Today (Saturday) I am making my first visit of the 2013/14 season to Kingsmeadow in London. My club AFC Wimbledon are taking on Torquay who are languishing one from bottom of League 2, just above Northampton. I hope the Dons will build on their success of last week which followed a run of close defeats or draws. AFC Wimbledon are 14th in the table at the moment. On the way from Birmingham last night (Friday), the train stopped momentarily at Milton Keynes Central station but thankfully it was soon on its way out of Franchise town! I lunched in the hospitality suite before the game.
AFC Wimbledon 0 Torquay United 2
A very disappointing first half (last 15 minutes of) but better signs with a different formation in 2nd half. Good support for Torquay (400). They managed to make their presence felt and went away very happy with three points secured. A small section of Dons fans booed the team as they went in at half time having conceded two sloppy goals in the 15 minutes before the break. Very bad defence let in the second goal certainly. Back to the drawing board by manager Neil Ardley and a consideration of a fresh formation as the first half line-up did not work (albeit with the late withdrawal of Harry Pell).
Monthly Archives: Jan 2014
HOWARD WALDRON 1949-2013
Howard and Marie at a wedding in Ambleside 2009
This afternoon we are saying farewell in Birmingham to a dear friend who my wife and I have known for nearly forty years. Howard Waldron passed away peacefully at St Mary’s Hospice just after Christmas, aged 64. He had been ill for a few months. To his wife Marie (Toner) and family (Catherine and Michael) our deep sympathy. Marie is from Carlingford, Co.Louth where her mother is living. Her nephew is the Ireland international and Leinster rugby player Devin Toner. I reproduce here the order of service at the Robin Hood crematorium and I am publishing part of the tribute I gave during the ceremony.
Howard Waldron & Evelyn Fisher, Malham Tarn May 2011 Photo: © Michael Fisher
Howard was a lecturer in economics for many years in Birmingham, Coventry and at the time of his retirement, in Stratford-upon-Avon College, where he was very involved in latter years with the recruitment of international students from China. He will be greatly missed. I never met anyone who could analyse the economic situation or the state of the £ with such a gift for making it understandable to the ordinary citizen (let alone students!). Rest in peace dear friend and may you find the path to heavenly eternity. Your common sense approach to everything will be sorely missed by all. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dilís.
Order of Service: Howard Waldron RIP
ORDER OF SERVICE
Entrance Music Benedictus (The Armed Man) by Karl Jenkins
Welcome and Opening Prayer by Reverend Chris Turner
A Young Howard
Tribute by Peter Toner, brother of Marie
Tribute by Lynn Nuttall, Stratford College
Music: The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles
The long and winding road/That leads to your door/Will never disappear,/I’ve seen that road before.
It always leads me here,/Leads me to you door.
The wild and windy night/That the rain washed away/Has left a pool of tears/Crying for the day.
Why leave me standing here?/Let me know the way.
Many times I’ve been alone/And many times I’ve cried,/Anyway you’ll never know/The many ways I’ve tried.
But still they lead me back/To the long and winding road,/You left me waiting here/A long, long time ago.
Don’t leave me standing here,/Lead me to your door.
But still they lead me back/To the long and winding road,/You left me waiting here/A long, long time ago.
Don’t leave me standing here,/Lead me to your door.
Marie & Howard Waldron
Poem: Epitaph On A Friend read by Catherine Waldron
An honest man lies here at rest,/The friend of man, the friend of truth;
The friend of age, and guide of youth:/Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,
Few heads with knowledge so inform’d;/If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.
Tribute by Jim (Matthew Boulton College, Birmingham)
Music: The Parting Glass sung by Eoin Gaffney (Malahide)
Of all the money that e’er I had, I’ve spent it in good company
And all the harm that e’er I’ve done, Alas it was to none but me.
And all I’ve done for want of wit/ To memory now I can’t recall.
So fill to me the parting glass, Goodnight and joy be with you all.
A man may drink and not be drunk, A man may fight and not be slain.
A man may court a pretty girl/ And perhaps be welcomed back again.
