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Countries, Deals, Ireland, Music

25 years of cabaret at Harvey’s Point in Donegal

23rd August 202523rd August 2025 funtime65

Do you want your old lobby washed down Con Shine… it’s 25 years of cabaret at Harvey’s Point in Donegal.

Not that the swish Harvey’s Point in the north-west of Ireland would ever need their lobby washed down.

Of course, Irish Country legend Brendan Shine’s standard has less to do with lobbies, or pantries.

And more to do with offering amorous invitations and often in return for financial debts.

Irish Country and the Diaspora

Shine on: Brendan Shine. Picture: Newbridge Silverware.

The strains of Irish Country stars is a familiar and nostalgic theme for an Irish Diaspora returning to the Old Sod.

Although the young lad being kept awake in his rented Harkin’s holiday home next door to the bar was blissfully unaware of its meaning.

Now with Country ruling the airwaves just now, down in no small part to Cowboy Carter it is worth acknowledging its Irish offshoot.

Because long before Thin Lizzy, U2 and the Boomtown Rats put Irish pop on the map Irish Country was the music of the masses.

And with international acts bypassing Ireland for Britain, Johnny Cash apart, then Irish singers and bands covered their tunes.

And became superstars on their own island.

Bands of gold

The 78-year-old crooner and other stellar names from the world of Irish Country have become a fixture.

At the institution that is lakeside luxury Harvey’s Point just €15 taxi ride from Donegal Town.

Eamonn Gillespie is the man with the mic every Wednesday introducing the acts, running from September 3 to November 5.

And as well as the Bould Brendan guests can enjoy the likes of Sandy Kelly, Michael English, Dominic Kirwin, Sean Costello and Keith & Lorraine McDonald.

As well as Darly Simpson, Patrick Feeney, Declan Nearney, Simon Casey, Sean Cuddy, Realta Dance of Ireland, Eugene Ginty, Grainne Gavigan.

The Ennis Brothers, The Murphy’s, Jessica Mc Kean and house band, Four Masters Quintet.

Deal us in

You will, of course, sit down for a sumptuous 5-course dinner in the Ballroom.

Before immersing yourself in the captivating two-and-a-half-hours entertainment, and all for just €75.

While as you’ll likely want to turn in there for the night then check out the Cabaret Accommodation Package from €349pps.

For a two-night stay in their executive suites with breakfast by Lough Eske.

A five-course dinner and shoe,

Homemade cookies in your room, a wine tasting and cooking demo on Tuesday and Thursday

And a guided walk every Wednesday morning.

Lie back and think of Ireland: Your Donegal rest

We can’t guarantee that you’ll get your lobby washed down but Brendan Shine will put a smile on your face.

And a host of Irish Country stars making it a very special 25 years of cabaret at Harvey’s Point in Donegal.

America, Countries, Ireland, Music, UK

Rainy days and Mumsdays

10th March 202410th March 2024 funtime65

And on the first Mothering Sunday since we lost ours six months ago I’m singing Teasy’s praises with Rainy days and Mumsdays.

A twist on our occasional series Rainy Days and Songdays, our fusion of music and travel.

There can only be one place to start with this Rainy days and Mumsdays… where it all began in her beloved Brockagh, Co. Donegal in the north-west of Ireland.

Now all mums are unique, and we weren’t to know that other children weren’t lullabied to sleep with Irish rebel songs like Johnston’s Motor Car.

But Teasy’s cow eyes would twinkle when she would break out into ‘Down by Brockagh Corner one morning I did stray…’

Grannie’s song

Teasy’s folk: With her parents’ wedding photo

It was invariably Irish trad songs, revived by bands such as The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers and The Furys that she would return.

With Donegal Danny and Derry Hair/Danny Boy, another close to her heart to remind her of her brother Danny, one of four who emigrated to America.

The crossover between Irish/Scottish folk and American Country music led her to rootsy Americana.

And John Denver and his anthem Annie’s Song which he wrote in celebration of his wife in ten minutes on a ski lift in Colorado.

And whose Greatest Hits album I would buy for her with the pocket money I’d saved up one Mother’s Day.

Annie’s Song would be the background music to my brother’s wedding, mine, and when it came to it, her funeral.

As Grannie’s Song for her grandchildren.

