Ireland Archives - Page 14 of 47 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Once upon a time in fairytale Wicklow

6th December 2022 funtime65

I’d always tell everyone of its magical qualities and it seems the message has got back to the good people at Disney+ so without further ado… once upon a time in fairytale Wicklow.

The Garden county of Ireland where I flourished for 13 years and my children bloomed into adults is the backdrop.

Every Irishman’s home: The oul’ castle in Co. Wicklow

For the musical comedy Disenchanted, starring Amy Adams, the sequel to the box office hit Enchanted.

Bobby Ewing, no less (or his alter ego Patrick Dempsey at least), and Maya Rudolph, James Marsden, Jayma Mays and Idina Menzel all talk up the county.

In a Tourism Ireland short video which is going around the world.

A corner of New York State

Forty fields of green: Greystones in County Wicklow

In Disenchanted, Enniskerry represents ‘Monroeville’, a fictional suburban town in upstate New York.

Monrroeville is then magically transformed into ‘Monrolasia’, a fantasy and magic-filled version of the town.

And what’s even better is that an 1850s period house in Greystones was the location for Robert (Patrick Dempsey) and Giselle’s (Amy Adams) ‘Monroeville’ home.

With timing being everything we must have just missed out then in offering the homestead we lived in.

In our days in the beautiful town of Greystones.

You might have seen Adrian Dunbar extol about in his most recent travelogue.

The Power of Ireland

Filming also took place at the Powerscourt Waterfall and Powerscourt Estate.

And, of course, that is a favourite romantic getaway for the great and the good, and obviously ourselves.

A word from the sponsors

Speaking about Ireland, Patrick, who plays Robert, said: ‘It’s just breathtakingly beautiful.

‘You see the woods and the fields.

‘and the architecture of all of that is very magical. It really lends itself to a fairy-tale life.’

While Maya Rudolph, who plays Malvina, added: ‘I feel like I got in on a little secret of such an incredible place and I’ve just fallen in love.

‘It feels like a fairy-tale.’

And my old pal Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, naturally was delighted to bring the Hollywood cast to Wicklow.

He said: ‘The fact that ‘Disenchanted’ was filmed here is a fantastic coup for Irish tourism.

‘Following the success of ‘Enchanted’, this highly anticipated film is a great way to bring Ireland.

‘And, in particular Wicklow, to the attention of viewers around the world.

‘We are delighted to share this behind-the-scenes video with our fans and followers on social media, celebrating the film’s connections with Ireland.’

Asia, Countries, Europe, Ireland

Nollaig Shona or a Feliz Navidad

5th December 20225th December 2022 funtime65

Perhaps it’s familiarity but my eyes always light up when I see banners illuminated in a language not my own… a Nollaig Shona or a Feliz Navidad.

Or any of the 7,000 languages in the world.

Although understandably there are more than their fair share there that don’t celebrate Christmas.

Heck, half the gospels don’t reference the Nativity at all, but we’ll pass over that…

After all it’s a long time since Christmas was ever anything to do with Christ anyway.

Instead then here we’ll shine a light on a handful of special lights shows around the time the world switches on.

To what are now called instead the Holiday Season.

Dublin’s flair city

Dublin (Nollaig Shona): And Dublin’s narrow shopping hub Grafton Street is where the Nollaig Shona banners stand out most.

And where Bono has been known to occasionally busk, but don’t let that put you off.

Cathedral of lights

Malaga (Feliz Navidad): Now the time was that the best Christmas party was with with my Spanish friends from their tourist board in Dublin.

But, of course, better still would be to enjoy the festivities in Espana.

And I’m told that Malaga is the place to go.

The city has a new design this year with 16 celestial angels on 32 columns that stretch the entire length of Calle Larios.

Santa’s home

Turkey (Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun): Patara, St Nicholas (or Santie as we’d call him today) is just a Roman ruins now.

With ne’er a chimney to come down.

But they do mark this time of the year in the muslim country, with Istanbul, its largest city being one of the most cosmopolitan hubs in the world.

We’re reliably told that Istiklal is especially strung out with stylish festive lights.

Between buildings with chestnuts roasting on an open brazier fire.

Lap it up

Lapland (Hyvaaa joulua Lapissa): So how has a Turkish holy man come to be relocated in our minds to Lapland.