But since it has so ought to be/ By a time to rise and a time to fall,
Come fill to me the parting glass, Goodnight and joy be with you all.
Of all the comrades that e’er I had, They are sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts that e’er I had, They would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot/ That I should rise and you should not,
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call, Goodnight and joy be with you all. Goodnight and joy be with you all.
Howard Waldron RIP
Tribute by Michael Fisher in memory of our many walks together:
A Little Poddle (leisurely amble) by Ann Bristow from the Alfred Wainwright Society Poetry Competition 2011
It’s just a little poddle/ To the left then round that bend/ Up to the top/ Then down/ Then up/
Til we come back down again
***********************************************
It’s just a small leg stretcher/ To break us in/ And then/ Tomorrow we’ll do a big walk/
And sort boys out from the men
****************************************************
We’ll stop just in a minute/ And then we’ll have a rest
Come on now keep on going/ The view’s just past this crest
********************************************************
We’ll lunch upon the summit/ With a panoramic view
Then down we’ll go to have a pint/ And maybe a crisp or two
****************************************************
It’s just a little poddle/ A nice round walk with views
And somehow all the better/ For having good friends go with you!
Judge’s comment: ‘Brings back memories of family walking and persuading others there’s not far to go. Read it with a big smile.’
Bolton Abbey by William Wordsworth
From Bolton’s old monastic tower
The bells ring loud with gladsome power;
The sun shines bright; the fields are gay
With people in their best array
Of stole and doublet, hood and scarf,
Along the banks of crystal Wharf,
Through the vale retired and lowly.
Trooping to that summons holy.
And, up among the moorlands, see
What sprinklings of blithe company!
Of lasses and of shepherd grooms,
That down the steep hills force their way
Like cattle through the budding brooms;
Path, or no path, what care they?
And thus in joyous mood they hie
To Bolton’s mouldering Priory.
So in reflecting on Bolton Abbey, Malham, Ambleside, Keswick, Powerscourt, York and all those joyful expeditions in England and Ireland and in the family’s case much further afield, I hope that even in the face of death, my words this afternoon can be those of thanksgiving.
Howard & Marie (middle) at Powerscourt May 2010 Photo: © Michael Fisher
We are thankful for Howard, who shared his life with us. A dear friend, for whom love and family were so important. A wanderer, whose life was lived with vigour. We give thanks for the struggles of life and for the triumph of character over trial, of courage over difficulty, and of belief over sorrow.
May God grant us such strength in the memory of Howard that we may be thankful for the gift of life given to each of us. In our hearts, may the loss of Howard be balanced by thanksgiving for a life that in our case was shared with us, ever since we first met here in Birmingham nearly forty years ago. Amen.
Howard, Marie, Evelyn & myself at a wedding in Ambleside 2009
Quiet Reflection: Music: In Paradisum by Fauré
Marie & Howard at Windermere 2009
Prayers and Commendation and Exit Music
Albatross by Fleetwood Mac
Donations, if desired, can be made directly to St Mary’s Hospice
Howard Waldron with friend in the Galápagos Islands Photo: © Marie Waldron
ACROSS THE IRISH SEA
Howard Waldron (left) & Dave Ireland at York Racecourse June 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher
I am taking a trip back in time across the Irish Sea. My first journey for 2014 involves a flight to Birmingham this afternoon (Thursday). A good friend died after Christmas and his funeral is tomorrow (Friday) at Robin Hood Crematorium. My obituary for Howard Waldron (RIP) will hopefully appear after I have spoken at the service.
With Marie & Howard Waldron & Dave Ireland on the walls at York, where we parted for the last time in June 2013 Photo: © Evelyn Fisher
Howard and his (then girlfriend) Marie were among the friends I got to know in Birmingham when I came to work there for BBC Radio Birmingham (now WM) in 1975. Elsewhere on these pages you will find my story about the Boomtown Rats, one of the many Irish groups I got to meet. The Dubliners and Horslips are among the others I interviewed at Pebble Mill, one of the finest broadcasting centres in England, sadly now demolished.
