The End!

Hello!
So our last challenge to earn a night's keep was to take a boat trip with local man Tommy O'Connell out to Valentia island and to learn all the history as we went along. Unfortunately we couldn't get great photos due to the weather, and the sea was quite choppy but that just made things more exciting and we wrote down all the info we could! We also called into a heritage centre on the road to the marina in which the kind lady offered to let us go around for free. After that we'd built up quite an appetite so we went back into The Fertha (despite feeling a bit cheeky!) and were treated to another gorgeous meal from Noel!
We then returned to our hostel for a rest and a wash before the night ahead. In our room we met a lovely French girl, Charlotte, who lives in Toulouse where Claire will be going to study in a couple of week and who offered her a place to stay when she arrives...what a weird and wonderful world it is! We spent the evening chatting to her before heading back to Noel's bar where we played a few more tunes.
Luck was with us again and we met a lovely chap named Tony McCarthy that night who offered to collect us from our hostel at 10am the following morning and drive us to Tralee. He kept his word and brought us right into the bus station where we were just in time to catch the 11 o'clock to Limerick! We boarded our bus to Dublin at 1:30, tired but delighted with how the week had gone!
We'd like to say a huuuge thank you to everyone who looked after over the week, as we met some really great people who proved to us that generous Ireland is still alive and well!

Sive Hostel, Caherciveen

So off we went hitch hiking again, and were super lucky this time when the second car to pass us stopped to take us in! The kind man was Sean, a Scottish man who spent most his life in America and now lived in the area. We were again dropped right to our destination and arrived at Sive Hostel in no time.
On arrival we met the lovely Mary who told us the originally planned trip to Skellig Island had been changed, and we were now to take a boat trip around Valentia Island and learn the history of the places we saw. She had also called a local bar called The Fertha where we were to sing for our supper! We called into the bar and were greeted with a meal fit for a king! Noel, the owner, also took us for a drive around the local sights which was much appreciated as there were some beautiful places to be seen! He then took us back to his bar where we played a few tunes and were further rewarded with a couple of glasses of wine! Noel has kindly offered to provide lunch for us today as well, a testament of the generosity that still exists in Ireland! We'd also like to mention Sarah; the best bar tender in Ireland (and possibly the world!)
Earlier on in the evening Claire had done a quick interview on 2fm which was truncated but hopefully gained some publicity for the cause!
We're here now in Caherciveen Library, ready to take on our challenge for today.....

On the road again...

We set off, the small stretch of land they call templenoe behind us, backpacks and guitar on our backs down the treacherous road towards Sneem! We had a good distance ahead of us given that we had to arrive in Ballin Skellig at about 11am. Thumbs out, smiley faces on it wasn't long this time before a car pulled in and we met a very nice australian chap Matt who drove us all the way to our destination. He was travelling through the little villages the way we were heading to catch the surf so it was the perfect opportunity for us! We shared many a conversation on the way and were very thankful to him for such a help!
We got to Skellig Hostel, just up from the beautiful Ballin Skellig pier. Marion greeted us, showed us around the hostel and set us to work on translating the 10 phrases from english into irish. This took a mere 5 minutes (cause we're so liofa as gaeilge! :-D) and we filled the rest of the time just chatting about anything we could! She called ahead to Cois Tra cafe just further up on the beach to arrange lunch for us. The deal was for us to play a few tunes and we would be rewarded with a sandwich (and hopefully not another scone!!). We did so and enjoyed our lunch in the sun. We had been starving from the day before so the toastie was devoured. After we walked a bit on the beach and dipped our toes in the water....awful romantic altogether!
We were getting tired but knew that as we couldn't stay in Baile na sceilg we had to source out a way to reach Cahersiveen that same evening.
We picked up our bags at the hostel, waved goodbye to Marion and set off on the road again....

Is feidir liom...imagine!

Hi all!
So we're finally catching up with you all, two days without Internet!
After a lovely breakfast with Itay in Kenmare Lodge Hostel, Lydia, the proprietor of the hostel, gave us a lift to our next destination which was just 6 miles outside of town. It was a remote little spot and upon arrival we were proposed a gardening challenge for our nights accommodation in Greenwood Hostel! So we took out our green fingers, a pair of gloves and clippers and size 10 wellies and set to work taking out a blackberry bush from a ditch! It was threatening rain but held off while we were at work. After that we were on the hungry side of the fence so we walked about two miles out a dangerous road (100km per/h speed limit down here!) to Pat Spillanes Bar. When we arrived there wasn't much we could do to earn a meal but Martina must have taken pity on us and kindly provided us with two toasted specials and some salad! We had to return to the hostel before night fell as the road was too dangerous to walk in the cape of darkness!
Back at the hostel we amused ourselves by completing a 500 piece picture puzzle of Ireland...i'll tell ya we know our counties now boy!
We slept well and woke early the next morning for yet another day of adventure...