Or more specifically Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland?

Well radio broadcaster Marcus Rautio claimed it for the Finns.

When he said that Santa’s workshop had been discovered in 1927.

While the earliest reference to him living in the North Pole is from a magazine cartoon from as 1866.

The best lights here though will be the heavenly dancers, the Northern lights.

O little star

Bethlehem (Khag molad sameakh/Eid Milad Majid): And for those who believe that Jesus was born in the Little Town.

And only Matthew and Luke carry the story while Mark and John skip his birth.

But Bethlehem does light up at this time of year with the historic Moravian district slated as the place to be.

So whether it’s a Nollaig Shona or a Feliz Navidad or whatever your language Happy Holidays everyone.

Countries, Ireland

Adrian Dunbar in Greystones

23rd November 2022 funtime65

Jesus, Mary and Joseph and his little donkey… is that Adrian Dunbar in Greystones, my old stomping ground?

Adrian has long been a national treasure in Ireland, and much loved too now in the UK on the back of his award-winning performance as Hastings in cop series Line of Duty.

All of which Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland naturally know and have got behind him as he promotes the island in his latest venture.

Harbour delights: Greystones and Da Boss

Adrian Dunbar: My Ireland is the Fermanagh actor’s new series which goes to air on Channel 5 this evening, 23 November (8pm).

The two-part series will follow Adrian, who introduced the wider world to some choice Irish phrases such as the above, as he returns to his hometown of Enniskillen.

We’ll join the ever-likeable Adrian as he visits places that hold fond memories for him.

And he will also check out some places he has always wanted to visit but has never before found the time.

Garden of Ireland

And I guess that is where the word went up of Adrian Dunbar in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland.

Mind you there have been one or two celebs there over the years, Ronnie Drew out of the Dubliners, Damian Rice and ahem, yours truly.

Of course, we didn’t need any steer that Adrian was visiting the jewel of Wicklow.

As we recognised straight away the train, its destination and the platform.

From almost 14 years of standing on it… and that’s not far off as the DART (the Dublin Rapid Transport) is notorious for its poor efficiency.

But friendly staff, and I got to know the guards there well.

Dart and craft

So much so that they shared their idiosyncratic Irish wisdom with me on my first Christmas works do.

When I turned up at the DART station at 6pm one evening and booked a return ticket to Dublin, 15kms away.

The guard was insistent that I should get a taxi home or stay the night in Dublin as the last train back was 11.30pm.

Back to Adrian and he will kick off by visiting the towering cliffs of Slieve League, Glenveagh National Park in my mum’s own Donegal and Devenish Island in Lough Earne.

While the world will be his, well… he’s off to the Carlingford Oyster Company in County Louth and visit MacNean House & Restaurant in Co. Cavan in the midlands.

And meet celebrity chef Neven Maguire.

Train of thought

In episode two, which will air on 30 November, he will meet artist Jim FitzPatrick in Howth and another well-known chef, Richard Corrigan – who will give Adrian a tour of his Virginia Park Lodge.

Viewers will see Adrian visit prehistoric Newgrange, verdant Powerscourt Estate and the remote Hook Lighthouse.

They’ll also see him taking that trip on the DART in Wicklow… and remember Isambard Kingdom Brunel (and Michael Portillo) were all over the Bray-Greystones tunnel along the Irish Sea.

And he will cycle across the Kilmacthomas Viaduct on the Waterford Greenway.

Countries, Ireland

Steamin’ in Ireland

3rd November 20223rd November 2022 funtime65

I’ve had more than my share of fun getting steamin’ in Ireland but today’s offer comes with a difference.

And a choo choo… with Steam Dreams literally taking you steamin’ in Ireland by train.

With the only railway bar in the world to serve draught Guinness.

Steam Trains has chosen the 40 Green Fields as its destination for its 10th ‘Explorer’ tour.

A voyage of exploration

Fly the flag: Kilkenny Cats’ hurling team

A nine-day Emerald Isle Explorer holiday starting in Dublin on Wednesday, 3rd May.

Hauled by historic steam locomotives, there’s a range of ticket and accommodation options from seating in Premium Standard to luxurious Pullman Style Dining.

