https://www.thewildatlanticway.com/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Ewe do it best Ronan on the Wild Atlantic Way

5th April 20265th April 2026 funtime65

And see what we’ve done there… to mark Boyzone’s finest’s celebration of Ireland’s most famous trek, we say ewe do it best Ronan on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The one-time boy band warbler has been retracing his boyhood holidays up the west and north-west coasts of Ireland.

And the great ambassador that he is he has been sharing it with his British audience for Tourism Ireland.

Ronan and the fragrant Storm whom he took for his wife in our Archerfield estate, near North Berwick, being adopted Brits now.

Donegal homecoming

Now Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic goes out in Britain on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from tomorrow, April 6.

And it will conjure up Easter memories for this Hiberno-Scot from childhood holidays in my Dear Old Mum’s Donegal homestead.

Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal and Derry-Londonderry will all feature in the programme.

Ronan, of course, isn’t alone on his trek (the whole route is 1,553 miles from Malin Head in Co. Donegal to the Old Head of Kinsale in Co. Cork).

Getting your hands dirty

Leading the way: Teaching an old dog new tricks

He’ll be joined by a cast of unique fellow travellers.

He’ll try his hand at everything from fishing and hurling to seaweed baths and sheep herding.

Whether Ro’s travels take him to Mum’s townland of Brockagh I’ll just have to watch to find out.

But he did get a big kick out of his walk, saying: ‘I was 16 when I left Ireland, and there was so much of the west coast I hadn’t seen.

‘Now, I’m coming home, and I can’t wait for viewers to share all the laughter and tears along the way.’

A family business

Now if he does we’d advise he visit the Isaac Butt Heritage Centre.

The old schoolhouse which boasts pictures of Mum’s family, the McNultys who filled much of the first class roll.

Before heading down a few yards to the Ramblers, the one-time home and hotel business of Edward and Bridie McNulty.

And say we sent you

HAPPY EASTER

Countries, Ireland

Safety net of Ireland’s new adventure playground

27th May 202427th May 2024 funtime65

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

Countries, Ireland

Irish road trips really are the best craic

26th September 202326th September 2023 funtime65

Ask an Irishman for directions and they might tell you ‘Oh, I wouldn’t start from here’… Irish road trips really are the best craic.

Irish humour is renowned the world over and in my 13 years in Ireland I took away that their greatest export was their craic.

And it makes sense that Tourism Ireland have put the fabled craic at the centre of their latest campaign.

On the road… their country roads.

The Irish country roads I have travelled all my life.

Tourism Ireland has partnered with Channel 4 to create a new mini-series, called Stand Up Road Trip.

A funny thing happened

Comedians Seán Burke and Suzi Ruffell drive across Ireland squirrelling away the funny things they hear.

All so they can gather enough material for a stand-up show in Limerick.

Beginning in Ireland’s Ancient East our deadly duo head into Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and on to the Wild Atlantic Way.

Seán and Suzi have prepared no jokes for the show so are relying on the punters to write their gags.

The digital-first mini-series includes three episodes, which will be available to view on Channel 4’s YouTube channel.

The episodes will also be promoted on the Channel 4 streaming platform, as well as on Channel 4’s Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

And they are hoping to pull in 6.4 million views.

A drive through the ages

In the first episode, viewers follow Seán and Suzi as they visit Newgrange with its neolithic chamber.

Before taking in the Carlingford Oyster Company (insert your own gag).

The first part of the comedians odyssey is here.

Episode two will go live on 5 October and episode three on 19 October.

Africa, America, Countries, Culture, Europe, Oceania, UK

Route 66 in an electric car

17th July 202117th July 2021 funtime65

It’s the world’s favourite road trip… but get your kicks on Route 66 in an electric car.

In the style of this site, of course, I’m working backwards!

At the end of Route 66, Santa Monica Pier, Southern California, on a scorching summer day.

Or a motorbike

Your motorbike, the cooler choice, will have to pull up before the pedestrianised pier, and landmark.

We were first introduced to Route 66 from the classic song where we were encouraged to get our kicks.

As an introduction we are told it’s 2000 miles from Chicago to LA.

Smalltown America

And in time-honoured American songs fashion a list of smalltown US follows and states.

We get Saint Looey, Joplin Missouri, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff Arizona, Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino…

You get the picture.

And yes, I still have to get those stickers for my luggage.

Although I have a clunking keyring to fool people into thinking I‘ve done the hipsters’ highway.

Why am I flagging up Route 66 today? Well, why not?

But it also tops a survey commissioned by Continental Tyres for the new Extreme-E.

The Great Road Trips

Route 66 holds off Pacific Coast Highway and the Great Ocean Road in Australia for the top spot.

While a cursory glance of the top ten also highlights Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and South Africa’s Garden Way.

Now like all of those with adventure in out blood I have relished getting out on the road though perhaps not the iconic ones.

Snow in Mississippi

And so I drove/was driven through the flatlands of the Blues Trail in Mississippi on my Deep South odyssey.

Where I fell asleep through the repetition and woke up with the fields covered white.

And, no, I wasn’t dreaming. Mississippians call cotton Snow.

Driven around the bend

Or our own circuitous route around Monaghan’s townlands trying to find the Patrick Kavanagh Centre.

And being driven aimlessly around a South African park in the Eastern Cape late at night.

And that’s why the Lord gave zebras white stripes

Continental Tyres runs down the top 10 UK road trips and Scotland takes the plaudits with its North Coast 500.

While it’s good to see the Coastal Circuit in Northern Ireland getting a namecheck too.

The vital spark

Now electric cars are to be commended but I’m not sure how popular they would be with the Route 66 set.

I mean how many charging points would you need over that 2,000 mile expanse.

Never mind keeping up the cool quotient.

But the highway’s going nowhere and you’ll get longer to enjoy it.

So Get your kicks on Route 66 in an electric car.