rowes over there: Derry

Off to Newgrange a large tomb, built stone age, with stacks of stone and then covered with turf. All cleverly aligned with the sun. Sadly we were too late to go on any tours.

Then to Battle of the Boyne where P got out and walked about some grassy hillocks, no doubt he could hear the canons and see the soldiers (in his head) but from the dry car it was all just paddock.

Then off to Derry, ( or Londonderry if the sign not painted over) first thing we noticed was flags

flying on many of the houses and across the streets , turns out its Marching Season and they are showing their colours. No wonder they got in fights with each other they really flaunt it in each others faces.

The hotel was nasty , a Travelodge we booked off the web, the curtains were falling off the rails and it was musty but also fresh paint smell in the bathroom ( nice new bath tho).

Over the road was a nightclub that promised a live band from 8 till late oh joy.

We went to the bar under the hotel and had a meal and watched the bouncers getting ready, every now and then there would be a downpour and all the smokers would have to rush back in ( smoking stopped UK on 1 July). Went for a walk along the Foyle riverside and checked out the amazing Derry walls, at least 4 mtrs wide and solid stone.

Sure enough when we got home the number of bouncers over the road had increased all men with no necks. Oddly we could not hear the music just the people in the queues and the smokers and the cars. Could have been worse.

Next day we did a walking tour of the walls, saw the Murals on the buildings and heard about

the Uprising here. The Garda ( police) set up inside the walled city and had great views over Bogside and all sorts of spy gear to keep an eye/ear on what was happening.

A brief stop at Bushmills Distillery ( sadly tours closed for the day )