https://www.mayo.ie/visit Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

There are countless times in our life when we’ve needed one… and this reluctant thrill-seeker certainly welcomes the safety net of Ireland’s adventure playground out West.

Westport House and Estate in Mayo has transformed a 300-year-old quarry into an action-packed destination featuring Ireland’s largest net park.

All of which means that high-fliers everywhere can channel your inner Tarzan.

Among the treetops along the Wild Atlantic Way.

And we’re sure if he were around today he’d ride the dual 100m ziplines.

The giant multi-person swings, a freefall jump, giant slides, 10-metre climbing walls, and an aerial trekking course.

All set against the stunning backdrop of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.

The latter an Irish right of passage and a much-climbed and beloved peak of my Dear Old Mammy.

Carry on glamping

Of course, if you like what you see then you can expand your visit.

To tours of Westport House and the gardens and tracks and trails.

And a stay over in the Camping & Glamping Village.

Net hero

Different ball game: Fun for all the family

Now treetops are obviously all about height and the new Net Park rises to 30m.

But it’s also about nooks and crannies too.

With a network of tunnels, aerial bridges, tree houses, giant bounce zones, spiral nets, and more.

Suitable for toddlers and upwards, the Net Park challenges agility and skill and will give you an hour of fun.

Coming on to zip lines and we’ve enjoyed them in the snowy Tirolian Alps and Downtown Vegas but missed out on a Swiss roll.

This zip will bring you towards the floor of the quarry.

Stars trekking

Show ’em the ropes: And it’s all child’s play

For the more adventurous then aerial trekking may be the way to go.

You’ll traverse a series of suspended obstacles and challenges on an elevated circuit course.

And an advanced Aerial Trekking zone is available featuring aerial obstacles such as ropes, swinging logs, net bridges, and ziplines that increase in difficulty.

While if you leap before you look then the Quarry’s Edge Leap offers a towering three-storey platform from which to throw yourself.

Sing when you’re swinging

Tree’s company: And we can let ourselves go

So you’re having a swinging old time then why not take on the Giant Swing on an eight-seater upside down ride.

You’ll be hoisted above the ground and released over the edge of the quarry’s cliff.

All of which is right up my street, having inherited the moniker Falcon for my prowess on Falcon’s Fury in Busch Gardens, Tampa.

Upside down you’re turning me

Now, while I may be a Fury on Falcon’s I doff my hat on climbing walls to the Son and Heir.

And the three-storey, 10-metre climbing wall here is him all over, and you too, I bet.

There are a variety of climbing lanes and walls with varying levels of difficulty.

And the heart of the Climbing Zone is a see-through, double-sided rock-climbing wall, perfect for duelling teams who want to push one another to the test.

So, there’s no excuse to you thrillseekers, or not, to Go West in Ireland and visit Westport House with the safety net of Ireland’s new adventure playground

Culture

Bruges to Mayo

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It’s been more than a decade in the making but Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell are back together again for another black comedy from Bruges to Mayo.

Of course we all of us will be hoping the bromance, or brom com if you will, does the same for Mayo as it did for the medieval Belgian canal city.

And well done for Brendan in persuading Colin out to see its charms.

Although both being gangsters we thought they would have wanted to see the fabric of the cloth Joseph of Arimathea used on Jesus in the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

Film buffs and proud natives of Mayo will, of course, tell you that the Maritime County is already on the cinematic map.

With Cong drawing fans of The Quiet Man to its village religiously.

And Linnane the setting for The Field among others.

Of course Tourism Ireland are all over the possibilities from Mayo being showcased on our big screens.

And in conjunction with Searchlight Pictures they have created a behind-the-scenes featurette.

With footage shot during filming for The Banshees of Inisherin.

All Ireland

Director Martin McDonagh, Farrell (Pádraic), Brendan Gleeson (Colm), Kerry Condon (Siobhán) and Barry Keoghan (Dominic) all talk us through the locations.

The Banshees got a 14-minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival.

And it is expected to do the same when the film hits picture houses in Ireland, the UK and the US on October 21.