Pipes are calling

Swirl power: At World Bagpipes Championships

Today’s Mothering Sunday coincides with International Bagpipe Day.

Now, in Mum’s 70 years in Scotland where she had decamped to be with my Mum she became a big fan of the pipers practising in the fields near our house.

And I am reminded of a special two days I spent with Mum at the World Pipe Band Championships.

In Glasgow Green in her adopted Glasgow.

Where our hosts wined and dined us admirably despite Mum’s attempts to pay.

Always up for any experience we explored the National Piping Centre.

And even took in a performance from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers until her ears gave in.

But that appetite for life, a quality which made her such a voracious traveller, still burns bright.

And on today more brightly still.

When I will jig in her memory and I’ll give three cheers for Teasy McNulty and Johnston’s Motor Car.

Countries, Europe, Ireland

St Veronica wipes out King Billy on the Glorious 12th

12th July 202312th July 2023 funtime65

Now at the last count we found 22 saintly contenders who share this day but today we focus on how St Veronica wipes out King Billy on the Glorious 12th.

St Veronica, we know from one simple act of humanity from the Passion of Jesus Christ.

When she wiped Our Lord’s sweat and blood-splattered face on his way to Calvary.

For which she was sanctified and given this day for Christians to mark every 12th of July.

Though some in the North of Ireland prefer to bedeck themselves in orange and march in memory of Protestant saviour King William of Orange.

And burn effigies of the Pope upon towering pyres of tyres.

The Donegal exodus

All of which leads to an exodus of Catholics to bordering Donegal in the Republic of Ireland.

Our own Veronica here in our family, our beloved auntie who used to take me on childhood holidays there and in Co. Galway, now lies for eternity there in her home county.

And I was able to return the favour to drive her and my Dear Old Mum, her big sister, up to Ireland’s northernmost county, in her sports car, with both women chattering and pressing buttons on the dashboard.

Veronica’s, or Ronnie’s as we all knew her, was well-named and such was her devotion to her faith I remember her especially this day, her patron saint’s day.

The virtuous Veronica

The holy of holies. At the end of the Francigena in Rome

Of the other Veronica, well, little is known of her after her act of kindness.

But more is known of the cloth she handed to Jesus with it believed to reside now in the Vatican.

There is reference to it coming into the hands of Pope John VII in the early eighth century.

While its legend became popular in the 13th through 15th centuries when the veil was on public display.

Indulgences were granted for people who performed devotions before it.

The trail went somewhat cold around the Sack of Rome in 1527.

There are believed to be six known copies in the world with the original kept in St. Peter’s basilica.

Portrait of a saint

Hands up for King Billy: UIster Unionism

So, if you want an alternative to Northern Irish unionist triumphalist on this day.

Then try the patron saint of laundry workers and photographers… and thank you for my own award-winning snapper, Mrs M.

Because now you know, St Veronica wipes out King Billy on the Glorious 12th.

Africa, Asia, Countries

World Sand Dune Day

24th June 202324th June 2023 funtime65

It’s World Sand Dune Day so let’s get ready to rumble.

If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea then you could have sand dunes next to you.

Ours are a 9km circular trek, part of the John Muir Way, the West Bay in North Berwick, east of Edinburgh and Gullane Bents.

Of course, the quickest route and the one we all first took was a forward roll down dunes.

Over the dune

We were fortunate to spend those summers in Ireland and play in the Portsalon Dunes in Co. Donegal.

And the biggest in the country is another stomping ground, Tramore in Co. Waterford, at 85ft high.

Big, but not as big as the Great Dune of Pyla.

Head just over 37 miles from Bordeaux, and you’ll find the tallest dune in Europe.

It’s more than a mile and a half long and stands over 360ft above sea level.

Come one, camel

Or as towering as the 500ft tall, 30-mile long Erg Chebbi Dunes in south-eastern Morocco.

Now I’m not sure which part of the desert Larsson (I kid you not) the camel took me to.

But, of course, I did the roly-poly thing down a dune.

Moroccan rollin’

Only to feel my tummy really rumble, on account of a dodgy tagine up in the Atlas Mountains.

But don’t let my mishap put you off, sand dunes are to be played among.

And while the camel is, of course, the ship of the desert.

