Just like last year, a group of excited Victory Lodge members, friends, wives and partners left Blackburn at 7:30am on Sunday 12th June 2016 on a coach driven by the Blackburn Masonic Hall Chairman – a certain Phil Beaumont. “The Courier” – Sue Beaumont, most ably assisted him.
It didn’t take long to arrive at “The Bells of St. Mary’s” for breakfast just before Prestatyn. Arriving on Anglesey we just had to stop off at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which we all know means “Saint Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio near the red cave.””
We arrived at our hotel around 8:00pm and enjoyed an excellent meal. The Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa is a 4-star hotel set in its own grounds at the edge of the beautiful village of Adare, near Limerick.
We visited Bunratty Castle and the extensive Folk Park. We learned how to make the perfect Irish Coffee when we visited the Flying Boat Museum at Foynes. We gazed in awe at The Burren – a huge area of limestone pavement. Then we took a boat trip to view the spectacular Cliffs of Moher from the sea. Some sea-faring Lancastrians fared better than others!! We then went to the top of the cliffs to take in the fantastic views and to climb O’Brian’s Tower. The visitor centre (opened in 2007) is a wonderful construction built into the cliff top.
All in all, another thoroughly wonderful experience and many thanks go to Phil &Sue.
The group pictured with Capt Beaumont – A true mariner!