With Howard Waldron at York Racecourse, June 2013
My journey on Friday evening will bring me back to London, where I grew up (1954-67) and where my younger daughter is now based. On Saturday I will get the first chance this season to see my football club AFC Wimbledon in action. They take on Torquay at Kingsmeadow in League 2. At the moment the Dons are in mid-table and hopefully after a good 3-0 win last weekend they can build on that form as the last thing we need is another end-of-season relegation scenario.
Sacred Heart Church, Wimbledon Photo: © Michael Fisher
As it happens, this is also a very important weekend for the Sacred Heart parish in Wimbledon where I used to live and go to school. After running the parish for over 100 years since they founded it in 1887, the Jesuits are handing over the administration to the Archdiocese of Southwark at a special Mass on Friday evening. The new Parish Priest is Monsignor Nick Hudson, a former Rector of the English College in Rome, who was ordained a priest in Wimbledon. There will still be a Jesuit presence in the parish, however, both at the schools (Donhead and Wimbledon College), at Jesuit Missions in Edge Hill and at a nearby Jesuit residence.
One of the reasons the Jesuits are handing over what was regarded as their most prestigious parish in England and Wales is the lack of voacations. They do not have the manpower to continue serving the normal parish needs. It is therefore interesting that my current parish of St Brigid’s in South Belfast will shortly be welcoming a Jesuit who is at his Tertiary stage, a period of reflection and parish experience that comes after ordination and before he makes his final vows.
Fr Nick Austin is a college professor lecturing in moral theology in London. He is a native of Coventry, an area I explored soon after I moved to Birmingham in 1975, visiting the Anglican Cathedral. It was bombed during the second world war but a new structure was designed for the 20thC and was consecrated in 1962. By coincidence I met at a friend’s house in Wimbledon on another occasion a relative of the late Keith New (died February 2012), who designed some of the stained glass windows for St Michael’s Cathedral. Coventry was also a city where Howard Waldron used to work.
In Bath with Dave Allen, Marie & Howard Waldron March 2013 Photo: © Evelyn Fisher
The wheel will come full circle when I travel to Dublin next week, on my return from England.
TYDAVNET’S TERRY CAVANAGH
Terry Cavanagh
Congratulations to Tydavnet’s Terry Cavanagh whose entrepreneurial skills have been recognised by the prestigious Forbes magazine. The County Monaghan native, now based in London, is one of five Irishmen (another being the golfer Rory McElroy from Holywood, County Down) who have been included in their annual ’30 under 30′ worldwide list. There is a montage picture of these ‘young men to watch’ in today’s Irish Times and it looks like Rory’s golf club is hitting Terry on his back somewhere around the shoulder! By coincidence Terry’s parents and aunt were with me in Holywood walking along a short section of the North Down coastal path on New Year’s Day. Terry was included because of his expertise as a video games developer (products such as Super Hexagon and VVVVV). The company he founded is Distractionware. He was home in Tydavnet for Christmas and the New Year.
Five Irish in Forbes ’30 under 30′ Photomontage from The Irish Times
I started writing about Terry over three years ago when he won a video games ‘Oscar’ for his game VVVVV at the Indiecade festival for independent game develpers in Los Angeles. So here’s a blog I published in October 2010, shortly after my retirement from RTÉ News:
Congratulations to Terry Cavanagh from Tydavnet in County Monaghan on winning an award at the Indiecade showcase for video games in Los Angeles (Culvert City). The game he developed VVVVVV won the most fun and compelling game at the festival. This is how I described his success in the Northern Standard :
“A Monaghan man has achieved international recognition in the computer games world for developing the most fun and compelling video game. Terry Cavanagh from Tullyvogey in Tydavnet picked up the prize at a festival in Los Angeles for independent games creators.
A former pupil of St Macartan’s College in Monaghan, has been making games since he was at school. He moved to the university city of Cambridge in England six months ago as he said he felt isolated in Dublin where there was no “indie scene”.
This award is an important breakthrough for him in a market that is dominated by global companies. Another game developed by him has also proved popular, Don’t Look Back. He has been described by one trade journal as “one of the industry’s brightest up-and-coming independent developers”.
