The invite to Jack and Catherine’s wedding in Galway clashed with the OGA Summer Cruise . . . Bev decided to drive across in the new little car using the Holyhead – Dublin ferry while Steve joined the Cruise with Tim as crew. Flying wasn’t going to be any cheaper than the car. Finding ‘solo traveller’ accommodation was a bit of a challenge but taking the campervan would have been almost as expensive. The resulting searches found some lovely overnight stays and driving the new little Fiat 500 was great fun.
Leaving home 0815, Thursday 24 July it was a leisuerly drive to Holyhead over the misty Cat and Fiddle through Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough, only 15°C. Took a break after crossing Britannia Bridge to Anglesey looking across the Swellies to the Menai Bridge. After a boring wait in a long queue at Holyhead the boat left on time arriving 1630 in Dublin after a wonderful crossing; beautiful sunshine on a flat calm sea. Food on board is expensive, luckily there were snacks remaining from the house to keep me going. Docked late and after a horrendous drive through Dublin trying to find the toll-free route arrived at Highfield House, Trim 2030 with a lovely single room overlooking the River Boyne. Went for a short walk to recce breakfast options for the morning.
Checked out and parked the car at the more expensive Trim Castle Hotel for breakfast on Friday – not as special as anticipated. Wandered along the river beside the impressive Anglo-Norman castle, built in the late 12th century by the English Lord of Meath, Hugh of Lacy. Lovely leisurely drive to Galway, checking in to my overnight room above Sheridan’s Bar, Milltown mid-afternoon, staying with some of Jack’s friends. Got a call from Jack asking me to collect tonight’s takeaway (three huge pans of curry) and drove on to the pre-wedding party at a pub in Belclare.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny for the wedding at Sacred Heart Church, Belclare. After a lovely service, chauffeured Dick and Kath down to the Galway Bay Hotel for the reception. It’s pretty expensive and I’d found an excellent alternative, Black Cat; single room above a tapas bar a few minutes walk away. Sunday at noon and there was a call for all guests to don swimsuits for an Atlantic dip with another party at O’Reilly’s Rooftop Bar late afternoon. Kath suggested a quiet evening meal for the four of us – an excellent idea, we decided on the tapas bar. After another dip in the sea on Monday morning I was contemplating a route back when there was a call from Dick – “What are your plans for today?” Seems they were without transport back to Jack’s! After taking them to Belmont, set out for Dublin rather later than planned . . . arriving just in time for an evening meal at Summerhill House Hotel, 1930. It’s on a hill above Enniskerry, chosen for proximity to Dublin Port and excellent breakfast reviews.
The breakfast lived up to the reviewers’ comments including the option of a ‘takeaway box’ to serve as lunch on the ferry. Having finally found the car park at Bray Head there was no time to walk up the hill before braving the Dublin traffic. The drive was exceedingly stressful taking much longer than expected, arriving with just 5 minutes to spare, only to find the ferry was cancelled and I’d been put on a later crossing! Finally arrived into Holyhead 1930 – when I’d expected to be home after another lovely crossing . . . It’s a great drive along the North Wales coast, and I took the M56 as Google found a road closure, then it didn’t report closure of Buxton Road, A6 near New Mills. Having persuaded the workmen to let us through the 500m blocked road as it was getting dark, just before Buxton, it started to rain. Getting home just before midnight there was nowhere to park at the house! Hey ho, that’s one of the few downsides for living here. It was a great trip and I’m now all packed & ready for an early start in the morning . . . off to Suffolk, via a 24-hour stop-over in Cambridge, in the van to meet up with Steve for the second part of the Cruise.
Whole trip just over 800 miles on three tanks of fuel – petrol in Ireland is quite a bit more expensive than in the UK. Got £77 refund on the ferry ticket as it was cancelled, which made up for the late night driving home!!