Better Days Are Coming.....................

Life here in Northern Ireland is certainly looking good.  I have had my Covid "jab" and all of NI will be vacinated by the end of Spring; thanks to our wonderful Health Service plus lots and lots of amazing volunteers.  Those of us in tourism have been "zooming" every week; sharing ideas and working together to provide you with that holiday of a lifetime with us here in Northern Ireland. 

Uppermost in our conversation is reassuring you of our attention to hygiene detail and safety during your holiday with us.  With all aspects of care covered all those in the tourism industry will be accredited with the "GOOD TO GO" certificate. We are excited that travel throughout Northern Ireland will almost certainly be up and running June/July 2021.  

 I will shortly start travelling around my small country of Northern Ireland checking out quirky accommodation with a twist of local character, enjoy lots of traditional food like soda and wheaten bread and possibly a rack of lamb with cabbage and potato!

While the top attractions in the world are here there certainly is a lot more to see and experience when you wander off the beaten track. To get a true sense of how we live, talk, work and enjoy our wee country you really don't have to travel more than a couple of miles off from the famous UNESCO Giant's Causeway - you just need to know where!

So chat with me and I will share my thoughts and even suggest we travel the route together to meet the locals and share their love of this land and question me on our complicated if not a tad interesting history! We can travel either by car, motor van or coach depending on numbers.

To start your journey plan I have attached a map of Ireland with Northern Ireland tucked up on the North East. This will give you an idea of some of the main cities and towns within Northern Ireland.

Remember.................landscape, daylight hours, temperatures, all change with the seasons!

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WALK & TALK GROUP TOUR  IDEAS

I have planned a wide range of  new local interesting “easy”
Walk & Talk Tours 
within Armagh City and Rural Trails
around County Armagh.

WALKING HOLIDAYS 

 As an experienced local Tour Guide I am here to share my local knowledge, stories, history and of course humour when it comes to arranging your visits to County Armagh, Northern Ireland..

Suggested themes for groups/family tours –

Nature Lovers ….. of the beaten track seasonal rural beauty trails.

History Buffs …..dip into centuries of stories of people/buildings/lifestyle of our past

Foodies ………….enjoy the stories and flavours of local produce on and off the farm.

For Families …..organised group activity; exploring and discovering.

Apple Blossom (early May) …..walking road trail in the heart of the orchards.

•  Tours can be half day, full day or several days and all are classed as “easy” walking professionally guided tours.

•  I can recommended suitable accommodation and restaurants.

•  The use of audio systems also available.

If you would like to discuss further do not hesitate to contact me (Barbara)

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile 07740 511442

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Once upon a time deep in the heart of the beautiful Ulster countryside in the Parish of Tullylish lived a beautiful happy young girl called Dorothea (Dolly) Monroe. Dolly was the daughter of Henry Monroe, regarded as a minor country gentry who lived in the family home of Roes Hall, County Down.
Molly as she was known had six sisters, Frances, Mary, Ann, Isabella and Louise. She also had an Aunt Frances (sister of her father) who was quite a social climber. Aunt Frances Monroe had married the Earl of Luftus and lived in Rathfarnam Castle, South Side, Dublin. She was seen as the political influencer to Luftus who became High Sheriff of Wexford and held a seat in Irish House of Commons. Unfortunately Aunt Frances had a childless marriage.
Did Dolly’s dad give Aunt Frances the pick of his girls to rear and did she choose Dolly for her beauty and charm?
Dolly was whisked away off to Rathfarnam Castle, South side, Dublin to live and become part of her Aunt’s influential social and political circles. She soon had numerous admirers. Artists loved to paint her; young romantics adored her; noble widowed men pampered to her and newspapers followed her every move. This simple beautiful teenage maiden.
As Dolly grew she became more and more unhappy with this high society lifestyle of Dublin. Used as a political pawn to advance Lord Luftus’s political career was the last straw so she left Dublin and returned to Ulster.
True romance soon blossomed in the rolling hills of County Armagh and Dolly was to meet the love of her life William Richardson of Richhill Castle & Estate, County Armagh. They married in 1775 and settled in the Richardson Castle in the small rural village of Richhill. The people of Richhill were in awe of this beauty and while they admired her every turn Dolly was free to live a romantic gentry lifestyle as the lady of Richhill Castle and wife of the High Sherriff of County Armagh.
The highlight of the week for the villagers was to peek at the beauty of the young Dolly as she and her husband William left the Castle on the hill in a fine horse drawn carriage for Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh City just 6 miles away for church service.
Sadly Dolly’s life in the “Castle on the Hill” was short lived and Dolly took ill and died in the year 1775 aged 39 childless.
Today we can visit the grave of sweet Dolly Monroe in the nearby Kilmore Anglican Church hilltop overlooking the rolling drumlins to the ancient City of Armagh.
Richhill Castle still stands as “the castle on the hill” in the pretty orchard village of Richhill, County Armagh.

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 Hope you enjoy this bite size piece on life in rural 18th century County Armagh in Ulster.  To learn a lot more about the landed gentry and their castles I am planning to run a selection of Armagh Village Walking Tours in 2021 when the time is right - so keep an eye on my website.
Barbara
Your Local Tour Guide

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O'Connor Coaches
"With Barbara as our regular Coach Guide for the past 4 years our business has grown extensively with her input. Thanks Barbara."

Dungannon Probus Club
"Great day out."

Excursions Ireland Cruise Ship
"Reliable and friendly."

Trudy, Roscrea Travel
"Farmers enjoyed your knowledge."

Judy Hewitt, Ulster Architecture Assoc
"Great help with planning a tour with a difference."

Travel Department Dublin
"Reliable with good communication skills."

Jim & Judy, Minneapolis, USA
"Thanks so much for your wonderful genealogy
site tour.  You met all our needs."

 June 2021
Elizabeth, NIFHS Lisburn "Thanks Barbara for your enjoyable group tour around the pretty Conservation Village of Loughgall yesterday"  All enjoyed the opportunity to meet and chat from a distance.

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