Kel and I decided against going back to Foynes as we needed to get to Longford to catch up to Martin, Kel’s cousin,  Bakers and Dentons took off fo Cliffs of Moher and the surrounding area, catching up with us somewhere in Northern Ireland later in the afternoon.  We decided to take a look at King John’s Castle before we left Limerick and so glad we took the time to do so.  It is impressive and certainly stands out.  We also did the museum on Kings Island which was most impressive and they had some original Boer War and Waterloo memorabilia on show including a uniform from Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother.  The collection was donated by a military family called Carroll.  Unite amazing with the original documents, medals, weapons etc.

We arrived in Ballinalee but unfortunately Martin was doing a funeral and his daughter Louise was also working, but his wife Mary was at home with the grandkids,  we chatted and caught up a little, exchanged emails again.  She as so surprised when Kel knocked on the door and he introduced himself to her.  Mary wasn’t home the last time we called in.  She did tell us that the five children had been to Australia but on,y on the eastern seaboard.

Longford to Port Rush for the night’s accommodation to do Dunlach ruins, Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge tomorrow.

Enjoyed the drive, lots of small roads, had some lunch in Cookstown.  Crossed over into Northern Ireland before we even knew it, no borders or large signs either, just the GPS telling me we would be crossing an international border shortly.

Got to accommodation around 1730 and we are staying at the Magherabuoy House Hotel in Port Rush.  We stayed here the last time we were in Port Rush.  Still lovely and staff were friendly.  Meals were huge.  We are in room 117 and it is a huge room, queen size bed and a single in it, along with a desk, table with two chairs and plenty of wardrobe space.  £65 per night including breakfast.

Dentons and Bakers stayed in Belfast, they got there around 1945.  We will catch up tomorrow.

King John's Castle (Irish: Caisleán Luimnigh) is a 13th-century castle located on King's Island in Limerick, Ireland, next to the River Shannon.  Although the site dates back to 922 when the Vikings lived on the Island, the castle itself was built on the orders of King John in 1200. One of the best preserved Norman castles in Europe, the walls, towers and fortifications remain today and are visitor attractions.  The remains of a Viking settlement were uncovered during archaeological excavations at the site in 1900.