His game VVVVVV was one of 32 games short-listed by 160 international jurors from over 350 submissions in the annual international festival of independent games (IndieCade) held at Culver City outside Los Angeles. It’s the main showcase for independent games developers from around the world, where they can meet collaborators and investors. 
While established companies measure their budgets in millions, independents have to raise their own capital, sometimes putting their life savings into projects in the hope of creating a global success.
Terry found it was difficult at first to get financial support for this type of work and was unsuccessful in seeking enterprise funding in Monaghan. But that did not deter him and having arranged a bank loan he was able to embark on his creative projects. He can now boast that his creation is the most fun and compelling computer game on the market this year.
In the game, players imagine themselves as the fearless leader of a team of dimension-exploring scientists, who are separated after inadvertently crashing their ship.
VVVVVV uses smart, interesting puzzles and a strong world and environment, supported by simple visual design combined with awesome music.
The IndieCade festival helps to encourage innovation in interactive media. It includes games producers from Europe, Australia, Asia, Latin America and other countries.
News of Terry’s success in LA delighted his parents in Tydavnet. Peter, a retired Garda, and Patricia, a former psychiatric nurse, were proud he had won his own “Oscar” in what is a very competitive industry.”
BANGOR
Beach at Seapark seen from train Photo: © Michael Fisher
With my car being serviced in preparation for an MOT I had no excuse for not walking today. So I took the train out to Bangor and walked along the North Down Coastal Path, part of which I had been on with friends on New Year’s Day when we went to Holywood. This time I walked nine miles all the way back to the point where we began last Wednesday, beside the train station at Holywood. It was a very pleasant dander with great views across Belfast Lough towards Whitehead, Kilroot and Carrickfergus. I took over three hours to complete my journey. The only bit of rain came when I reached Seapark, close to Holywood so I went looking for a place on the High Street to get some lunch and ended up in Coast. The last two miles was the worst because I was walking into a strong wind.
Beach at Seapark seen from train Photo: © Michael Fisher
View from train of coastal path near Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher
View from train of coastal path near Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher
THE BIG WIND
Peter Carr: The Big Wind
175 years ago tonight a storm blew over Ireland, much like the weather we are experiencing at the moment. The night of the ‘Big Wind’ has been documented by Peter Carr in his book published by White Row Press, Dundonald, in 1993. In August 2011 Peter gave a talk on the subject at the William Carleton summer school in Clogher.
Peter Carr at William Carleton summer school 2011 Photo: © Michael Fisher
This is a description of the night of January 6th 1839 in County Monaghan, taken from two local newspapers, the Northern Standard and the Anglo-Celt. These sources were used in a compilation by Jonathan A. Smyth for the website cavanliving.ie.
THE BIG WIND
On the night of Sunday last the storm which ravaged the kingdom, was felt severely in the town of Monaghan. About half past eleven o’clock the gale which had been gradually increasing for some time swelled into a most terrific hurricane and about 3am on Monday morning, the power of air rushing from the south-west bore everything before it with resist-less force. The slates and roofing of several houses were born upon the raging element as if they were leaves upon the breeze, and the cowering and terrified inhabitants looked upon the devastation [sic] with arms palsied with fear, and in trembling awe looked to the Almighty dispenser of all things, for an abatement of the fury of the winds of heaven. To add to the horror of the scene, a fire burst forth from the chimney of Mr John Murray’s, Church-square, and the sparks and flame were dashed upon the roofs of several thatched houses which occupy one side of the Diamond. For upwards of one hour the flue, which, we believe, had not been swept for a length of time, threw forth masses of fire which were hurled by the tempest to a great distance and occasioned much additional alarm, but thank God no more evil result followed. The fire burnt itself out, and the roofs of the houses on which the sparks had fallen were so saturated with wet from the rain and snow which had fallen on the previous days that they were immediately extinguished. However, several dwellings present to the view a frightful