Day -2 :-: a short drive from
Swallowfield on the M4 to Pembroke Dock.
We decided to have an early start from Home in to Swallowfield to Pembroke
Dock as with the Tour all of this was somewhat of an unknown and very new to
us both. The estimated journey time was about 4½ hours to cover the
211 miles door to door. As we had planned to meet Simon, our Son, en route near
Cardiff for Brunch so we allowed extra time.
We joined the M4 at junction 11 west to Cardiff and then Cardiff West Services to meet up with Simon. The journey time to Cardiff was much shorter than we had planned so we had to contact Simon to meet up with us earlier than planned. Soon we were on our way to Pont Abraham, the end of the M4 Motorway in Wales. The M4 was very quiet with little traffic which made the journey very quick and trouble free. From Pont Abraham to Camarthen on the A48, now a dual carriageway, was equally as trouble free. As was the A40 from Camarthen to St. Clears and the final part of the journey on the A477 to Pembroke Dock. Total journey time was better than expected at 3 hours 45 minutes.
At Pembroke Dock we met up with other members of the Tour. We soon learned that we had to be careful loading the car on to the Ferry when we scraped the exhaust system on the first ramp. As the suspension was very low on the MGA and it would be very easy to damage the exhaust or the sump on the loading ramps. In fact one of the other cars, a TR2, ripped their complete exhaust system off whilst unloading at Rosslare. Irish Ferries were very quick to react to this situation by ensuring the two occupants were taken to their overnight lodgings in Rosslare. They arranged for the car to repaired overnight and delivered to their lodgings ready for the next day's journey to Dublin to join the rest of the Tour at the Killiney Court Hotel - WELL DONE Irish Ferries superb Customer Care!
This was our first time to Eire by Car and Ferry, and really did not know what to expect. We have all heard the horror stories about how rough it can get crossing the Irish Sea and that some of the ferries are very small and less than comfortable. We were pleasantly surprised by the size, age and comfort on the ship. There were two car decks, one lorry deck and three passenger decks with cabins and suites. Each passenger deck had at least two bars serving coffee tea and light refreshments and one deck had a self service and silver service restaurant. The crossing was very quick and smooth, taking only 3 hours actual time to cross the Irish Sea. However the crossing time dock to dock did take 4 hours with most of the additional hour being take up with the journey from Pembroke dock to the sea. Loading and unloading of the Ferry was also very quick about 15mins each end of the journey. The all round service offered by Irish Ferris was excellent and without hesitation I would recommend them to any of my friends.
We arrived at Rosslare early to be welcomed by warm Irish sunny evening. Once we had made that the TR2 was OK we continued on our journey to the Killiney Court Hotel. Our journey from Rosslare to Killiney near Dublin was very quick and uneventful. The ferry arrived at Rosslare at around 6:45 p.m. and we arrived at the Killiney Court Hotel at 9:30 p.m. just in time to meet up with the early arrivee's of the Tour for evening drinks in the Bar and a quick sandwich.
Day -1 :-: no driving today so left the car at the
Killiney Court Hotel and took the train for a day's shopping in Dublin.
With a good Irish breakfast to protect us from the trials and tribulations of a 'shopping day
in Dublin' we left the Hotel to catch the local train to Dublin. It was about a 40 minute ride
on the train costing £2.50 return. The railway stationt was located just in front of the Hotel.
The first thing you notice is how inexpensive and clean train travel is in Ireland - Take note
UK Train Service providers you have a lot to learn from train travel in Eire.
We soon arrived in Dublin City and made our way to Stephen's Green and Graften Street - need I say anymore. During the the day I soon became ill with the thought of s-pending money, it's called credit cardyituss. This generally manifests it's self when surrounded by too many shops followed by headaches, dryness and an upset stomach. It can be quickly cured by moving away from the shops to a dimly lit bar with quiet music and take liberal quantities or liquid medicine.
On our way back to the station we passed Dublins' statement to learning Trinity College with its well kept enclosed gardens. Now, like most cities being choked by a mountain of traffic. We were pleased we that we had left the car at the Hotel and 'let the train take the strain'.
Day 1 :-: a short drive
through the Wicklow Mountains to Waterford.
This was the first day of the Tour so there was a prompt start from the Hotel to arrive
in Waterford before 5:00 p.m. The journey took us through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains
through stunning Irish country side. We were taken through quiet country lanes well away
from the main roads and busy traffic.
