This day should be a more interesting walk, traveling toward the sea with mountains on each side. We see the first glimpse of the Mourne Mountains.
14.35 miles, partly cloudy, 1393 feet elevation gain, 53 degrees, 90% humidity.
Click to get Richard’s ReLive video: https://www.relive.com/view/vJOKzmK7Ywv
Time to get out on the trail quicker. The Canal Court Hotel offered breakfast as early as 7, while most hotels and B&Bs have offered it between 8 and 9.
The bus station was directly across the canal from our hotel, so we were seeing them very busy all morning. Here’s why: this bus and many others are bound for the local schools. Kids come from all around and then are bussed to their local parochial schools. It didn’t photograph well, but this bus was bound for Our Lady’s Grammar School.
This statue of John Mitchel stands before St. Colman’s Park in Newry. John Mitchel was an educated Irishman who became a journalist supporting independent Ireland. After the potato crop was destroyed by blight in the 1840s, Mitchel blamed England for taking corn and grain away from Ireland to feed its people and armies, and causing a million Irishmen to starve and forcing the emigration of another million. He was tried under England’s Treason and Felony Act and sentenced to 14 years penal transportation and was sent to Bermuda. He escaped to New York, and again began writing but his views condoning and championing slavery tarnished his reputation both in the US and Ireland. In 1874 he returned to Ireland, and was buried near his parents in the local cemetery in 1875.
This home in the suburbs of Newry is like many others: new, modern, and home on a large patch of land.
Since the weather was warm and sunny, everyone is getting work done. This fellow is trimming the hedgerow with a chainsaw.
This farmer, Harry, is setting fence posts. He brought us up to date on all the local gossip—particularly about the pilgrims on the St. Patrick Way. He has seen the three Germans Klaus had told us about, and Klaus was just ahead of us on the trail “with his tongue hanging down,” according to Harry. Richard is getting quite good at “lying and bragging” with these Irishmen.
Our accommodation for the night was at the Rostrevor Inn, part of the old town and now divided into a B&B, restaurant, and Crawford’s Bar.
CS Lewis was a frequent vacationer at Rostrevor, and he based his Narnia series book on the natural scenes nearby.
St. Bronagh was a sixth century follower of St. Patrick, and she built a refuge for sailors shipwrecked on Carlingford Lough.
General Robert Ross was born nearby. He was sent to America to command 4000 British troops in the War of 1812. In 1814, it was he who nearly captured President Madison and burned what later became known as the White House. Just before the British attacked Baltimore, American lawyer Francis Scott Key boarded the British ship to bargain for the release of a prisoner. That night he witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry, and when he saw the flag aloft the next morning, he wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.” General Ross was later killed in the Battle of Baltimore.
We are at the entrance to the Kilbroney Park and the Fairy Glen, popular walking areas.
From a bench in Kilbroney Park, we can look out on the Irish Sea.
We had dinner at the Rostrevor Inn Restaurant. Richard had pork belly and Jan had seafood chowder.
2 Responses
Jan, where in the world are you getting all this historical information from? How do you find the time to read about it all? Especially love your one scenic picture of the countryside after the hedge clipper. It must be exhilarating to take in scenery like this most days, when it isn’t raining. I keep making the mistake of looking at some of your daily adventures at our dinner time and always feel depressed seeing the last picture of such wonderful meals you didn’t have “to prepare!” Really enjoy the pictures and the Relive. So kind of you to take the time to share. Dan
I was struck by all the history surrounding this town. They had pictures and stories framed on the wall between the dining room and the toilets. Of course, I always love the surprises, and how each of us view them. It was a new slant to consider General Ross being given credit for the US National anthem.