Welcome to this year’s tour
Ever since we completed our epic three week tour of the Scottish highlands & islands in 2009 (details HERE for anyone who missed that), I’ve been kicking around an Ireland tour. But it would have to be a comprehensive one, there’s no point doing things by halves
3,500km and the Bongo was yet again the bulletproof weapon of choice for this tour
I did want to do this back in the eighties but Mrs Muz wasn’t keen as, at that time, we had a green Land-Rover and that was at the height of the ‘troubles’. Sure, I’ve been to Dublin for a business meeting and we went to Belfast for a day-trip last year (which I would thoroughly recommend, details HERE for anyone who missed that) but Ireland as a whole was completely uncharted territory for all of us. Actually, my business meeting wasn’t exactly in Dublin, it was on a barge in Dublin Bay in 2004....
....this one
and required a deft bit of timing to jump aboard from the rock-dodger as it bobbed up & down on the swell. But I digress 
Now bearing in mind that this tour has been at the planning stage for some considerable time, you can imagine my consternation on hearing the news that, with only two weeks to go, our ferry arrived in Belfast with a big hole in the side of it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17293090
Frantic emails back & forth to Stena as their other two ships were due in Harland & Wolff’s dry dock....
Plan B - no midnight oil required, just a leisurely drive to Liverpool....
....to catch one of the newly refurbished vessels on a misty Saturday morning
Spookily enough hatris (Harry & Trish) had at very short notice decided to wave us off from Crosby
Luckily they had their camera, if you look closely you can see us and our Bongo as the ship appeared to be sailing into a sandbank
Here’s a clue
Settle down for an 8-hour sailing from Birkenhead to Belfast
Stena Lagan, only released from dry-dock two days earlier
Calf of Man as we pass by the bottom of the Isle of Man
Chicken Rock lighthouse at the tip of the Isle of Man
It’s a long sailing
Biggest dry-dock in the world, Harland & Wolff in Belfast
This Bongo was also on the ferry, he gave us some good tips for places to stop in exchange for info on our Omnistor awning
Carrickfergus castle, County Antrim
First overnight stop, Glenarm, County Antrim
Cushendun village from Runabay Head, County Antrim
Not for the faint-hearted, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, County Antrim....
....a hundred-foot drop into the sea....
....where fishermen used to cross to check salmon nets....
....but now just a challenge
Next, the Giant’s Causeway....
....a fitting bookend for the kids....
....as they went to the Isle of Staffa and Fingal’s Cave on the Outer Hebrides tour....
....allegedly the other end of the Causeway
Never too cold for ice-cream
A quick visit to the Old Bushmills Distillery (where there was a Bongo with BF sticker in the back window, hello if you’re reading this) and an even quicker visit to the Hip Chip chippy in downtown Bushmills where we sampled the local speciality – Deep-fried Scotch egg, chips & mushy peas
Dunluce castle, County Antrim
The starting grid for the NW200 road races, Portstewart, County Londonderry
Downhill House, County Londonderry
Downhill House, County Londonderry
Portstewart from Downhill House, County Londonderry
Mussenden Temple, County Londonderry
Downhill House, County Londonderry
Downhill House gardens, County Londonderry
Bishop’s Gate, County Londonderry
Lough Foyle ferry, Magilligan to Greencastle, or from Northern Ireland to the Republic....
....this is in fact the much smaller Lough Swilly ferry while the proper one gets serviced
Malin Head weather station, all you land-lubbers may have heard it on the BBC Shipping Forecast....
....with some super-scientific gear for measuring the rainfall
Up to Banba's Crown, County Donegal for hot chocolate & Flumps....
....this is the most northerly point in Ireland....
....in fact we’re in Southern Ireland but further north than anywhere in Northern Ireland
....a suitable place to pitch camp for night Two
Up early and bacon & eggs for breakfast!!
Glenveagh castle, County Donegal
Temple Guardian Statue, Glenveagh castle, County Donegal. Can you spot who’s who?
Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal
Glenveagh castle gardens, County Donegal
Glenveagh castle, County Donegal. Do not feed the animals
Glenveagh castle, County Donegal
Glenveagh castle, County Donegal. No photography inside
Glenveagh castle, County Donegal
Lough Beagh, Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal
Fast food? – We’re behind schedule so Mrs Muz is making butties as we head through Amazing Grace country, south to Northern Ireland
Enniskillen castle, County Fermanagh
Mullaghmore Head, County Sligo, third overnight stop
Muz Jr in charge of cooking
Bockwürsts & rice – ideal campervan single-pot fare....
....some of the ingredients had been in the van for several years
Me in charge of breakfast, so that’ll be bacon & eggs then
Not too shabby for a free night’s camp....
...but there was a “Roof down” emergency in the night as it got just a tad breezy
Classiebawn Castle, County Sligo. Jr was navigating, I asked what this was and he helpfully replied “Some rich geezer's house.”
Chicken tikka jalfrezi with pilau rice, chips & keema nan? – Don’t mind if I do
Typical scenery
Leenane, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey, formerly Kylemore castle, County Galway viewed across Pollacappul Lough
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway – Check out the muppets in the mirrors
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
The Gothic church on the same site
I’m guessing they get a fair amount of rain here
A Funky Gibbon?