If you want to get there quicker and like a thrill, you can hit the Jeeps as we did in Jordan.

Sand surfing

Of course wherever there’s sand, or you can build sand, then you can go sand boarding or sand surfing.

So islands here, like Britain, are framed by dunes.

With our friends in the duning club pointing us towards Balmedie, near Aberdeen as Scotland’s best.

Of course, as there’s a World Championships for everything and a world day too…

Then check out the Sandboard World Cup in Peru.

So get on a roll this World Sand Dune Day… just be careful what you eat first.

And insure yourself with Imodium… and InsureandGo.

America, Countries, Europe, Ireland

Farther’s Day Travels

18th June 202318th June 2023 funtime65

Indulge me, no seriously indulge me, as we take Farther’s Day Travels around the world.

We went no farther than the Iberian Peninsula back in the day with my Dear Old Dad but it felt like a new world.

The excitement of the beach, an Orangina and even drinking from a porron.

A Spanish omelette and Chupa Chups lollies rather than cheapie chips at home.

Our favourite place was, and still is, Ireland.

Next door, but in Co. Donegal, Ireland’s most remote county which was then like going back in time, revisiting history.

Capital gains

When it came to my time though the world had shrunk, largely due to budget airlines.

And so we were able to take the decision to take our eating monsters to some of the world’s great capitals.

London and Paris, Rome and New York and sunspots Majorca and Turkey and Bulgaria.

Father’s Day has become a bigger fixture on our calendar over the years.

And the pressure has built to reward our Dear Old Dads with more than just a Hallmark or Clinton card.

Just the ticket

Viva Espana: With Spanish Tourism’s Sara and El Champ in Dublin

And so our inbox has been crammed with Father’s Day Travel offers.

We’ll not go through them here particularly as we’re in the day that’s in it.

So, if you’ve been caught out by time and found you’ve not got your father a giftie today.

Scouse about that? With Ally in Liverpool

Give him a call, or better still a Zoom, and let him tell you one of those embarrassing stories of you as a kiddie.

Or do as my own Son and Heir has done and give you a date to look forward to.

Such as a football match, with Himself offering the prospect of a Premier League football match from his base in London.

That’s the game

And the best way to get from one end of Britain to the next, like it or loathe it, is by coach, or plane.

And because I’ll be on a limited schedule then it’ll be the plane.

Now because if you don’t ask you won’t get then may I be cheeky and float a cherry on top, an airline voucher.

Ryanair has such a thing too… and the good news is it’ll mean you’ll get more time with me.

It’s just a little bit more, Farther’s Day Travels, if you will.

Happy Father’s Day, my own Dear Old Dad and thanks for still looking down on us all.

MEET YOU ON THE ROAD

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.

America, Countries, Ireland

Mother’s Day Mother’s Way and New York

25th March 202225th March 2022 funtime65

It was inevitable. Mother’s Day Mother’s Way and New York and The Happy Wanderer knew just how to play me.

The bould Teasy had taken me as her Plus One to my cousin Eddie’s wedding in the Big Apple.

Where she would preen her feathers and not just those on her hat.

The Irish Diaspora, of which I am of the Scottish variety, know well the awe in which the American wave is held.

And growing up in the Grey Glasgow of the Seventies New York City and my relatives were always held up as the idyll.

Alongside, of course, my Mum’s homeland of Ireland.

Broadway Mammy

This year’s blond: With ‘The Donald’ in New York

I’m in a New York State of Mind today after my old friends from Click&Go flagged up their NY offer to give your Mum for Mother’s Day.

To stay for three nights £619pp in the 4* Row NYC Hotel in the heart of Broadway in May with return flights Dublin to NY.

My wee Mammy will be right at home too as she is the biggest diva of them all.

The rule of Mum

Double trouble: And two of my Irish Mammy

But some ground rules this time…

As a seasoned travel professional I know my way around an airport (OK, she doesn’t know the truth so indulge me).

And when your relatives offer to put you up don’t think for them or look a gift horse in the mouth.

It’s an Irish thing! As is demanding to pay the dinner bill.

And I’m reminded of the Irish advert where two oul’ ones batter the hell out of each other for the right to pay.

Shop till you drop

Shopped out: And the only time she’s quiet

Shopping too with any woman is a Herculean ordeal.

