Northern Ireland 2017
Very early on an April morning we departed the Borders, a coach load of us. The ride to Cairnryan was uneventful, although we missed the ferry by a whisker. The later ferry, a huge beast, was comfortable but the Irish Sea was covered in white horses! Thanks to a change in itinerary we then headed for the comfortable Hotel Dunadry - which had been many things in the past, including a linen mill.
The next day we were back in the coach for a drive along the east coast to the North Antrim coast and Dunluce Castle, where we were almost blown into the sea, it was so very windy, and then an equally squally visit to the Giant's Causeway. On the way back we were lavishly hosted to afternoon tea by the congregation of the Second Kilrea Presbyterian Church, On Day 3 we we were again looked after, this time for morning coffee by U3A Foyle. A guided tour of Londonderry - or Derry - followed, and a trip over the Border into County Donegal to visit the magnificent Inishowen Peninsula and the circular Stone Fort of Grianan of Aileach.
Our last day included a guided tour of the former trouble spots in Belfast - the Falls and Shanklin Road - now tourist venues lest we forget - followed by a tour of the Stormont Parliament Building. Finally, a visit to the world-rated Titanic Museum before getting the ferry home - this time we caught it.
Some of our U3A members.
-----