....and a Honky Cat?
Kylemore Abbey walled garden, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey walled garden, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey walled garden, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey walled garden, County Galway
The Hills of Connemara, County Galway. Cue Tom Donovan
Dunguaire castle, County Galway
Under Gleninag mountain, Galway Bay, County Clare for the fourth overnight stop.
Muzette in charge of tea....
....Pasta, beans & pasta sauce....
....more Bongo-cupboard essentials!!
Awwww
Bon appetit!!
There’s a video to go with this for the not-so-squeamish amongst you
Cheers!! – Don’t mind if I do!!
Kids off exporing....
....before a glorious evening....
....overlooking the Galway Bay
A cold morning, got to get going!!
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
O’Brien’s Tower, Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Shannon ferry....
....Killimer to Tarbert....
....or County Clare to County Kerry....
There be a rose somewhere
Corrán Tuathail, County Kerry, at 1038m the highest mountain in Ireland. Locals always in the way
Dingle Bay, County Kerry
Dingle Bay, County Kerry
Ahoy land-lubbers - Valentia weather station, County Kerry, now no longer on Valentia Island
Reenard Point, County Kerry
Knight's Town, Valentia Island, County Kerry
Cahersiveen, County Kerry
Awwww
Do you think it’s normally windy up here?
UNESCO world heritage site Skellig Michael or Great Skellig from Valentia Island
Little Skellig
Portmagee, County Kerry
Valentia Island telegraph field with the Skelligs in the background....
....where the first transatlantic telegraph message was relayed.
Kenmare estuary, County Kerry
Kenmare estuary, County Kerry
Looscaunagh Lough, Killarney National Park, County Kerry....
....a nice spot to pitch camp for the night
Bockwürsts & rice again for tea....
....with some local refreshments
A lovely evening....
....if a bit on the chilly side
What a day in prospect!!
Now I’m not saying it was cold overnight....
Kids enjoying the morning....
....in stunning surroundings....
....while the adults pack up
Lough Leane, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Torc waterfall, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross House, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross Abbey, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross Abbey, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross Abbey, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross Abbey, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross Abbey, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross House, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Muckross Lake, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Molly, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Ross castle, Killarney National Park, County Kerry
Blarney castle, County Cork
Blarney castle, County Cork
Blarney castle, County Cork
Anyone for kissing the Blarney stone? – at the top of the tower....
....here?
Lean back over the gap and kiss....
....in the old days there was no safety railing....
....and you could fall to your death – there’s a Sherlock Holmes investigation that turns into a murder enquiry when they notice that the boots of the deceased had been greased
If falling from the tower didn’t get you, there’s some more ideas here
Blarney castle, County Cork
Come on, shake a leg!!
Awww
Blarney house, County Cork
Fern garden, Blarney castle, County Cork
Blarney castle, County Cork
Blarney castle, County Cork
Blarney castle, County Cork
Looking for that perfect picture....
Blarney castle, County Cork
Blarney castle, County Cork
Glanagear forest, Nagles mountains, County Cork, a quiet overnight spot
Glanagear forest, Nagles mountains, County Cork
Glanagear forest, Nagles mountains, County Cork
Contemplation
Just then, and bearing in mind this is about 7am, a lone walker appeared out of the mist, looking disturbingly like Harry
and enquired “This might sound like an odd question but have you any idea where we are?” to which Mrs Muz helpfully replied “Ireland.” He was taking three weeks to walk from Dublin to Portmagee (about 350km) taking in the Blackwater, Duhallow and Avondhu Ways, he was completely self-contained and wouldn’t take a brew or a bacon butty from us – just continuing his journey back into the midst of the mist 
Bacon, egg & Clonakilty black pudding for breakfast – more like haggis than black pudding
(Clonakilty is renowned for its black pudding, it originated in Edward Twomey's butcher shop in Pearse Street. The secret spice recipe has been handed down through the generations since the 1880s, and is still known only to the Twomey family who continue to manufacture the pudding at the Clonakilty Food Company
)
Now THAT’s what you call a butty!!
Jr struggling with jiggly eggs or an egg-banjo sandwich as it’s more commonly known
Glanagear forest, Nagles mountains, County Cork
In search of another photo
Glanagear forest, Nagles mountains, County Cork
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, County Cork
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, County Cork. Photo ©Muz Jr
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, County Cork
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, County Cork
Muzette in action...
Holy Trinity Church, Cork, County Cork. Photo ©Muzette
Blackrock castle, Cork, County Cork
Lough Mahon ferry, Passage West to Cobh
Old Midleton distillery and The Jameson Experience
Except it’s Good Friday and Irishmen countrywide are wearing black armbands as it’s one of only two days of the year that you can’t get a drink anywhere 
Lismore castle, County Waterford
It’s a long way
River Suir, Cahir, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
River Suir salmon ladder & St. Paul's Church, Cahir, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
Cahir castle, County Tipperary
Bansha woods, Galty mountains, County Tipperary. Overnight solitude
River Suir at Golden, County Tipperary
Hore Abbey, County Tipperary
WTF?!?!?
Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary
Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary
Cormac's Chapel, Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary
Cormac's Chapel, Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary
Jessie, Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary
Kilkenny castle, County Kilkenny
Well, for week 2 our accommodation is more static....
....and a little bigger
No letup in the tour though, still plenty of places to go 
Knocktopher Abbey, County Kilkenny
Knocktopher Abbey, County Kilkenny
Knocktopher Abbey, County Kilkenny
Perfection!!
A muppet buying more Guinness
Two muppets
Jerpoint Abbey, County Kilkenny
Enniscorthy castle, County Wexford
Ideal weather for ducks.....and ducklings
Peacock....
....having acupuncture to its head
Johnstown castle, County Wexford
Espaliered fruit tree, Johnstown castle walled garden, County Wexford
Primroses, allegedly
Tintern Abbey, County Wexford, and I always had that as being in Monmouthshire
The rather ecclesiastical bridge outside Tintern Abbey, County Wexford
Hook lighthouse, County Wexford
Ballyhack to Passage East ferry....
....or County Wexford to County Waterford
Waterford Crystal
Taking the glass from the furnace....
....moulding it....
....not sure what he was making here
....
....flattening the edges....
....cutting the patterns....
....don’t drop it!!....
....perfection
....Our new wine glass
The ferry to Little Island, County Waterford
Waterford castle, County Waterford
Ferry back from Little Island, County Waterford
There are derelict tower-houses all over but how about this restored one, Ballaghmore castle B&B, County Laois
There are ruins of Abbeys all over too, but this one was particularly interesting, Monaincha Abbey, County Tipperary
Roscrea castle, County Tipperary
Leap castle, County Offaly
Birr castle, County Offaly
The Great Telescope, Birr castle, County Offaly, built in the 1840’s it was the biggest telescope in the world for 70 years
Relaxing, Birr castle, County Offaly
Clonmacnoise Monastery, County Offaly
Celtic crosses, Clonmacnoise Monastery, County Offaly
Quin Abbey, County Clare
Bunratty castle, County Clare
There once was a family called Muz, who got a Bongo to see what it does, they went camping each week, took pics for all to peek, and when asked why said “Just because”.
King John's castle, County Limerick
Ardnacrusha hydroelectric scheme, County Clare, home of the tallest locks in the British Isles, 60 feet and 40 feet in one 2-lock staircase
No traffic that day so I wasn’t able to view the locks myself but I’ve stolen this pic from the net
Effin, County Limerick, where they had trouble with FaceBook, details HERE
Now, let’s get to the Effin pub and then to the Effin chippy!!
Relaxing after a tough day on tour
Ballyteige Bay, Celtic Sea – What a place for a wild-camp!!
Ballyteige Bay, Celtic Sea
Ballyteige Bay, Celtic Sea
Cold?
Ballyteige Bay, Celtic Sea. Never too cold to go in the sea
Clonmines Abbey, County Wexford
Local in a caravan, County Wexford, with a couple of horses tethered nearby
Kells Abbey, County Meath – another convenient bookend as we’d been to Iona Abbey on the Hebrides tour
Cross of Patrick & Columba, Kells Abbey, County Meath
St. Columba's House, Kells, County Meath
Trim castle, County Meath
Killeen castle, County Meath
Croke Park, Dublin, a big stadium for hurling. Bigger than Old Trafford and the biggest stadium in Europe not primarily used for football
For anyone in any doubt as to how big this place is and how popular Gaelic football and hurling are, this pic taken from the internet at the 2004 All-Ireland finals
There are hurling pitches all over the place, even in one-horse towns 
River Liffey, Dublin
Book of Kells, Dublin
Book of Kells, Dublin, the best shots I could get before being ejected by security
No long drive when we’re back on the mainland, take P&O’s Dublin to Liverpool service....
....and just stagger home from there!!
Many thanks to Ady (Northern Bongolow) for making sure the brakes on the Bongo were going to be up to the trip, mid-expedition supplies of discs were not likely to be possible in the depths of rural Ireland.
Would we go back? – Definitely, I thought the best areas were the SW corner, the Clare & Kerry region and especially the Killarney National Park area. I’d go for a cruise of the Cliffs of Moher which we had planned to do but tides & weather didn’t suit so there were none running the day we were there – I’d also take the trip to Skellig Michael to see the 7th century Gaelic monastery at the top of the rock, but again the timing didn’t suit our itinerary.
We didn’t use any campsites so can’t comment on anything in that regard but there’s plenty of wild-camping to be had and we found some great spots to stay. You’ll notice a big difference in the standard of roads south of the border, although some new motorways have evidently sprung up since we bought our atlas
Oh, and once you’re into the Republic it’s kilometres and Euros. And Opel, not Vauxhall. And Gaelic 
I say sir muz coz I believe you should be on the queens honours list for your services to bongoliers all over the world and for spreading the the joy of bongoing to all.if any one ever doubted the adventurous fun of bongoing then they only have to follow one of your trips on here. 
