Conference tallis::celt

      
    Dom,
    
       I spent a week in Belfast last year.  I fell in love with the people
    and the culture.  I'll be going back every year if I can afford it.
    
    paddy

                       <<< Note 804.0 by MEALA::OHARA >>>
                              -< I LOVE BELFAST >-
    
    Dom,
    
    Are you from the States or would you happen to be from Derry. I gather
    from your note that you are not from Derry.
    
    Anyway I am glad to read your note. It makes me sad to see the city
    destroyed and the way the news does not show the very warm side of the
    people both Catholic and Protestant.
    
    I lived there for sometime back in 78-80 and I loved it, the warmth of
    the people. Now I must tella story about Belfast which is equally
    amazing.
    
    I was in the Europa Hotel (in the Guiness Book of Records as the most
    bombed hotel or some such thing) at a disco in the Cococabana on the
    second floor or first. I was dancing with this girl and this guy walks
    by and says to the girl "Be careful, he is from Sandy Row". The girl
    was from up the Falls Road and Sandy Row is very Protestant. I was very
    annoyed as the girl walked off and left me on the dance floor on my
    own. I cursed this guy from high hell.
    
    The next day I was again in the Europa Hotel ground floor bar on my own
    if I remember correctly and the guy from the night before walks in with
    this girl and says hello and walks off. A while later he asks me if I
    am on my own and asks if I wish to join him. We get chatting and I tell
    him I stay quite often in the hotel. He says why don't stay with him in
    his house off the Antrim Road. I did not know this guy but as we were
    talking and had a bit of a laugh, I said the next week I was up I would
    stay in his place.
    
    The following week I was up and I stayed in his house. He was an
    antique dealer and after the first day I was there, he said he was off
    to Scotland to buy some Gold Alberts (Chains for watches). Now this guy
    did not know me from Adam and he leaves me in his house which had a
    fair few antiques.
    
    We became very good friends and often went out together to discos or
    with his girldfriends friend. Tommy Anderson was his name, he was
    Protestant and I Catholic. He had one friend from Sandy Row but an
    educated type. They would sometimes slag me about being a Catholic but
    all in very good humour.
    
    I will never forget this guy. I lost contact with him back in 81. The
    name of the road was Landstown Park, his shop was on the Ormeau Road so
    if anybody by chance knows this guy, give hime my very warm and sincere
    regards. I have already met the sister of an old girl friend from those
    days through this notes conference so nothing is impossible.
    
    Ren� enjoying the memories of a great time, great city and great people

    One other story comes to my mind from back in the period I lived there.
    I had studied to be a Christian Brother in a place called Balheary near
    Swords, Co Dublin back in the early 70's and there was another guy
    there called Liam White from Twinbrook. He left the Christian Brother
    before me and then I left. We had no real friendship during the time we
    were there.
    
    One night in 79 or there abouts I was driving back to my hotel, the
    Greenan Lodge on Black's Road near Stewardstown, I had to slow down at
    the ramp near the Anserstown RUC station, I saw two guys near by, one
    on the ground completly pissed and the other trying to get him up and
    home. As I looked out the window and saw the face and heard the voice,
    I said to myself, that sounds like Liam White, so I shouted something
    out the window and he came over and it was indeed him. I offered them a
    lift home and we talked. 
    
    The drunk guy in the back kept asking if I was a comrade, and Liam kept
    telling him yes and to shut up. We left the drunk guy off and then I
    drove Liam home, he invited me in for a cup of tea and I ended spending
    the night in his flat. Along the way we were stopped by this temporary
    traffic lights, Liam gets out of the car and tells me he is going to
    take them as he collects thing like this for this flat. I told him that
    he would walk home with them, that they did not get into my car.
    
    His flat was decorated with road signals and lights except traffic
    lights, STOP, YIELD, ROAD WORKS signs etc. I left the next morning. As
    I said we were not friends when we were in the Christian Brother. But
    We spent a good few hours together and had a laugh about our Christian
    Brother days and what had happened each of us since.
    
    Belfast, how your note, DOM, brings back things I had almost forgotten.
    
