You give me €4, then I give each of you €1 back to put in the bin!

The church was locked up. Google had indicated that a pyramid shaped tomb was that of the General but we had our doubts. There were no markings on it whatsoever, save for a coat of arms. Biggsey went off in search of a rectory, there was an adjacent house. Shortly, he called us over and a young lad had let him into the church. On the wall were plaques commemorating the old boy but sadly, they indicated this was not his last resting place. That was in a place called Corofin, some 10-15 miles north west and in the opposite direction to that we were headed. That's an excuse for Biggsey to return one day in the future.

We left Ennis and made our way south to Bunratty Castle and Durty Nelly's pub. The former we would photograph from the roadside, the latter would be our lunch stop. Dating from the 17th Century, it was all low beams, uneven floors and crooked walls. We settled on four seafood chowdas, with home made bread. It was deeelish! I just about had room to squeeze it in on top of the brekkie!




They do a mean seafood chowda

The sun was still shining when we left Bunratty. Boy, had we been lucky with the weather, pretty much since leaving Inverness. Next on the agenda, another fuel stop and then the trek down to Blarney, including a trip through the Limerick Tunnel (under the River Shannon).

Well, guess what. Pass stop, move directly to toll, do not collect any fuel! The fuel stop had closed down (it's on street view, honest). Grizzly took the lead. Being a Cork man, he was keen to lead us into his own county, similar to the French letting riders lead into their home towns during the Tour de France. We duly arrive at the tunnel toll booths (can you believe they make bikers pay?). A long discussion ensues, before we each are given a €1 to put into the bin, to raise the barrier, despite Grizzly having just handed the €4 over to the guy in the kiosk. Logic, (in Ireland, feck off!) would say you pay the man for four bikes and he presses the button to raise the barrier four times. Simples!  Too simple, it seems for the paddy at the toll. "You have to put de muney in de bin". Sad but no word of a lie.

Through the tunnel, we did eventually make the fuel stop, then it was just a short ride down to the village of Blarney. Our hotel for the night, situated on the village green, was the appropriately named Blarney Castle Hotel. The entrance to the castle grounds is just 2 minutes walk away.

With the bikes securely parked up at the back of the hotel, we freshened up, before heading out to the Castle. I'd come 1500 miles to kiss the Blarney Stone and by gum that's exactly what I intended to do.

Blarney Castle Hotel