Nottingham Irish Golf Society Celebrating Their 25th Anniversary in County Donegal

60 members of the Nottingham Irish Golf Society travelled to Bundoran recently to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group. They played rounds at Murvagh, Strandhill and of course Bundoran which was the headquarters for the trip.

Nottingham Irish Golf Society 25th Anniversary Tour of Bundoran and Donegal. Photo: Jimmy McEwan

Credit for the founding of the society back in 1991 goes to Bundoran man Eamonn Gavigan who was then working as a journalist in the Nottingham Evening Post and placed a small ad inviting likeminded golfers to join the society. 40 people showed up to the first meeting and the rest as they say is history.

In the past 25 years they have travelled all over Ireland to play their beloved game including Cork, Killarney, Bangor, Carne, Athlone, Newry and for the 25th anniversary of the society, which now boasts almost 70 members, they came to Eamonn’s home town of Bundoran. Eamonn was accompanied on this trip by his wife Margaret, daughter Abigail, and his grandson Joel who at 14 years is already showing the golfing traits and skill of his grandfather by being selected for the Nottinghamshire Junior Golf Team.  His proud brothers Jim and Billy were also in attendance at the gala presentation and dinner at the Great Northern Hotel.

Joel Gavigan being presented with the Guest prize after playing Bundoran. A gift card is presented to Joel  by the Nottingham Irish Golf Society Captain Liam Connelly. Photo: Jimmy McEwan

As a token of appreciation and welcome to Eamonn, a presentation was made to him by Bundoran Tourism Officer Shane Smyth of a Donegal Pen on behalf of Donegal Tourism.  Speaking at the presentation he said ‘we are delighted to welcome Eamonn, his family and his golf society to Bundoran for this special occasion and are honoured that he has chosen to celebrate this milestone here in Bundoran. We wish the society well for the next 25 years!’

Enjoying 19th hole at Bundoran L-R: Paul Kearns, Eamonn Gavigan, David Harris, David Bennett. Photo: Jimmy McEwan

For more information on the Nottingham Irish Golf Society visit:
www.nottinghamirishgolfsociety.com

The proud winner of the 25th Anniversary Tour of Bundoran and Donegal was Declan Greaney (on the right), here photographed with his proud Dad Jimmy and brother Liam. Photo: Jimmy McEwan

Donegal Voted One of World's Top 10 Scenic Airports 2016

Donegal is ranked one of the world’s most scenic airport landings, in annual poll, the fifth one conducted by PrivateFly

This year’s top rated airport was Malta International, with others in the top 10 including Queenstown in New Zealand, Nice Cote D’Azur in France and Los Angeles International.

Donegal Airport has been voted one of the world’s most scenic airport landings in a poll of global travellers and travel industry experts, conducted by PrivateFly. The private jet booking service asked a panel of international travel experts and travel fans for their most scenic airport approaches in its annual survey, with Donegal making the top 10, coming in at number 7.

Donegal Airport, Image copyrights: Owen Clarke Photography, http://owenclarkephotos.com/

One voter described landing at Donegal as follows: “There's nothing more breathtaking than flying over the rugged coastline of Donegal. Awe-inspiring to say the least. The rugged landscape transports to a time long ago and much forgotten.”

Another commented: “You arrive in the Emerald Isle adjacent to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world; Carrickfinn with a backdrop of the majestic Mount Errigal on one side and an array of craggy islands on the other. The clear turquoise blue sea is just a bonus on a sunny day!”

Previous winners of the annual poll include Queenstown (2015); Nice Cote D’Azur (2014); St Maarten in the Caribbean (2013) and Barra in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides (2012).

Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly and an experienced pilot, comments: “PrivateFly’s poll has become an annual checklist for the well-traveled, and this year’s voting was the most competitive yet. Malta received the highest number of votes overall this time, but Donegal is a worthy new entrant to the list, with a landing that offers travellers an unforgettable introduction to Ireland’s world class natural beauty.”

“Each airport in this year’s Top 10 offers something very special for travellers. We also have the iconic cityscape at London City; the awesome mountain scenery of Queenstown; the tiny remote airstrip of Saba in the Caribbean (the world’s shortest commercial runway); and the unique beach landing at Barra in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.”

The full top 10 is as follows:

1. Malta International Airport, Malta
2. Nice Cote D'Azur Airport, France
3. Queenstown Airport, New Zealand
4. Barra Airport, Scotland, UK
5. Saba Airport (Juancho E Yrausquin), Caribbean
6. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Canada
7. Donegal Airport, Ireland
8. St Maarten Airport (Princess Juliana International), Caribbean
9. Los Angeles International Airport, USA
10. London City Airport, UK

For more information visit:

www.donegalairport.ie

Donegal Airport on Facebook

YouTube: Donegal Airport, Carrickfinn, Co. Donegal

Climbing Errigal Mountain

Here is a guest blog from Bren Whelan who decided to take a look at a classic and iconic Donegal landmark..Errigal Mountain. 

Standing at 751 meters (2,464 feet) above sea level, the distinctive cloud piercing summit and shoulders of Mount Errigal casts an alternative view across the Donegal skyline. The mountain has a diverse and varied shape depending on what direction you view it from. In 2009 the loveable Donegal landmark mountain was voted ‘Ireland’s Most Iconic Mountain’ by Walking & Hiking in Ireland, as an endorsement of it's distinctive beauty.

Whereas most of the surrounding rocky peaks of the Derryveagh Mountains are granite, Errigal’s form is somewhat different, it’s a quartzite peak. Quartzite is a sedimentary rock which has metamorphosed (changed from sandstone) under high pressure and heat into a dense hard quartzite rock type.

Errigal (possibly meaning ‘oratory’) is the 76th highest mountain in Ireland and the highest in a chain known as ‘The Seven Sisters’, which includes Muckish, Crocknalaragagh, Aghla Beg, Ardloughnabrackbaddy, Aghla More, Mackoght (Wee Errigal). This chain forms one of the great Irish mountain challenge walks, the ‘Glover Highlander’, a strenuous mountain walk which is around 23Km long and involves around 2000 meters of height gain!

Generally speaking most people will climb the mountain by starting from the car park off the R251 road. Initially the route crosses heavily eroded and boggy land that leads towards a visible track through the scree.

There is a steady climb upwards towards the summit, with excellent views in all directions towards Tory Island, the Poison Glen, Gola, Arranmore, the Blue Stacks to name but a few, for those who don’t quite have a head for heights, be warned steep and intimidating ground abounds. This culminates with a final exposed walk along the airy ridge of the ‘one man’s pass’ which allows both summits to be gained as a reward for the steep uphill journey.

Lastly, if you plan to stay locally, the 5 star Errigal Youth Hostel, with its super friendly staff and luxury accommodation is the perfect base!

For more information on Bren Whelan contact: 

www.wildatlanticwayclimbing.ie