The Irish odyssey includes one night in Dublin, two nights in Galway, three nights in Killarney and two nights in Kilkenny.

Highlights include a stop at the charming city of Athlone, which lies on the banks of the River Shannon (Ireland’s largest waterway).

A tour of the Ring of Kerry passing its lakes, rivers and waterfalls.

And free time to explore the castle city of Kilkenny.

The science bit

Full steam ahead: The Emerald Isle Explorer

So it’s full steam ahead and for those who like to don the Casey Jones like the father-in-law this loco will be right up their track.

The mainstay for the tour will be old favourite V Class No.85 Merlin, sporting sky blue livery and built in 1932 for express passenger trains.

Merlin will be joined by No. 171, Slieve Gullion, an express passenger locomotive built in 1913 which will be making its debut on the tour.

And the price bit

Driver of the engine: A modern-day Casey Jones

Prices start from £1995 for Premium Standard, £2995 Premier Dining and £3995 Pullman Dining Style.

Price includes eight-nights’ hotel B&B and luggage porterage service between the train and hotel and coach transfers.

Pullman Style Dining passengers will stay at some of the best accommodation available in Ireland.

And that includes the fabulous Glenlo Abbey Hotel near Galway and the Mount Juliet Estate outside Kilkenny.

Sit back and enjoy

Lovely jubbly: And join the Champagne Set

Passengers will be welcomed on board with a glass of Champagne.

And they will receive a light meal on board the train on days two, four, seven and nine, served with a half-bottle of wine per person.

They will also receive dinner in their hotel on days two, four and seven.

Premier Dining passengers will be welcomed on board with a glass of Bucks Fizz.

And they will be treated to a light meal on the train on days two, four, seven and nine.

They will also receive dinner in their hotel on days two, four, and seven.

And if you’re coming from England, Steam Dreams give you the opportunity to journey to Dublin from England via ferry.

And enjoy an extra night’s stay in Dublin at the end of the holiday (supplement applies).

Ireland

G-hee Galway Comedy Festival is here

19th October 20221st November 2022 funtime65

It’s refreshing that there’s a country where you’re judged not by your wealth or privilege but by the craic and G-hee Galway Comedy Festival is here.

Now for every country we visit there is a guidebook on cultural differences and in Ireland the starting point is the craic.

Boiled down the craic means fun, news and entertainment which us Scots subscribe so much to that we came up with the phrase.

No matter that Scotland’s Bard Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott first used it and Paisley poet Ebenezer Picken wrote of ‘the friendly crack, the cheerfu’ sang’.

From crack to craic

Or that the Northern Irish weavers, from where the Murtys derived before they relocated to Scotland, greeted each other with ‘what’s the craic?’

Or that the chatterati, among them the notable Irish commentator Kevin Myers, refer to it as ‘pseudo-gaelic’.

The change in spelling deriving from there being only 16 letters in Gaelic and no ‘k’.

Because language is a living thing and always evolving.

The scale of the craic

Just swimmingly: Let’s all pool together

And so you’ll be rated in modern-day Ireland by how much craic you are.

And if you’re ‘good craic’ then you’re on your way, with ‘mighty craic’ the ultimate target.

Though woe betide you if you’re ‘no craic at all’.

Of course parties are judged on the craic scale too.

And the maximum is 90 from the Dubliners song ‘The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man’.

And we know too that it will be 90 too at the Galway Comedy Festival from October 25-31.

Tommy’s titterati

When Tommy Tiernan, of Derry Girls fame, who we roared to the rafters over the Edinburgh Fringe, heading a stellar cast of comics.

Which includes Ardal O’Hanlon, Andrew Maxwell, Dylan Moran, Deirdre O’Kane, Reginald D Hunter, Rich Hall and Karl Spain.

Now for those who love a comedy festival but might feel Edinburgh is too chokka then Galway, where I spent many a childhood summer holiday, is the answer.

g it’s grand

And the g Hotel is where you’ll want to stay.

Treat yourself to two nights of luxury accommodation at Galway’s only five-star hotel, the g Hotel &Spa.

And enjoy a pre- dinner autumn cocktail in the signature lounge, followed by dinner in Restaurant gigi’s on one night of your choice.