wreck; many chimnies were injured and we regret to say that three of the small spires which ornamented our beautiful church, were thrown from their bases and broken to pieces. The amount of damage done in the neighbourhood is enormous. The farm yards are a melancholy spectacle; hay, straw, oats, wheat and barley have been in almost every instance heaped together in a dreadful confusion; turf-ricks have been tosseed [sic] to a distance scarcely credible, and much of the fine old timber which graced the domains of the nobility and gentry of our neighbourhood, had been torn up by the roots. The beautiful plantation in the demesne of Mrs Leslie, of Glasslough, has been suffered to a great extent, and the residence of Edward Lucas, Esq., of Castleshane, M.P., has severely felt the force of the storm. The memory of the oldest inhabitants of this country cannot furnish us an instance of such devastation in so limited a period — and not to storm alone are many of the injuries to be attributed — fire has, in sundry places, lent its aid to the terrible destruction. In Glasslough, a small town within five miles of Monaghan, eight houses were burned to the ground, and their inhabitants driven houseless into the streets; but it affords no pleasure, amidst the recital of so much calamity, to be able to state that no human being was deprived of life. In Killalea, between Glasslough and Armagh, great havoc has been commited [sic] by the combined elements of destruction. The town of Clones, from its elevated position, felt the full force of the tempest; and Ballybay, Castleblayney, and Carrickmacross have had many houses rendered untenantable (sic.). Several carts, laden with pork, etc. coming from the direction of Clones to our market, on Monday were compelled to return, in consequence of the numerous impediments on the roads, caused by fallen trees.–Several families in Middleton have been deprived of the shelter of a roof, and are at present trespassing on the kindness of their neighbours for a home and a screen from the inclemency of the weather which still continues very severe. Aughnacloy, a small town in the county Tyrone, and ten miles from Monaghan presents a melancholy picture of destruction–several houses were unroofed, and some totally in ruins. Within about two miles of the last mentioned place a poor man was killed while endeavouring to rescue his family from the ruins of his once comfortable dwelling. A woman was killed in the neighbourhood of Glentubret (Clontibret?), but the particulars of the case have not yet reached us. The Belfast and Enniskillen Mail which should have arrived here at one o’clock on Monday morning, did not reach until 10am. This vehicle was upset at Shantly, near this town, and Patrick Mar, the driver’s thigh received a compound fracture, under which the poor man has been since suffering. The Dublin and Derry Mail did not arrive here until 7 o’clock, three hours after its appointed time–indeed few, if any, of the coaches have been able to reach their destination at the appointed time, in consequence of the severity of the weather. Every hour brings tidings of fresh disasters; and the accounts from the sea coasts which we copy from our contemporaries are truly frightful.Extracts are printed courtesy of The Anglo-Celt and The Northern Standard.
For more background on the night of the storm, see the feature “Oídhche na gaoithe moiré” or “The night of the big wind” in The Meteo Times (TMT).
“When the nation woke up to a snowy winter wonderland on the morning of the 6th January 1839, little did they know that dawning upon them was a day that would bring forth one the most exceptional and violent storms ever to hit Ireland, writes TMT’s Patrick Gordon.
“Poor people ended up on the roads ‘the vault of heaven their only roof’ – Peter Carr
Peter Carr aptly describes it in his book ‘The Big Wind’ – The Story of the Legendary Big Wind of 1839, Ireland’s Greatest Natural Disaster’:-
“The tranquility of the morning seemed almost unearthly”. This ethereal calm continued into the afternoon. As one observer noted “There was something awful in the dark stillness of that winter day, for there was no sunlight coming through the thick, motionless clouds that hung over the earth”.
A notable temperature rise was observed over the length and breadth of the country as a warm front moved across the country during the afternoon ‘by as much as 10F at Phoenix Park’ (Carr, 1991)…..
Equally harrowing reports of that terrible night can be found from across the length and breadth of Ireland as shown from a contemporary account in the Tuam Herald:
- Armagh: Many houses stripped of their roofs
- Athlone: Storm continued with unabated fury from 11pm ‘til 3.30am. One of the hardest hit areas with much loss of life
- Ballinasloe: Much devastation, with great woods felled.