    El Gringo

    One thing I forgot, the song "The town I loved so well" is a song I
    have always loved and makes me sort of sad. As I have never been to
    Derry, I tend to link this song to Belfast and could almost replace the
    word Derry with Belfast. Those of you who know the song and the city of
    Belast will understand what I mean.
    
    I seem to be hogging this note.
    
    "The town I loved so well"
    
    El Gringo

    Rene,
    
    I am originally from Foxford, Co.Mayo but moved from DEC Galway to
    Clonmel in 1978 (Old Pioneer!).  I have been in Derry once. I drove
    from Buncrana in Donegal to Derry but to my eternal shame I never once
    left the car. I just drove around the city centre (or as near as I could
    get with the barricades) and back to Buncrana.
    
    I am glad that you hold such warm memories of Belfast, but having been
    there, I can understand them.
    
    Rgds
    
    Dom

    
    Having travelled over from Scotland to Larne a few months back 
    with a view to driving all the way to Dublin,i was a little 
    apprehensive to say the least.Having read and seen on TV so 
    much about the troubles i thought my brief trip to NI would
    be very fraught indeed.I must admit now that all the anguish 
    was to no avail and indeed to the contrary.Without a word of 
    lie i must say that Belfast is a better looking city than
    our own City of Culture,Glasgow.
    	The only time that i felt uneasy on the whole trip was the
    border check point at Newry,armed UDR soldiers,pil-boxes(sp),
    barbed wire,signs saying "no stopping for 3 miles" et al.On the
    way back the soldier at the check point even asked who i thought 
    would win the Scottish Football championship."Celtic will" i replied.
    To that he said he thought Rangers would win(thats a surprise i
    thought).All this without even a single bullet being fired!
    Just goes to show you cant believe everything you read and
    hear about.
    
    					Kevin
    

    Just feel I must echo the last note.
    In an old job I worked over in Belfast five times, normally a week per
    visit.  The first trip was very worrying, me being a twenty year old
    with short hair from England - definitely squaddie like.
    
    The welcome was true Irish equal to that I receive when visiting
    relatives in the Republic (mainly Galway).  It wasn't just the welcome
    though that eased the worries it was on seeing what a great city
    Belfast is.  On subsequent visits we became braver and regularly
    visited the town centre & various restaurants.  We even had a regular
    taxi driver who took us many different roots into the city from the
    airport showing us not only the good parts but the bad parts as well
    where we never dared walk.
    
    The people we met were the usual Irish mix of chat, stories & songs and
    all showed interest in us and we were never snubbed or frowned upon.  I
    thoroughly looked forward to each visit and would love to return for a
    holiday type visit, but I'm still in my early twenties and still have
    the short hair so it might be a few years before I get up the courage
    to return.
    
    		Brian.

    Hi,
    
    You are all right! Belfast is the greatest!
    
    I am biased though because I was born and raised there, and only
    left because DEC offered me a better job over here in England! (I
    worked DEC as an engineer in Belfast for nearly six years!). 
    
    There is a Belfast office and you will find the same friendly people
    working there as you met in the city its self. Im sure they will
    give advise and help to any would be traveller to the City. 
    
    I go back regularly, and it has chaged so much and so fast its unreal
    (in terms of the buildings not the people!). There are many many
    great places to go, which are'nt on the main drags, mainly around
    the University area.
    
    I would be glad to give my advise as well but it is rusty now!
    
    God do I feel home sick now!
    
    Michael
    

    
    
    Michael,
    
        I'll be in Belfast before Christmas.  The pints go down so well
    there......  
    
           Which exit do I take off the M1 to get back to Dublin?
    The last time I ended up in Dungannon before I knew I was lost.  It was 
    a nice detour all th same.  
    
      Any suggestions on what kind of American Whiskey to bring for house 
    gifts???  I was thinking of Jack Daniels Tennessee Sour Mash.  
    
    Just because it would be more of a novelty than anything else.  
    I was told that one could not get J.D. there.  
    
