I’ve got a new hobby – inspired by a work colleague of Mum’s. There’s a website called Extreme Day Trips which helps you look for cheap flight deals. The idea is; Take an early flight out, spend a day at your chosen destination, and fly back home to sleep back in your own bed at night.
For my first Extreme Day Trip I kept it fairly local (not venturing too far); I opted for Ireland as my first trip, and on Thursday morning I left home at 05:00 to drive up to Birmingham Airport. My destination was Dublin, flying on the 08:10 Aer Lingus departure to Dublin. Before boarding the plane I had some time to kill and made use of my pre-booked pass to the airport’s Aspire Lounge where I had a buffet breakfast while watching the planes out on the apron and runway. Then it was time to board the plane for the very short (40 minute) flight.
On arrival in Dublin I picked up my hire car (Avis) and then started my mini Irish road trip – which would be entirely based in Fingal, one of the local authority areas which replaced County Dublin.
(Note: a lot of people still associate with County Dublin 30 years on, car numberplates across the 4 councils in the area still reflect County Dublin; Fingal is never referred to as ‘County Fingal’ even though there is a Fingal County Council. Indeed, local government documentation lists Fingal as being a county within County Dublin. Are you following still?).
First stop was the lovely fishing village of Howth. Just 25 minutes by train from the centre of Dublin, it is easy to get to (about 20 mins by car from the airport); but it feels like a small country seaside town – not a city suburb.
In Howth I had pre-booked a boat trip, the ‘Cliffs & Lighthouse’ cruise. It was a very enjoyable trip although, because the North Easterly wind was up, we couldn’t do the cliffs part. But we did see the lighthouse and the boat took us round the Ireland’s Eye island, where from a distance we could see the thousands of sea birds which live there.
In the harbour at Howth I spotted a seal. Howth gets my seal of approval!
I also spotted a sign to a vintage radio museum (I promise I wasn’t aware of this before my arrival). Me being me, I went to check it out. Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio is based in one of the Martello towers which can be found along the Irish coast. The tower has its own connecion to radio and communication in Ireland:
In 1898 Marconi used Wireless Telegraphy, 2 miles opposite the Tower in Dublin Bay, reporting on the Kingstown Regatta. This became known as the Birth of Radio and the 1st Journalistic/Sporting use of Radio. In 1903 Lee DeForest (American Inventor) came to the tower to further experiment for the GPO in London and in 1905, while honeymooning in Ireland, Marconi set up a wireless station at the tower.
Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio
After visiting the museum, my next stop was Ardgillan Castle. Located near Balbriggan, the castle was built in 1738 by the Reverend Robert Taylor and the house was owned by the Taylor family for the next 224 years, being sold in the 1960s.
I enjoyed my self-guided tour and particularly loved the drawing room, where the rug really did remind me of one Granny and Grandpa used to have; It was like walking back in to The Elms after so many years! Another favourite room was the library. I can see myself sitting there reading!
Next it was on to the coastal town of Skerries, where I picked a place in the Sun, by the harbour, where I could sit and have some dinner (apart from an ice cream I hadn’t eaten since breakfast time). I went to 5Rock and had a very nice steak and chips – plus a non-alcoholic cocktail (mint & lime) which was very refreshing in the heat!
Then it was time to end my day trip and return to the airport. I was cutting it a little bit fine; For an 18:45 flight I got to the car rental return at 18:00. By the time I’d taken their shuttle bus up to the terminal building it was 18:15. I raced through security, and got to the gate at 18:20 (the published closing time of the gate). They hadn’t started boarding yet. Phew – Made it (just)!
Next time I’ll allow more time to get back to the airport. (I hadn’t realised the car rental return was not directly outside the terminal building where I picked it up from).
Flight took off from Dublin at 19:17, and landed back in Birmingham just before 19:55. Straight through the airport and back to the car, I was back home by 22:00.
Where should I go next? I was considering Paris, or maybe Toulouse to do a tour of the Airbus factory – that would be a good trip to do in the future. Or maybe a different country altogether?
FH.
