Irish Tour - 70 Years of Tractions

The Tractions arrived one by one on Friday evening and in the bar of the Palace Hotel in Cashel, Leslie and Joyce welcomed us and we tasted the real smooth Irish Guinness.   Saturday morning we received the rally plates and a beautiful road-book, inspired by the Belgian comic strip ‘Kuifje’ by Hergé.   There were about 25 Tractions - a record for Ireland.  First stop was the Rock of Cashel, seat of the Kings of Munster, then on to Adare with its lovely thatched houses. That night we stopped in Killarney, very busy because of another rally.  After an early start at Muccross house, we were on the road westwards to Dingle, and we started to smell and feel the Atlantic ocean.  And of course there was a boat trip to see "Fungie" the dolphin.  Then on to the most westerly point of Europe, the Dingle peninsula.  The day ended with a “bia ceol agus craic” in the Dingle Skellig hotel, we still don‘t know what it means but we certainly enjoyed it.  The challenge on the third day was to climb the Connor Pass.  It was the wildest Traction-tour-dream - and at the top one could call it “la croisière verte”.  Next a visit to the Foynes flying boat museum, then a ferry across the Shannon and a scenic drive to Bunratty.  The finale was a medieval banquet at Bunratty castle and diplomatically we were honoured to be “Earl & Duchess” for the evening.  Barrie the Brick was locked in the dungeon, and had to sing for his supper.  The Irish music and entertainment was perfect and moving.

Thank you !  Lesley, Joyce and John for taking good care of us and for your guidance through your beautiful Ireland