It was a pretty easy start to the golfing trip for me because unlike the remaining 31 participants, I actually travelled out to Ireland the day before because I chose to fly with British Airways at a sensible time from Leeds Bradford airport. The downside of course was that they don't fly directly to Dublin which meant me connecting through London Heathrow, although in fairness, this was a minor inconvenience but avoided two vital things - 1) I didn't have to get up at 3.30am on the Friday morning for a coach ride to Manchester and 2) I avoided having to fly with Ryanair which doesn't have the greatest reputation for passenger care!
And so I landed into Dublin around 3.30pm in the afternoon, collected my hire car and set off on the three hour journey to our base, Westport, which lies across the other side of the island. It was a delightful and very easy journey under beautiful blue skies and on roads that were dramatically quieter and better surfaced than those we are used to on mainland UK. Many of the signs along route suggested that the country had been the beneficiary of considerable EU money to establish the wonderful road network! As for those skies, I did wonder if they were a positive omen for what might lie ahead?
Our base was to be The Helm in Westport - Google it - and on arrival I declared myself as the advance party for those following tomorrow. Like many people, I had been told of the warmth and friendliness of the Irish folk and this was demonstrated in huge fashion by Vinny, the owner, his son Shane and all the staff working in the pub, restaurant and apartments. His words were, "treat this man like a VIP" and that is exactly what they did with nothing being too much trouble. The welcome boded well for the 10 days ahead.
To keep cost down on a golfing trip, there is a necessity to get on with your fellow travellers which includes sharing rooms. I was shown to my two roomed apartment comprising four beds although only one of the beds was a double! Oh the benefit of being the advanced party. My claim was quickly staked although at this stage I had no idea who my golfing room mate was to be. Thursday night was actually to provide the best sleep of the three nights in The Helm but more on that will follow.
And so I landed into Dublin around 3.30pm in the afternoon, collected my hire car and set off on the three hour journey to our base, Westport, which lies across the other side of the island. It was a delightful and very easy journey under beautiful blue skies and on roads that were dramatically quieter and better surfaced than those we are used to on mainland UK. Many of the signs along route suggested that the country had been the beneficiary of considerable EU money to establish the wonderful road network! As for those skies, I did wonder if they were a positive omen for what might lie ahead?
Our base was to be The Helm in Westport - Google it - and on arrival I declared myself as the advance party for those following tomorrow. Like many people, I had been told of the warmth and friendliness of the Irish folk and this was demonstrated in huge fashion by Vinny, the owner, his son Shane and all the staff working in the pub, restaurant and apartments. His words were, "treat this man like a VIP" and that is exactly what they did with nothing being too much trouble. The welcome boded well for the 10 days ahead.
To keep cost down on a golfing trip, there is a necessity to get on with your fellow travellers which includes sharing rooms. I was shown to my two roomed apartment comprising four beds although only one of the beds was a double! Oh the benefit of being the advanced party. My claim was quickly staked although at this stage I had no idea who my golfing room mate was to be. Thursday night was actually to provide the best sleep of the three nights in The Helm but more on that will follow.
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