Foulksrath Castle, near Kilkenny, IrelandFrom the travel diary: Dec 16 (some years ago) – Monday: Kilkenny, Ireland After a big breakfast I walk down to the railway station and take the train to Thomastown, named centuries ago after Anthony Fitz Thomas. I grew up in Thomastown, Victoria, Australia so I was interested to compare the two places. I alight at the small station with its quaint office. Since the stationmaster is about to drive the ¼ mile distance into town, I manage to get a lift … [Read more...]
Dingle Peninsula – Europe's most westerly point
December 23, 2009 by
It’s raining, the streets look like a movie set. I've just arrived in Dingle, Ireland where I've been youth hostelling. Hurrying along to O’Sullivan’s Hostel, I meet Christopher, who had missed the bus, but managed to cadge a lift here. Inside the hostel, now out of the rain we meet brothers Rick and Peter from Boston and Andre, the hostel manager. Sarah, an American girl arrives. We spend the evening sitting around a huge wooden table drinking coffee and chatting. Rick and Peter play … [Read more...]
Festivals – Galway Oyster Festival
May 7, 2009 by
The World's longest running oyster festival: My greatest disappointment with my two trips to Ireland is that I've never made it to the Galway International Oyster Festival, usually held in September to celebrate the start of the oyster season. I love oysters and Tony loves oysters and Guinness so this festival is really ideal for us, but we've missed it! Origin of the Festival The Galway International Oyster Festival didn't originate out of any Irish tradition or medieval cultural belief, but … [Read more...]
