathedral; Black Abbey; Kilkenny Castle; Jerpoint Abbey; Rock of Cashel.

June 30 - July 2 Browne's Hill Dolmen; Glenart Castle Hotel; Arklow Beach; Greystones; Powerscourt Gardens; Dublin.