Christmas eve in Northern Ireland (pics)

Seeing as you are all freezing up in the Northern States and Canada. I thought you might like to see what our conditions are like at this time of year.....I had to go pick up a fridge for Mrs40 in a little market town about 15 miles from home today and I took the camera along....


This town, Markethill, is south of me and higher above sea level so you can see some snow in the distance,this snow only fell this morning and is gone already

Just a view of the old town. This part of the street was blown up by an IRA bomb a few years ago but like every other town it was sympathetically restored..


The old English Landlords built walls around their estates. This typical wall surrounds Gosford Castle. There is usually about 100 acres behind these walled estates...


Across this valley is the farm where my mother was reared...

This is approaching the town of Tandragee...

And the wall of Tandragee Castle, behind this wall is now a superb 18 hole golf course

The main castle gate at the top of the town with the War memorial and Christmas tree.....sorry, the lights were off today!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from the green, green grass of home!.......
Sam

Really enjoy your pictures Sam. I never would have guessed the weather in Northern Ireland was nicer than here.

Who's the monument for. I have one in New Jersey for one of
my grandparents who was the first American born Governor of
any of the colonies. It looks just like that one.
I'm proud of that my family has been here since the early
1600s
Walt
PS I'm Irish and Welsh mostly.

Walt, the monument is for the dead ex servicemen of both World wars.
Sam

Some very beautiful pictures. Thank you for posting. I always get nervous when people drive on the other side of the road...but hey its the other side of the pond so to speak so why not...lol...

Great pictures Sam. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mickey

Sam, absolutely beautiful photos! "Tis easy to see why they call it "The Emerald Isle". Thanks for sharing!

Wonderful pics. I should have put some Irish music on while looking at them. Much of my mother's family came from County Antrim. My Dad's a mix of Scot and Irish and the Glasscocks from England. Been to Scotland and hoping to get to Ireland this summer.
Merry Christmas

Why do you always move over to the "wrong" lane to
snap a picture?

Beautiful country. Thanks for sharing.

How does Santa get around over there?

Dean

I figgered it was just the effect of good Irish whiskey.

I made it to Glasgow while in the Navy. I couldn't believe how clean the country side was. I have always wanted to go back and see your country and the rest of that part of the world.

Awesome pics. What's it like in June, July and August?

June, July and August are sometimes nice, just warm, not as hot as America. But we can get a lot of rainshowers during these months. We never have a complete drought....Well not since 1976!. We never get real heavy rainstorms either. If we have any floods it is because it has rained for a few days....I have been in America when as much rain fell in a few hours as we would get in days!. Generally we have moderate weather.
Sam

Sam:

THANKS for sharing the great pics of your country,
beautiful.

I like the idea of the hedge-rows instead of
fences, but I bet they're a pain in the backside
to keep trimmed.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to everyone over
there.

Doc
Pahrump, Nevada USA

Haven't been to Ireland, but made a stopover in Prestwick,
Scotland on the way to RAF Mildenhall back in the '60's. Trip
was via a Military C118 as I recall, a military version of a DC 6.
Since it wasn't very fast you got a great view of the countryside.

During my tour took many road trips out into the country. Nice.
Enjoyed watching the chaps Pheasnt hunting with their wool
coats and leather patched elbows. They may have been wearing
a hand woven Donegal Tweed cap from Shandon Headwear. I
have one in two shades of blue with light green stripes in the
plaid. As stated, mighty warm and comfortable. Mr. D. Hood
wove mine. Saw many Roman ruins too.

Merry Christmas,
Mark