A couple of days this month is from €145pps, including:

• Two nights luxury accommodation including cooked to order Irish breakfast

• Delicious Autumn pre-dinner cocktail in the g’s signature lounge

• 3 Course meal at the award-winningrestaurant gigi’s

• Complimentary BMW chauffeur car to the city (pre-booking essential)

• Complimentary parking.

A funny word

Ardal’s well that ends well: Father Dougal

It would, of course, be very puerile to draw attention to another colloquial meaning for ‘g’ in Ireland.

And helpfully that was pointed out to me early in my 13 years an Irishman, living and working there.

And no doubt the funnymen and women in the City of Tribes next week will make funnier references than me.

But because I can’t resist it my offering is… G-hee Galway Comedy Festival is here.

America, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, Ireland, UK

Flower of England

10th October 202210th October 2022 funtime65

The anticipation was at fever pitch ahead of The One Show announcement… no, not Eurovision but on Britain’s blooming with my Flower of England.

And in this one we have skin in the game with My Green-Fingered One and her North Berwick in Bloom team in the Britain in Bloom contest.

It is NB’s good fortune that they have someone on their team who brings the English country garden with her.

My love grows where my Sadie goes

My English Rose has got her hands dirty wherever I’ve taken her, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Co. Wicklow.

Where I treated her to a busman’s holiday at one of her favourite places, Powerscourt Hotel.

Tulips from Amsterdam

Flowers everywhere: At the Dylan in Amsterdam

And when we’re away too with tulips from Amsterdam from the Tulip Museum planted for the autumn and ready to spring next year.

We all have our own indulgences on our travels and you’ll know well I like to go where the locals ‘play and pray’.

Italia’s green and pleasant land

While My Green-Fingered One loves to dig out a gardens which meant the Villa Borghese in Rome and Villa d’Este, Tivoli.

Now I’ve oft been somewhere and thought my wee petal might enjoy the charms of a maze.

Such as the one Napoleon used to play in the Villa Pisani near Padova

Flower of Ireland: My mum in our old garden in Greystones, Co. Wicklow

The Parco Fauna Orobica in Bergamo, the lungs for the northern Italian city at the time of Covid.

And Padova is of course itself famed for its grounds, the world’s oldest academical botanical gardens, dating back to 1545.

Where the thing to do is to live it up with a sit down tux meal with full orchestra.

Bloomin’ Barbados

Or more recently in the St Nicholas Abbey grounds in Barbados.

Where another of her passions can be indulged… there’s a steam train line there too.

And on the sea

Of course it’s not just on land that you’ll see great gardens… there’s the Eden project on Celebrity Edge too off Florida.

And Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas in Barcelona.

Although it’s sometimes best not to show her everything.

For fear that she’ll not let me away on my own again.

Now the judges only agreed with me, and North Berwick won Best Coastal award.

But I could have told them all about my Flower of England.

She’s Britain’s blooming marvel.

Countries, Ireland

Donegal and Derry Heir

28th September 2022 funtime65

Tourism Ireland’s £580,000 promotion of the jewels of north-west Ireland is only to be welcomed by this Donegal and Derry Heir.

TI’s campaign is to get the message across to more people about the Republic’s most northerly county and its neighbour.

Of course Donegal is a county Derryites know so well.

And its dramatic beaches, bars, cliffs and craic bring an annual exodus from across the border.

Particularly around the Northern Marching Season.

While Derry was historically the big wee town for Donegalites when they were one island which politically many people still believe they are.

Sons and daughters of Ulster

So TI’s message isn’t for Donegalites and Derryites (the appelations sound better in Gaelic).

I know only too well the charms of these Special Ds as a Donegal and Derry Heir of a proud Ulster family.

The McNultys wear their Ulsterhood proudly, it’s there in the crest with the name meaning ‘Son of Ulster’.

Of course they are nothing without the Daughters of Ulster, of which my Dear Old Mum Teasy is one special member.

A family heritage

No Butts: The Isaac Butt Heritage Centre

You can see her for yourself at the Isaac Butt Heritage Centre in Cloghan, named for the Irish patriot.

But the old school for my mum and her siblings, five more sisters and four brothers.

They had returned to the neighbouring townland (hamlet) of Brockagh from Derry.

Where the first son and three sisters were all born.

To run the McNultys hotel, now the Ramblers, where photographs also adorn the walls by the open peat fire.

