Day 29 - Last day Gorey to Dublin

 So I celebrated my last night in Gorey yesterday with a lovely Irish Coffee at the Ashdown Park hotel.

Irish Coffee

Today was pack up time... had to rearrange the cases into non essentials in the big case and needed for the journey  in the carry on case.  TBH, I won't be sorry to not have to live out of a suitcase any more. Although I semi-unpacked in Lahinch and that made me feel at home.  

When it was all done I collected Bern and we went and had a coffee to recover!!! 

We have booked into the Maldron hotel at the airport, so we won't miss the plane tomorrow. 

The plan was to drive to Dublin and leave our bags at the motel and then return the car to the hire car place.  We couldn't access our rooms until 3pm, so we had to find a petrol station to fill up,  then perhaps have some lunch. 

So all my Nolan rellies will be pleased to know we ended up in Balbriggan...  birthplace of my Mum's father... 

We found a lovely pub called the Harvest Inn and had some Vegetable soup and soda bread..

Harvest Inn Balbriggan

Vegie soup and soda bread

And again..

It was lovely to be in Balbriggan and feel the presence of my maternal grand father.  He left there when he was 11 after his mother died and the family moved to Leicester.  We passed a cemetery on the way out and I wondered if his Mum was buried there.... ??? I didn't stop to find out though... 

So, on the way home we dropped the car off, always relieved to return it in one piece!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

Then we have now checked into this hotel and I've come down to the bar to write my blog and have a little Harp lager to help me along... 

Something to help me write my blog!! 

So that's just about it from me now.  Tomorrow  we fly out at 2.20pm and arrive in Perth  at 5.30pm on Wednesday. 

Thanks to everyone who followed along on the journey and sent the emails and comments.  So lovely to know you were enjoying the ride too...

Special thanks to my family in Lahinch  who made me feel so at home... that was probably  the highlight of my trip...

Hopefully  I will catch up with you all at various stages and fill in the gaps...  but it's been a wonderful  month enjoying the place of my heritage.