Farrell and Gleeson have, of course, done much to promote the whole of Ireland.

Where East and West shall meet

With many remembering a cherubic-faced Farrell negotiating the mean streets of Dublin in Intermissions.

And country village life in my old bailiwick of Co. Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland in Ballykissangel, near Avoca.

While Gleeson has been out West before.

Most notably in The Guard opposite Don Cheadle, and Calvary.

All in all we can see just why the Venetians and the international film audience would want.

To spend 14 minutes clapping Colin and Brian.

Because anything they do from a black comedy from Bruges to Mayo is right up our street.

America, Europe, Ireland, Sport, UK

Babe Ruth and his curse

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Even those who have never played baseball or watched a game will likely have heard of Babe Ruth and his curse.

George, for that was his Sunday name, is mostly associated with two teams.

The Boston Red Sox, where he made his name, and the New York Yankees to where he was traded and became a superstar.

But he actually hailed for Baltimore and started out with the Baltimore Oriioles.

And it is the Maryland city where you will find the Babe Ruth birthplace and museum.

On this day back in 1935 the Babe retired at the age of 40 with all manner of records to his name.

His records were to last long after his death alas too early at the age of 53.

And his reputation would grow with the years.

Not least because the Red Sox did not win a World Series after he left only breaking that 86-year run in 2004.

As is the way with these sporting sensations, and readers will know about the curse around the Philadelphia teams, there is a Bostonian superstition too.

A ‘reverse curve’ road sign on Longfellow Bridge over the busy Storrow Drive was graffittied.

And it came to read the ‘Reverse the Curse’ and it was left in place until the hoodoo was broken.

After which the sign was edited to read ‘Reversed Curse.’

You want to hear about some other curses from across sport? Thought you did.

Ghoulish Gaels

Mayo: But avoid the funeral cortege on the way home

Mayo Gaelic Football team: And in superstitious Ireland it comes as little surprise that there is a curse hanging over Mayo.

The story goes that following their last All-Ireland victory in 1951 the returning heroes failed to wait quietly for a funeral cortege to pass.

And that the presiding priest pledged that they would never win another Sam Maguire Cup until all that team had died.

Mayo have played in the final ten times since without success.

And while Pat Prendergast and Mick Loftus defy the Grim Reaper we doubt they will.

Romani revenge

Birmingham City FC: And you can take your pick of gipsy curses on football teams but it might be because we’re fans of Peaky Blinders that we’re going for this one.

Birmingham lived to regret building their new ground back in 1906 on gipsy land .

When they were cursed not to win a major trophy for 100 years.

High-profile managers Ron Saunders and Barry Fry tried to break the curse.

Saunders putting crucifixes on the floodlights and painting the soles of the players’ boots red.

While Fry urinated in the four corners of the pitch, supposedly because a clairvoyant told him so.

In 2011 Alex McLeish who had no need to empty his bladder there led the Blues to the 2011 League Cup.

Talladega tremors

Talladega Superspeedway: And, of course, it’s never good to build on an Indian Reservation.

Drivers have been known to hear voices as they steered their cars around the Alabama track.

Although petrolhead fans just say it adds to the appeal of the races.

Duck, it’s Drake

You selfie so and so: Drake with sports stars

Drake and sport: And this is more a sports-mad rapper being a Jonah rather than a curse but the Torontonian is in because he’s showbiz.

The musician brings bad luck on whoever he supports.

Whether it’s Paris Saint-Germain, UFC champ Conor McGregor, boxing king Anthony Joshua, Manchester City footballer Sergio Aguero or basketball great Kevin Durant.

These strange turns of luck might just all be in God’s Plan.

But Drake wasn’t taking any chances when he used the curse against him.

And he wore a pair of Philadelphia 76ers shorts when watching the Pennsylvanians against his home Toronto Raptors.

The oft-times cursed Philly sports fans really needed that and lost!

So we’ve given you Babe Ruth and his curse and a few others.

But what’s your fave and let’s hope your sports team has lifted it?

Tag: https://www.mayo.ie/visit

Safety net of Ireland’s new adventure playground