- Ballyshannon: Great destruction of property and livelihoods.
- Belfast: A violent westerly bring death and destruction.
- Birr: One boy and three females killed
- Carlow: Serious injury reported but escaped the worst of the winds
- Carrickfergus: Tree in graveyard uprooted forcing many of the dead to the surface.
- Carrick-on-Shannon: The produce of the harvest lies scattered over the whole countryside.
- Castlebar: Widespread damage with few houses left unscathed.
- Coonagh: 3 killed in storm
- Derry: Visited by a storm of extraordinary violence
- Co.Down. Much damage but escapes relatively well.
- Drogheda: Never within the memory of man has this town and neighbourhood been visited with such an awful storm.
- Dublin: The metropolis was, on Sunday night, visited by a hurricane such as the oldest inhabitants cannot remember. Two known deaths as a result.
- Ennis: Scene of terrible calamity.
- Galway: At least 7 dead. Men, women and children screaming, crying with raw terror.
- Gort: Total devastation. One of the worst hit areas
- Kilkenny: Many houses burned down during the storm.
- Killarny: Hurricane raged with terrible fury
- Kinsale: Destruction is not so terrible, as far as we can learn
- Co Laois: The destruction of trees is prodigious.
- Limerick: Badly hit. Lightning and wind made for an awesome sight.
- Longford: Barely a house left standing
- Loughrea: Devastated.
- Mullingar: Suffered severely-to the utter ruin of its inhabitants.
- Roscommon: These immense plains have been swept through by a fury.
- Sligo: To give a full description of the devastation would be morally impossible.
- Tralee: Hurricane reaps disaster.
- Waterford: Visited by the most terrific storm ever remembered (from Patrick Gordon’s article).
LAGAN STREAM
McConnell Weir, River Lagan, Belfast Photo: © Michael Fisher
Having gone into the city centre to tax my car just after New Year’s Day, I decided I would do some walking. I was in the regenerated Gasworks site so I went over towards the Halifax building, under the railway bridge taking trains in and out of the not-so-Central Station, and joined the path alongside the River Lagan, where there is also a cycle lane. The path goes past the remains of the McConnell Weir as far as the Ormeau Bridge, where it is necessary to cross the main road and continue along the footpath beside the embankment, which begins at the Chinese Welfare Association centre.
Ormeau Bridge Photo: © Michael Fisher
The route alongside the river goes past the King’s Bridge, where the Lyric Theatre is situated. There is an underpass for cyclists which can also be used by pedestrians at Governor’s Bridge and the path continues up to Lockview Road and the Cutter’s Wharf pub. The road leads up to the roundabout at Stranmillis College where the first turn on the left is Lockview Road. The entrance to the Lagan Valley Regional Park and the start of the towpath walk alongside the river is just past the car park near the entrance to Belfast Boat Club. The Lagan Canal Trust has ambitious plans for the regeneration of the Lagan from Lough Neagh all the way to Belfast.
River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher
The Lagan Canal offers an opportunity to walk along a forgotten history that helped shape Ulster, encounter wildlife, enjoy peace and tranquillity, and experience this nationally important heritage site. Originally stretching for 27 miles from Lough Neagh to Belfast the Lagan Canal passed through towns and villages transporting goods and materials.
River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher
River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher
River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher
River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher
River Lagan near Stranmillis Photo: © Michael Fisher
FLAGGY SHORE
The Flaggy Shore Photo: © M. Brogan
A friend who introduced me a year ago to the beautiful Flaggy Shore walk near the Burren in County Clare texted this morning to say that the walk had been ‘wiped out’ owing to storm damage in the last 48 hours. They had enjoyed a walk there just after Christmas but found the path along the shoreline from which you can look across to Galway Bay had been covered in stones and pebbles and seaweed, washed up by the high waves.