Donegal invades Britain

TI’s nine-week campaign will reach at least 6.8 million people.

It includes eye-catching digital ads in London’s Waterloo station, as well as at busy roadside locations in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

With the slogan ‘two unique places, one amazing holiday’.

All of which you can check out on their website Tourism Ireland’s Ireland.com,

Where you can see great itineraries and short break suggestions for holidaymakers travelling with or without a car.

And good value offers from local tourism operators and from British tour operators.

Fly North

Activity will highlight attractive fares on direct flights to City of Derry Airport from Manchester (with Ryanair).

And from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool (with Loganair).

Promotions with easyJet will highlight flights from 13 airports in Great Britain to Belfast.

Africa, America, Asia, Countries, Ireland, Oceania, UK

A 94-year Mum odyssey

14th September 20221st November 2022 funtime65

Happy Birthday Teasy, for you it’s been a 94-year Mum odyssey, and thank you for bringing me along for some of the journey.

I say that, but latterly I have done most of the heavy lifting…

And this Donegal Diva has fallen back on the credit she has built up over the years.

Like how she hounded me on a trip to New York when I was her plus one for my cousin Eddie’s wedding.

Teasy’s Travels

Or when I took her up to Ballybofey where my American cousin Kath and Dublin cousin Monica had also congregated.

And she tactlessly complained within my earshot that she had a husband, four brothers and three sons and I was the most selfish of them all.

The thing is as My Scary One, my wife, will tell you she’s the only one who could get away with that.

Teasy, or The Squeezy, as we affectionately call her, has infused me with much, not least my looks.

And a love of travel although she has a fair jump on me there with South America and the Antarctic the only continents she hasn’t visited.

And I dare say she’ll get there yet.

When she does she’ll be able to regale them of her travels around the globe after she empty-nested.

A holiday Saga

Wall, what is it good for? Great Wall of China

It was quite the Saga… the Squeezy dragging my Dear Old Dad up mountain, down dale and across ocean.

They were Ying and Yang, no, not twins on their China trip but opposites.

My mum was up for anything which meant she jumped at the chance to fly over Mount Everest.

While Dad was back in the bedroom with Delhi Belly.

They also took the helicopter over the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon with me retracing her footsteps years later.

While Mum followed the pilgrims on their knees up the steps of the Catholic Cathedral in Mexico City.

Probably though it was the tequila. Dad, of course, got Montezuma’s Revenge.

The rest of the world

There was Australia, South Africa, Russia and all points in between all while I was having a very different Saga experience.

Not, not early onset dementia, but working for Saga during summer holidays in Aberdeen University student halls.

Africa, Countries, Europe, Ireland, Oceania, Sport, UK

An Irish rugby conversion

30th August 2022 funtime65

As an Irish-Scot it’s when I’m at my most conflicted when it comes to international sports, but when it comes to egg-chasing mine’s is increasingly an Irish rugby conversion.

It wasn’t always so but then that’s 13 years in Ireland, and working in rugby heartland Ballsbridge in Dublin for you.

Scotland the grave

Scot the lot: Springjock Duhan van der Merwe

My own native land is Scotland of course, and let me remind you I followed them as a schoolboy through thin and thin in the late 70s and reported on them in even thinner times in the early 90s.

And now while the same can’t be said for Ireland in a football sense, in rugby the Boys in Green are actually for the most part Irish.

As opposed to a Scotland side which is filled with players who have been discarded by New Zealand, Australia and worst of all England.

In fact we’ve even coined a name for the legion of South Africans who have rebranded themselves as Scottish… Springjocks.

All of which running around aimlessly brings me to the imminent Rugby World Cup in France next year when I will more than likely be waving my Tricolour instead of my Saltire.

Now if you want to put yourself in the safest travel hands then get on board my old Irish pals Cassidy Travel‘s deals for France RWC 2023.

Deal us in

Cassidy’s packages include return flights, return airport transfers, hotel accommodation (unless it’s a day trip) and t tickets,

So, whether you want a quick day trip, a longer 2-3-7 night option or a bespoke tailor-made sport holiday then Cassidy have you covered.

Game on

So without further ado here are the matches you can be at, starting with the Romania mania.