Kenmare Lodge Hostel

Well hitch hiking to Kenmare proved a tougher challenge than we expected! We left Killarney and walked about 3 miles out the road towards Kenmare and were eventually picked up by an old man who dropped us some of the way, but along the scenic route! We stood in the rain for at least an hour and were beginning to lose hope until a lovely couple saved the day and brought us to our destination!
To earn our lunch we worked in Jam cafe for about an hour and were well rewarded with soup and sandwiches!
We then returned to our hostel where our task was to clean the kitchen top to bottom! We left it sparklin' bai!
Unfortunately the weather is against us today and ruined our plans to go busking but there's a great bar across the road where we might be able to play some music! We just ate pizza with our lovely host and now we're going to suss out the situation. Apparently we can't get a bus tomorrow but we don't have far to travel so looks like we'll be hitch hiking again!
That's all for the moment,
Slan!

Neptune's Hostel, Killarney

So thanks to the wonderful Colm who got us to Killarney in one piece despite being as sick as 14 small hospitals (and is also general manager of BK2 bar in Cork I might add!), we arrived here for what was to be a very interesting and challenging day!
Mike explained our challenge to us which was to cycle from the town to Torc waterfall, climb the waterfall, walk to Torc mountain, climb to the top (we nearly got blown off!) and swim in a lake on the way back!! Surprisingly the swim in the lake was a welcome task when it came to doing it, as we'd built up a bit of a sweat as you can probably imagine! :D
When we arrived back at the hostel, we were given the ingredients to make our dinner - a lovely spanish omelette...and a bottle of wine which was much appreciated! Tiredness got the better of us after that and we decided to head to bed so we'd be fresh for the next day's challenges.
Now we're off to Kenmare for another adventure, and are currently in the process of making a sign to bring hitch hiking in the hope someone will take pity on us!!
Until next time,
Slan!

18th Sheila's Hostel, apres le petit dejeuner!

Hola!
So we've survived our first day in the people's republic of Cork and now there's nothing we can't do after skateboarding a pint of murphy's stout up patrick's hill! After 17 funny, excruciating, delerious minutes we reached the "official" top of the hill though there was some "motivational" talk along the way that led us to believe we'd be finished sooner....thanks Paddy :-D
So apparently Lance Armstrong will be cycling up the hill 3 times next week as part of some event, we'd like to see him skateboard a pint of Murphy's up it!!
We caught everything on video and will be able to publish when we find to means to do so! Hopefully soon!
We topped off our first day by playing a set down the local Shelbourne Bar on McCurtain St. We were warmly welcomed with a free drink, just the thing we need to perk up our confidence and energy to blast out a few tunes...and so we did! Everyone seemed to enjoy it and we were rewarded with another round of drinks!
The night went on and eventually led to us playing an encore of 4 songs for late arrivers and in return for 'spin' to Killarney today. So now we're departing Sheila's Hostel, in which we spent a wonderful time, and heading into the kingdom to Neptunes where another great challenging day awaits us! Cullum (sp?!) has kindly offered to drive us there to show that irish people are still decent enough to do a 'turn'! (just getting used to the southern lingo now! :-D)
hasta luego amigos!!!

and thanks to everyone for all the support here in Cork!!

we have arrived!!

We caught the bus eireann early this morning at 8am in Dublin and landed in the people's republic of cork shortly after 12.
With hungry bellies we made our first stop at the hostel. We then descended again to go eat somewhere. Gourmet Burger Bistro proposed us a free meal if we sat and ate our lunch at a properly set table on patrick's bridge across the street, naturally enough we jumped at the chance. It encouraged a lot of public notice and we chatted with a lot of people while enjoying our lamb and chicken burgers! So first challenge rewarded by a tasty meal.
Now we're back at the hostel and departing in a few moments to tackle the hostel challenge....skateboarding up patricks hill with a pint of murphy's, making sure to not spill a drop or else we return to the bottom. We will quench our thirst at the top by downing the pint.....
Tonight we're playing some music at the Shelbourne bar in lew of some beverages and food hopefully! yeah!!! that's all for now! here we go!!!

Hey guys!


Join us on www.redfm.ie in the next while for an interview with Dave MC or tune into Red Fm 104-106 if you'ew down south!

Less than a week to go!!

Bonjour!

So tomorrow you can tune in to an interview on Phantom fm at approx 3:40pm, I'll be in studio and Sadhbh will joining us by the wonderful means of communication that is a mobile phone!
We will talking about the trip and our plans to survive for 7 days without a bob in our pockets! Make sure to listen in for the laugh! :-D

http://www.phantom.ie/

With the help of our trusty friend google map, we have managed to put together an overview of our trip, have a look!!


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