Rainbow Ballroom of Romance

A Trip Down Memory Lane

My goodness, the sight of the Rainbow Ballroom of Romance was a throw back to earlier times for me, reminding me of church socials and dances, hotel ballrooms and dedicated dance halls like this.

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Prince Connnell’s Grave

Located about 7 kms outside the village of Kiltycougher, Co. Leitrim, in the townland of Carraclooona, en route (indirect) from Bundoran to Enniskillen, I passed a small, very missable, sign advising of the presence of Prince Connell’s Grave. I pulled up, reversed back the necessary 100 metres or so and set out, on foot, about 50 metres across a peat bog to investigate.

Lough Melvin

Returning to Enniskillen from a visit to Bundoran we decided to take a less travelled route back along the R281 to Belcoo and from there to Enniskillen.

While the whole journey was a lovely drive, the most scenic part was driving along the south western shore of Lough Melvin.

Old Kinlough Church and Cemetery and the Civil War

Having spent a few hours in Bundoran, albeit, due to inclement weather, a substantial part of it in the bar of the Great Northern Hotel, I decided on a route back to Enniskillen (where I was staying) which I don’t recall having ever taken before, that is via the R281 to Belcoo on the border and, from there, on into Enniskillen.

Having passed through the small village of Kinlough (which takes name from its position at the head of Lough Melvin – the Irish Cionn Locha meaning head of the lake) I spied the ruins of an old building, surrounded by trees, less than 50 metres off to my right so pulled in for a closer look.

Great Northern Hotel: “The Grand Old Lady of Bundoran”

I hasten to state that the title for this review is of my own creation though if the Great Northern is not called this locally, it should be.

Bundoran Golf Club – Golf – If You Must

With advancing years, there are a declining number of things about my early life that I can recall with absolute certainty. One thing that I am absolutely sure of is that I have played golf three times in my life; once on a cold, miserable winter’s morning in Blacklion (not far from Bundoran), once in the sweltering heat and unrelenting sun somewhere close to Estapona in Spain and once here at the Bundoran Golf Club on a pleasant but windy day. Yes, I was dragged screaming on all three occasions.

Rougey Cliff Walk

This is officially a circular walk starting from the tourist office. From there follow the path along the promenade by Waterworld towards the Great Northern Hotel, clearly recognisable on the hill ahead and around the bay. From there, the walk continues on around the headland with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Bundoran’s Golf Course on the other side with truly breathtaking views no matter which way you look – views which photos cannot really do justice too. On reaching the far end of the walk at Tullan Strand Road one is supposed to turn right and follow this road to its intersection with the main R267 road, where taking a right turn will bring you back into the town centre.

Republican Garden

While prominently located on the main street of Bundoran, with a beautiful view out across the Atlantic Ocean, you will not find reference to the Republican Garden (of Remembrance) in the town’s primary tourist brochure ‘Discover Bundoran’ or on the website of the same name. Clearly this is not something that will be to everyone’s taste and many will find it distasteful.

Ireland’s Capital of Fun

……or, a day at the beach.

Looking at pictures of an empty beach and dejected looking funfair rides, my Reader might be forgiven for wondering why I have chosen the title I have for this review. I would have expected a similar reaction had I entitled this review ‘Ireland’s Premiere Seaside Resort’. Both terms are taken from the town’s tourist literature.

On The Wild Atlantic Way

Bundoran is, as the title of this entry would suggest, on the Atlantic coast. It is a small seaside resort in the south of Co.Donegal and a short distance from Enniskillen, across the border in Co. Fermanagh, where I was born.