The facebook page for the Flaggy Shore reported yesterday that they had “just heard from the Fahy’s of Linnalla Ice Cream fame that the road near the Marine Research Station on the Flaggy Shore has been destroyed by wave action. The combination of a spring tide and storm surge together with high waves caused extensive damage. Massive boulders used to protect some land between Lough Muree and the Martello Tower have been dislodged and fields flooded with seawater. County Council workers are trying to deal with the damage as best they can. More harsh weather is expected“.
Flaggy Shore January 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher
This time last year it was a very different scene and the weather was relatively mild. However the storm in recent days has badly affected parts of County Clare, especially Lahinch where major damage was done to the promenade area.
Seamus Heaney portrait by Colin Davidson 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher
The stretch of shoreline at the Flaggy Shore, Finvarra near New Quay was mentioned by the late Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney in his poem Postscript (1996). He refers to a flock of swans at “a slate-grey lake” at Lough Murree. Hopefully the walk will eventually be restored as it is one of the nicest I have ever done. Thankfully it appears that little damage has been done to any property in this sparsely populated area.
Swans at Lough Murree beside the Flaggy Shore, January 2013 Photo: © Michael Fisher
Meanwhile as the storm rages on, it is reported that the popular Moville shore path alongside Lough Foyle leading towards Greencastle County Donegal has also suffered damage.
HOLYWOOD
Coastal Path near Seapark, Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher
Our walk on New Year’s Day at the start of the North Down Coastal Path began at Holywood and went past Seapark. The weather was reasonable for a brisk walk and the rain held off. Conditions along the path were very different today (Friday) because of the heavy rain and winds, which caused flooding at Holywood Esplanade.
Houses at Clanbrassil Terrace, Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher
The path goes near a block of four large houses at Clanbrassil Terrace. These are listed buildings B2 according to the schedule and appear to be in good condition.
Stream flowing into the sea along the coastal path Photo: © Michael Fisher
It was a pleasant area for a walk and at some stage I hope to return to explore more of the shoreline along the way to Bangor. I noticed several birds including seagulls who took delight in searching among the rocks for mussels or other shellfish, picking them up in their beaks then taking off and dropping the shells from a height so that they would smash on the rocks or the concrete path, and then going back to try to recover their spoils.
Coastal Path near RNI Yacht Club Photo: © Michael Fisher
TRAINS PLANES & BOATS
Coastal Path at Holywood Photo: © Michael Fisher
On New Year’s Day I began a walk on the North Down Coastal Path. Car parking is available close to the entrance to the railway station and opposite the Dirty Duck pub, where a good selection of ale is available at the end of any walk. The path starts at the Esplanade at Holywood and when I set out with six others, the rain had eased off but it was very misty.
NIR train on the Bangor route at Holywood embankment Photo: © Michael Fisher
The trains were running normally on a holiday timetable. But for the aircraft coming in to land at George Best Belfast City Airport, the conditions were quite murky. The low cloud base must have made things quite difficult for the pilots of the planes from flybe and Aer Lingus, who moved their services from Belfast International Airport fourteen months ago.
Wilson Brest cargo ship heading for Belfast port Photo: © Michael Fisher
Walking along the shore it was possible to watch some of the ships heading in and out of Belfast Harbour. The cargo ship Wilson Brest emerged from the mist heading towards the port. I could not see the name on the vessel, but looking at my photograph afterwards I discovered the name of the shipping company on the side and then found out this particular ship was due to arrive at 5pm, which coincided with the time of our walk.
Follow the linear path from Holywood along the outer edge of Belfast Lough towards Seapark, a recreational area with a play park. Continue past the park towards the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Cultra. A major programme is underway to repair the roof of the building and there is scaffolding all around it.
Stena Superfast VII heading for Cairnryan Photo: © Michael Fisher
The first vessel spotted at the start of the walk was the Stena Superfast VII ferry, heading from Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland at 3:30pm. In the early days of the HSS fast ferry used by Stena, the wash created by it was so strong on both sides of the Lough that its speed had to be restricted until it entered the open sea. Later on when it was dark we saw its sister ship Stena Superfast VIII arriving from Cairnryan (at 5:45pm).
Stena Superfast VIII arriving from Cairnryan Photo: © Michael Fisher
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