We eventually arrived at the 'meeting point' just outside Waterford only to find that the MGA's engine had again overheated and was now not very happy - a bit like it's driver. It had been overheating for most of the journey and when we stopped was also blowing blue smoke out of the exhaust. The slow drive had been less than kind to the engine. The engine had started to overheat when climbing some of the hills but quickly cooled down when free running down the other side. The engine was not much better when arrived at Jury's Hotel in Waterford. It had started to blow oil and steam out of the exhaust. Very worrying! At the Hotel I was able to check the oil and water only to find that very little had been used. So what was the problem?
Day 2 :-: a short drive
in the countryside to Kinsale.
The second day of the Tour took us to Waterford Glass Factory where we
purchased some fine cut glasses.
Now we were off to Kinsale, the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. For those who know Dartmouth in Devon England there is a similarity between the two towns. The journey started well from Waterford however but by the time we had arrived at Youghal the engine had overheated three or four times. So we decide to abandon the Tour and continue our journey to Kinsale using the shortest route possible. On route we called the AA to advise them that we thought the head gasket had failed and could they arrange for someone to meet us at the hotel in Kinsale. Just as we arrived at the Trident Hotel Kinsale so did the AA. A wonderful service shame it is not as good in the UK. An inspection of the engine by the AA man confirmed our suspicions. This was followed by a phone call by the AA who had arranged for MGA to be repaired by a local garage. It was so simple. Well done the local AA service engineer and 5 star travel insurance.
That afternoon I called the garage, Joe O'Regan and arranged to meet him at 10:15 a.m. am the next day at his garage in Balleyspittle, about 5 miles from Kinsale; I thought all distances Ireland were now in kilometres. He told me that he was able to locate a head gasket for a 1959 MGA, much to my surprise. I had expected to wait several days for parts to be shipped from the UK.
Day 3 :-: a short drive
around Kinsale.
After yet another hearty breakfast I made my way to Balleyspittle and Joe O'Regan's
garage. After polite and cordial introductions he inspected of the car and confirmed
that it appeared to be a faulty head gasket. He then began to remove the head. I asked
if I could help and received a welcoming YES. Within the hour the head was removed to
find that the head gasket had failed between cylinders 2 & 3 and that cylinder 1 was
sucking oil from the oil guide and cylinder 4 was sucking water in from the water jacket.
Out initial thought was that the wrong head gasket may have been fitted when the engine
had been converted for unleaded fuel in the USA. Further inspection indicated that perhaps
the head had not been properly tightened when the engine was reassembled. After cleaning
the head and the engine block we check to make sure that the overheating had not produced
any cracks in the head. Joe then produced an original head gasket for and Austin Cambridge -
apparently the same engine. Joe's wife then produced two mugs of very welcome coffee.
We then began the work of putting the head back on to the engine block.
After a few more hours and many visitors to the garage. This included two couples from Germany who wanted to look at the MGA. We were soon ready to start the engine. All was well; no more smoke no steam and it sounded good. We parted company and exchanged some Punts for the head gasket. All was very well for the rest of the journey. The head gasket is still on the car today.
Day 4 :-: a short drive
along the coast to Killarney.
After the disappointing start to the Tour and a little nervous on how the car would run,
we decided to 'do our own thing' and made our own way to the next overnight stop in Killarney.
Day 5 :-: a short drive
through the Kerry Mountains to Limerick.
After yet another hearty breakfast we decided to continue the Tour, now through the Kerry
Mountains and part of the Kerry National Park. The road was a challenge but worth it because the
views were breathtaking.
Day 6 :-: a short drive
through the centre of Ireland via the Wicklow Mountains back to Dublin.
After a late start we were soon on our way back to Dublin on the N7, part of which is now a motorway
(M7). The journey proved to be very quick until we got lost in one of the industrial estates just
outside Dublin. Whilst in heavy traffic we turned right instead of left and found ourselves in
the Wicklow mountains, some 25 miles ops sorry 40 kilometres off-course. This cost us an extra 2
hours travel time as the road through the Wicklow mountains is no motorway.
Day 7 :-: a short drive
along the coast road to Rosslare.
Our last day in Southern Ireland and Janet is now looking forward to another shopping day in Dublin.
This is not to be, another bout of sickness proved to be too much so we decided to take a slow drive
along the coast road back to Rosslare. We had plenty of time because the Ferry did not leave until
9:00 p.m. and we had 10 hours to drive the 200 kilometres.
Even after a slow drive we still arrived too early at Rosslare Dock. We had been told about a restaurant nearby called the Lobster Pot. So we went hunting. Soon it was clear that the restaurant was not located in Rosslare but a small village nearby called Carne.
Day +1 :-: a short drive back home from Pembroke to Swallowfield.
Many thanks to Carol and Mike a most enjoyable and very well organised
Tour of Southern Ireland. We WILL go again!
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