Jul 20, 2006 - Derry

This morning we headed to our guide Stephen's hometown of Derry, in Northern Ireland, or 'Norn Iron' as they pronounce it. This city has 2 names - the Catholics refer to it as 'Derry', while the Protestants call it 'Londonderry'. There are no longer any border checks as you cross the border, but you definetly feel that you are entering a different country. Everything seems different; the houses, the people, even the look of the countryside (this area has some of Irelands most fertile farmland). Derry is the only town in all the British...

Jun 12, 2006 - land of Guinness

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, so, to make a long story short, I traded in my time in the land where wonderful wine flows more cheaply than water for the land of stout and the company of a pretty girl. This whole "experiment in uncertainty" really seems to be working out considering I was as zen as a hindu cow the night before I left Pisa. You see, 420 euro went missing from my bank account while I was in transit to Paris from Leon, I reported the theft and was under the impression that it was being dealt with. I lived off of 20 euro in Tuscany for an...

Jun 1, 2006 - Londonderry (or Derry if your Catholic)

Pinch Pinch Bam. Next morning arranged a black cab tour, which was highly recommended to us. Taxi driver 'Norman' took us on a hour long tour of the city. Covered mainly in West Belfast where a lot of the strife used to be. Showed us the walls and borders between the 2 parties. A lot of murals also to show the story etc. from both sides, really really interesting. Belfast is really growing now and losing the name it has had for all those nasty things. After that dropped off in the CBD and wandered around, permitted Kylie to buy one garment...

Oct 31, 2005 - Carrigart, County Donegal via Northern Ireland

This morning we picked up our hire car in Dublin. After weaving our way through the Dublin Marathon we were soon on our way north-west. We passed through Northern Ireland and were surprised that there are no border posts or crossings. It was actually hard to figure out the point that we had entered Northern Ireland and the point that we left again a few hours later. We spent the night in a small town at the top of County Donegal. The hotel is closing for the winter tomorrow and we seem to be the only guests staying there. The hotel was so...

Sep 16, 2005 - Derry

Today I left on my 3 day Shamrocker bus tour of Northern Ireland. We had a great guide who grew up in a small town in the north. Our first stop was Trim Castle, and because of time constraints we were only able to walk around the base of the castle and not go in, but it was quite spectacular. In fact, all of the interior castle scenes in Braveheart were shot at Trim Castle, like the one where King Edward throws his son's "war council" out the window. Pictures will be coming if I ever find a place to upload the photos. Then we headed out to...

Sep 6, 2005 - Belfast to Derry

"If you are not confused, you don't understand" is an Irish saying about the conflict here, and epitomises how I feel about what I'm learning. The Catholic/Protestant conflict dates back hundreds of years, and while I do feel that I understand a lot more than I did, I am still very, very confused. I always believed the IRA to be terrorists (and therefore baddies) as the media portrays, but had never even heard of many of the Protestant paramilitary organisations that exist here. The UFF and the UVF are just two of eleven of these. One fact...

Sep 4, 2005 - Dublin to Derry

Monday morning, bright and early, was the start of my ten day "Paddywagon" backpackers bus tour of Ireland. I decided to take the easy option of having someone organise my transport and accomodation for 10 days around Ireland, as I've found it's hard work having to organise it yourself every day as you go. I was a little apprehensive that it might be a little too like a Contiki tour for comfort, but seeing the group of people waiting for the buses outside the Paddy Backpackers Lodge in the centre of Dublin reassured me that I wasn't, by a...

Aug 14, 2005 - Sorry Nana but I had to do it!

I caught my bus early this morning and was off to tour the famous Glens of Atrim and the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland and it certainly did not disappoint. Once again I was very fortunate and had blue, sunny skies all day, and our Irish tour guide was absolutely hilarious! He pointed out a few sights on the way out of Belfast. The Europa Hotel I think it was called is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most bombed out hotel in the world. Bus as he said, almost every type of building in Belfast can make that claim! It's been...

May 22, 2005 - Paddywagon 10 Day All Ireland Tour Day 7

Sunday and all in all a lazy day. We went to the sea-side town of Bundoran, at which there was surf, a golf course and a spa offering seaweed baths. We were recommended the seaweed baths and were going to be in town for a while. Some of us went for a walk, that was until the rain came in anyway. Kieran went to the surf shop, ran by another Aussie, and borrowed a wetsuit from the owner and a board from some locals (the shop didn't hire items because of insurance) and he was off. We didn't hear him, strange as that was for two and a half...

Apr 7, 2005 - Londonderry

Another place of note during the troubles, Derry is a place we thoroughly enjoyed. The trip through the catholic 'bogside'area with the many murals, always under the eye of the British army watchtower unforgettable. Derry was also the place we met a lovely girl from Texas (??!) and Graham from Condoblin who tagged along with us - a good mate here now. The Guiness here was superb and many were consumed...many. We had a great meal here as well and the post mean entertainment was kindly provided by a huge fight between several very drunk boys...

Jul 5, 2004 - Ireland - Derry - The Troubles

If we covered it at all in school, then I must have been snoozing through Irish history. Since arriving in Ireland I've heard stories from locals and tour guides, I've skimmed through numerous history books, read every available travel book written on Ireland, and blatantly copied bits and pieces from various publications to try to piece this article together, but still I fear I may have gotten it wrong. But at least I can say one thing with certainty ... Ireland has had its share of troubles in the past - oh aye! First of all, starting in...