By this time Bernie from Galway had joined us so Elite Friendship Club can now proudly boast that we have members in Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Portadown, Dublin, Longford and Galway!

Not to mention Lanzarote where we are planning to go next March for some essential winter sun.

Over lunch on O’Connell Street, and an aqua vitae on Store Street, we discovered that both Eleanor and Bernie were previously county council administrators, marathon runners and soccer players back in the day before the Lionesses made ladies football remotely popular.

On our journey the train stopped at Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Portadown where a group of marginally clad young ladies embarked prompting one passenger to remark that instead of dressing up for Halloween, they hadn’t got dressed at all.

By the time we reached Grand Central Station we were greeted by a dazzling display of light and sound which was a spectacular finale to another day away with friends.

Spinalonga

Spinalonga is a fascinating island which became a leper colony from 1904 to 1957. It was one of the last active leper colonies in Europe. While historically a devastating condition, modern treatments now exist. Isolation of patients has not been medically necessary since the 1940s, but in many developed countries continued until the eighties.

It was considered a place of isolation for the infected and not intended for treatment. Conditions on the island were squalid and there were several instances of unrest. There was little sense of community until the 1930s with the lepers in a state of grim survivalism focused on food, gambling and alcohol. And there was some difficulty finding volunteers to bury the dead. Many attempted escape or suicide and they generally lived alone in their own homes relying on the collection of rainwater and shipments of water and food from the mainland. The inhabitants practiced folk medicine to alleviate their symptoms as there was no hospital or medical support.

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos, meaning Saint Nicholas, is a tourist town that serves as a hub to the twenty or so small villages and farms that make up this part of Lassithi. Tourist attractions include a small lagoon, tidy beaches, an archaeological museum, a local flora exhibition and numerous fairs.

Malia,Stalis,Heraklion,
Santorini

Malia has recently evolved into a prominent holiday destination boasting a bustling resort characterized by shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants as the town’s economy thrives by catering to the needs of tourists.  

Stalis village became our favourite nighttime destination especially the raucous Robin Hood Bar. Congratulations to the Four Maid Marions namely Cathy, Trish, Susan and Sue on winning the quiz night competition against Jaye, Alan, Ruth, and Stephen also known as the Jars!

Heraklion also known as Iraklio is the regional capital city. It is not an aesthetically pleasing town but well worth visiting to explore narrow lanes, Orthodox churches, and a busy harbour.

Santorini was a particular favourite of Stephen and Ruth who skipped their cooked breakfast to visit this most picturesque of all the Greek islands.

One of the most beautiful sites on earth, Santorini frames the world’s largest submerged volcanic caldera.

A Charming Fishing Village

Howth itself is a delightful fishing village and a northern suburb of Dublin. This district stretches across much of the Howth Head peninsula forming the northern boundary of Dublin Bay. The area also encompasses an island known as Ireland’s Eye which is recognised for its various natural protection designations.

Gratitude at the Oar House

During our visit, we gathered at the Oar House Restaurant where we made a small presentation to both Robert and Eleanor. This gesture was in appreciation of everything they had done for our group, making us feel warmly welcomed and effectively taking on the roles of tour guides. Their recommendations of local points of interest greatly enhanced our experience.

Coffee at the Bloody Stream

After enjoying a scrumptious seafood lunch, we made our way to the ‘Bloody Stream’ for coffee. Located just beneath the local DART station, this establishment is named in honour of the stream over which it is built. This name has a fascinating origin—back in August 1177, during the second Norman invasion, a fierce battle erupted nearby between the forces of Sir Almeric Tristram (reputedly a descendant of one of King Arthur’s knights who assumed command from Sir John de Courcy) and the Danes who were at that time holding Evora Bridge. The ensuing conflict resulted in bloodshed some of which reportedly stained the little stream hence its enduring name.

Dun Laoghaire has one of the longest main streets in Ireland with an abundance of shops for those of us seeking bargains or souvenirs.

The harbour is notable for two granite piers. The East Pier is particularly popular with walkers and was featured in the 1996 movie# Michael Collins where Liam Neeson, and two of his co-stars, are seen walking along a promenade which is of course the Eastern Pier. A band is seen playing on a bandstand and this is the bandstand on the East Pier.

Furthermore, Dun Laoghaire has associations with many cultural figures most notably James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, and a statue of Roger
Casement over 3 meters tall standing on a high plinth overlooking Dun Laoghaire’s baths.

Much of the town’s early growth came via visitors from Dublin and today there remains one large hotel named the Royal Marine along with several small hotels and a few bed-and-breakfasts.

The Royal Marine Hotel first opened in 1865 and has since hosted several heads of state, monarchs and celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Laurel
and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin.

During Queen Victoria’s final visit to Ireland in April 1900 she enjoyed a 16-course breakfast in the hotel upon disembarkation at Kingstown
pier. The hotel was purchased by the ‘Neville Hotels’ group in 2003 and refurbished in 2007. The hotel bar was rechristened as ‘Laurel’s Bar’ around this time.

In 2011, Dun Laoghaire Harbour published a master plan which focused on developing Dun Laoghaire as a tourist destination. Specifically, the plan revolved around promoting Dun Laoghaire Harbour as a prime location for both ferries and cruise ships. Since then, hundreds of cruise ships have stopped in Dun Laoghaire usually between the months of May and July.

Dun Laoghaire boasts a sister-city relationship with a few twin towns including Holyhead in north Wales.

On the downside, it no longer includes a golf club as its members agreed to sell their parkland course to developers in 2007 and move to County
Wicklow instead.