And in NY where that means Macy’s then my modus operandi is get in, get out.

Particularly as you can get lost in there.

And there’s no use denying that you had any part in choosing The Scary One’s souvenir.

BTW she still uses the candy pink Guess handbag.

While there’s no talking to a woman who insists on wearing her stilettos on the hop-on, hop-off Manhattan bus.

An Irish homecoming

Donegal calling: At Ballybofey’s Jackson’s Hotel

And as I alluded to The Diva is even more empowered in her homestead of Ireland and her village of Brockagh, Co. Donegal.

Where she was wont to stride down the road with her sisters in her fur coat back on their return to the Bogs of Donegal back in the day.

And all of us, the next generation, revert to (or are reverted to) childhood when our parents have been around.

A Ballyhoo

Green, green, grass of Ireland: And two peas in a pod

Such as in our old stomping ground of Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey.

When in the hotel where here, not Shannon, was where Irish Coffee originated she shared this gem with my Dublin cousin Monica…

‘I’ve four brothers, a husband and three sons and James (my Sunday name) is the most selfish man of them all.’

And this after I’d taken time off and driven her all the way up from Greystones in Co. Wicklow!

Silly old woman had forgotten.

That with her hearing aid in she was speaking louder and I could hear her.

Happy Mother’s Day for Sunday, ye mad thing.

And for context think Catherine Tate’s alter ego Nan from Nan The Movie.

Meanwhile I’ll daydream about Mother’s Day Mother’s Way and New York.

And much, much more.

Africa, Caribbean, Countries, Cruising, Europe, Flying, Ireland

Christmas cards on the table

23rd December 202024th December 2020 funtime65

Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale and a Happy Christmas to you all.

And merci, gracias, grazie and thanks a lot to all my friends who have sent me Christmas cards this year.

I’ll even let you off cancelling your Christmas parties and not sending me a Christmas hamper this year.

So here are a few of the Christmas cards I’d like to show off to you…

Christmas in my Sandals

And yes that’s just how they roll at Sandals and in the Caribbean.

Where what they lack in chimneys and fireplaces they make up for in mango trees.

And Santa can soothe his feet in a Sandals swim-up pool.

My old friends in Ireland

And while my Dear Old Mum will be spending her Christmas in a Glasgow care home, a nod to her homestead of Donegal.

Donegal, in the north-west of Ireland has all the warmth of the peaty sod and will be wonderful this Christmas.

So here’s to all Donegallers everywhere and thanks to the award-winning Harvey’s Point.

Scandi Claus

When I was thinking of going to Sweden this year my first port of call was my old Irish pal and Scandiphile Alan.

And a God Jul to you too and destination specialists Hadler DMC.

I got a tantalising view of Sweden on my MSC Cruises trip from Kiel, Germany through Denmark and up to Norway.

Cruises WILL be back in the New Year and of course that means river cruises too as well as the big seabreakers. Anyone for MS Arena?

Another year younger

And how long they look: Ethiopian Airlimrs

I’ve told you once or a hundred times about the lifegiving qualities of Enkutatash, Ethiopia’s New Year.

Because they live by the old calendar.

Back in the day an invite came through for Women’s Day from Ethiopian Airlines and a trip to celebrate womenhood in Ethiopia.

From where Lucy, the first women we have bones for derives.

I offered to drag up. But in the end I sent a colleague.

Bohemian wrapsody

Of course we know who looked out on the Feast of Stephen.

Only the bustling Wenceslas Square will be empty this Christmas.

The Czechs are the most wonderfully resilient people, situated as they are between Europe’s great powers.

They will be back and so will we… Urquell in hand by the beautiful Vlatva River.

We wish Wu a Merry Christmas

And isn’t it just like that? You get a card in and you panic that you haven’t sent them one.

So to Wendy Wu and the two Johns thank Wu for everything this year, particularly the legendary Chinese New Year lunch in January in Dublin.

And I know you’ll look after The Son and Heir when he heads to China next year.

And a Felice anno nuovo too

And in the most fallow of fallow years I will always treasure my Autumn trip to Bergamo with Omio.

Miei amici have gone back into the strictest zone as they predicted when I visited but I’m sure it will all pay off.

And we’ll all be eating stracciatella gelato soon in Citta Alta.