Lough Neagh

Lou and I were invited out on her Dads boat today.


The weather was fantastic and we had a great time. We sailied from a little harbour in Glenavy to Rams Island. Rams Island is the largest island on Lough Neagh. It's roughly one mile long by a quarter of a mile wide. It has a round tower which is the remains of a Celtic Monastic Settlement about a thousand years old.



It also hosts the ruins of the O’Neill’s’ nineteenth century summer house.



The Island was last permanently inhabited in the 1920s by the Cardwell family who were caretakers for the O’Neill’s. Although overgrown, its remote, it has a great wilderness quality giving it lots of character.

Lou and I had plenty of time to swan around.



We took the boat past Hog Park Point into Johnnys Bay and had lunch at Gawley's Gate in an upstairs pub restaurant. Lou and I both had the crispy cod which really hit the spot.
By the time it was nearing 6.30pm and I was certainly feeling sleepy with the sea air.
Hopefully it wont be too long before we can get ourselves another invite!

Alas it's back to work tomorrow. Although Lou and I have only been off for a week, we have been up to so much it's felt like two. The weather has been fantastic and hopefully the rest of the summer will be more of the same.