    I hope to bring home some Poteen for me and the boys....
    
    
    paddy

    Paddy,No JD in Belfast!!! Then...maybe Southern comfort would be
    a better gift :-)
    
    Dave K. who has no problem getting JD in the pubs in the Republic.
    ps. any chance of a bottle of Yukon Jack,Paddy...I could organise
    your xmas poitin consignment for ya!

    Hi Paddy,
    
    Take the Hillsborough turn off the M1. (I cant remember the Number!).
    
    An other idea (rather than using the motorway, is to go down the
    Lisburn road out of Belfast. As the name suggests it takes you to
    Lisburn and from there its very easy to get on the Dublin road (ask
    anyone!). But the Lisburn road brings you past some really pleasant
    shops and green areas, it also brings you through a village called
    Dunmurry (where I lived!). 
    
    Hillsborough is a beatutiful little town, and worth a stop for lunch,
    the grave yard is very old and its worth going in and reading the
    head stones.........if your into that sort of thing! (Im not!).
    
    As for what to bring over drink wise, I really dont know! I know
    you can but Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort just about anywhere!
    Indeed my first attemp to get drunk (many many years ago, was with
    Southern Comfort - I was as sick as a pig!). Sorry cant help on
    the drink side!
    
    As for poteen - be careful, theres good stuff and theres bad stuff,
    and the bad stuff will really screw you up! And I dont know how
    to tell the difference!           
    
    You may have been there already, but if not go to the Crown Pub
    in Great Victoria Street in Belfast, (Its opposite the Europa Hotel
    and evryone knows where that is, again just ask!). It has recently
    been refitted and is an original pub with cubicals and good food
    and drink (The pub next door Robinsons (I think!), is very good
    too and a little less "touristy". Good Luck and have fun. 
    
    Michael
    

    .11�    As for poteen - be careful, theres good stuff and theres bad stuff,
    
    Michael,are YOU suggesting that I'd...Oh!...never mind...BTW give it
    it's correct Irish spellin...poitin :-)
    
    - Dave K.

     
    
        I will forever give it the right spelling of poitin.  Now do I get
    some or not??????  You actually drink that Yukon Jack sh*t.....
    The swap sounds good to me.  wanna meet me in Clonmell for a pint or do
    I have to meet you somewhere out in the sticks??? 8*).
    
    paddy

    .13�                                 wanna meet me in Clonmell for a pint or do
    .13�    I have to meet you somewhere out in the sticks??? 8*).
    
    Last time I was in Clonmel Saddam Hussein was one of the 
    good guys and Ronnie Reagan was still in office!!! :-):-)
    
    .13�    The swap sounds good to me. 
    
    Me too!
    
    - Dave K.
    

	Hi ,

	Next week I'm travelling across from Ayr to the village of Moy,
	near Armagh  . I've got the chance of a lift straight from the 
	ferry at Larne to Moy but I'd really like to stop off and spend 
	one night in Belfast .

	Can anyone recommend a reasonable hotel/guest-house/B'n'B ?

	Thanks ,

	Stuart .

	Well I went across and I had my night in Belfast .

	For anyone interested here's a few names and numbers of guest houses
	all in and around the University/Malone Rd area as recommended 
	by the NI Tourist Board .

	Mrs Davidson  0232 667149   11 pound per night 
	Mrs Blackely  0232 666145 ( Pearl Guest House - 11 Malone Rd) 13 p.p.n
	Mrs Moor      0232 327682 
		      0232 247439   15 pound p.night


	We stayed with Mrs Blackely .It was ideal for what we required .

	As regards Belfast .... Great ! Just as some previous noters mentioned 
	we found everybody to be so pleasant and helpful . We were going to
	go down into the city ( Botanic area ? ) but as the rain had started
	we decided to go into some of the local pubs instead .Well we were 
	going to until I looked across the road and found myself staring 
	up the barrel of a soldiers gun ! He was perched ontop of his armoured
	vehicle hunched over his rifle peering down the sights with the gun 
	trained on the door of the bar we were about to enter ! Quick about 
	turn and we nipped across the road to the Four Hands where we had 
	a great old night .

	Anyway we had a fine time and were well impressed with Belfast and it's 
	people .

	Stuart