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Ireland v Romania

Day Trip Package to Bordeaux!

9^th September 2023

Don’t have time to stay? No problem at all! Make it a day trip!

Ireland meet the European runners-up in Bordeaux.

Package Includes:

Return flights

Return Airport Transfers

Match tickets

All from €599pp!

Rand old team

Rainbow nation: South African support in the townships

Bok your team, if your team is Ireland, against South Africa.

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Ireland v South Africa

2 Night Package to Paris!

23^rd September 2023

The perfect two-night deal for rugby fans!

Package Includes:

Return flights from Dublin or Shannon

Return Airport Transfers

2 Nights in a 3* Hotel

Match tickets

All from €1099pp!

From Bok to Jock

And one where any Irish-Scot can’t lose.

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Ireland v Scotland

2 Night Package!

7^th October 2023

Two-night deal for you to enjoy one of the best

Rugby World Cup France 2023 events.

Package Includes:

Return flights

Return Airport Transfers

2 Nights in a 3* Hotel

Match tickets

All from €899pp!

Pieces of eight

Rugby World Cup 2023 – Quarter Finals!

Tickets to both matches included!

14^th & 15^th October 2023

Should they progress, Ireland will then meet the winners or runners-up of Pool A,

which includes France and New Zealand, at the Stade de France.

Package Includes:

Return flights

Return Airport Transfers

2 Nights in a 3* Hotel

Match tickets for Both Games

All from €1599pp!

And, of course, if Ireland beat the All Blacks (and everyone defeats them these days) they get to keep them!

So get your green out and support the Boys in France next year.

And that even includes Irish-Scots looking for a proper team to support… it’s an Irish rugby conversion.

Countries, Ireland

Collins’ Hundred Year War

21st August 202221st August 2022 funtime65

Beal Blath (or Green land) may not strike you as a bloody field but it is here in West Cork where we pick up the story of Michael Collins’ Hundred Year War.

It is little exaggeration to say that without Michael Collins the Republic of Ireland as we know it today would not exist.

And that’s why today thousands are gathering at Beal Blath to mark the 100th anniversary of the assassination of the leader of the Irish Free State.

The memorial: Where Michael Collins was assassinated

Collins was, and continues to be, a divisive figure in Irish history.

Either the genius commander of the Irish guerrilla force that brought the British Empire to the table.

Or the traitor who surrendered six counties of the island to the UK.

Collins’ legacy

Collins’ legacy is, of course, two Irelands on the one island… or is it that there is even one at all which is not under British rule.

While there’s a split too there with the two parties who have ruled the Republic dividing along Civil War lines.

Under Collins’ party Fine Gael and his one-time captain and future Taoiseach Eamon De Valera’s Fianna Fáil.

But it is much more, and whichever side you come down on, it is worth probing Collins and the story of the Republic for yourself.

The story of the Republic

The best starting point is a post office… the GPO in Dublin where they still sort your mail and give you a history lesson.

And it was here that Padraig Pearse declared Ireland a republic in Easter 1916 and was executed for his troubles.

At Kilmainham Gaol along with the other leaders of the Rising.

And most dramatically the Scottish communist James Connolly who was shot strapped to a chair in the exercise yard.

Because his leg was gangrenous after he was shot during the Rising.

It’s an eerie but dramatic experience which is probably why it was chosen for scenes in the Italian Job and In The Name Of The Father.

Ireland of Hop-on glory

Best bar none: Liam Neeson in Michael Collins

Easter 1916 and the Irish Civil War feature heavily on your DoDublin Bus tour.

Where you will visit Collins Barracks the high point of the Big Fella’s career.

When the British officially handed back power to the Irish of Ireland.

You’ll remember it from the titular film with Liam Neeson memorably cast as Collins.

And the dialogue played out just as it had done that day but sans Collins’ expletives.

British officer: ‘You’re seven minutes late Mr Collins.‘

Collins: ‘You’ve kept us waiting 700 years. You can have your seven minutes.’

Only the rivers run free

Seven hundred years then… Britain’s fascination with their noisy neighbours.

For noisy, of course, read craic with the Irish never having invaded the folks next door.

Unless it is with booze and a sing-song.

All of which leaves us with unfinished business as we reflect today on Michael Collins’ Hundred Year War.