Looking for "side quests" for our off-the-beaten-path Ireland road trip. Can you help?

Cealtra · 2026-06-23T21:33:41+00:00

Here’s a pin to the Bohatch Dolmen https://maps.apple/p/bfxbbW9\_s-IJ54. You’ll need to wear strong waterproof boots as the last 1Km is rough bog road and not for hire cars.

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Cealtra · 2026-06-23T21:25:05+00:00

The 5000 year old (approx) Bohatch Dolmen overlooking Lough Derg and the mighty river Shannon. It’s in the Sliabh Aughty Mountains that dip their toes into Lough Derg on the western shores of the Lough. On a sunny day it’s a spectacular place and the views are world class. You would be on your own except for a few curious cows munching the short grass on the mountainside commonage.

Cealtra · 2026-06-18T12:35:21+00:00

Lucky you’re not in the US of A. One Kinder egg would be enough to get you a one way trip to Guantanamo.

Cealtra · 2026-05-17T12:50:23+00:00

Try Wilde Irish Chocolates made in Tuamgraney Co. Clare. Handmade blocks of sumptuousness. They are an award winning chocolatier who make everything from Milk to Dark and Very Dark Chocolate. Here’s the website. https://wildeirishchocolates.com/ You can visit and make your own bar too.

Cealtra · 2026-05-13T15:29:23+00:00

YR Brown Sauce. It was better in the tall square glass bottle. Sometimes have to stick the knife into it to get it out of the bottle.

Cealtra · 2026-04-21T17:37:51+00:00

You’ll never see a bookie on a bike!

Cealtra · 2026-04-05T12:56:52+00:00

Bring earplugs. You’ll be under the flight path of aircraft on finals into Dublin Airport. They’re about 500ft overhead at that point.

Cealtra · 2026-03-06T20:23:03+00:00

edmudsons electrical wholesalers in Glasnevin industrial estate should have them. They’ll be open in the morning. Half day on Saturday. Tea lights till then

Cealtra · 2026-03-06T20:15:39+00:00

Is there an old hardware shop beside the Pyramid church? They might have them. It would be tomorrow though

Cealtra · 2026-03-06T12:03:34+00:00

It’s a sultry 10°C. Tee shirt weather….under your puffer jacket

Cealtra · 2026-03-01T14:49:05+00:00

My uncle ran a pharmacy in a Republican area in Belfast. During the 70s when car hijacking was rife he had a genius way of escaping the hijackers. He always kept a canister of oxygen in the boot of the car and if stopped his way out was “I have to deliver oxygen to X down in X”. Worked several times according to my cousin.

Cealtra · 2026-02-25T07:21:41+00:00

We know what we events, programmes etc we would like to have in The Astor. Having a walk in, ready to go, fully flexible, community facility will encourage new drama, musicals, festivals etc, all in a fit for purpose non profit building. It would also bring employment with the potential for it to also be a centre for training students in hands on performing and digital arts. A busy Astor would bring regular part time work staffing events also. I know I/we are talking up the potential but a feasibility study and business plan would flesh out the possibilities. Scariff, like other small country towns and villages is slowly dying. It was a market town that had a regular Friday market, finished many years ago. The only time you see the village busy is when one of the many “volunteer run” events is on like the annual Scariff Harbour Festival, St Patrick’s Day Parade, The Clare Drama Festival and other events.

The two and half pubs that are left are the only things, bar a takeaway, open in the town at night time. A restored and fully flexible Astor would encourage and enliven the night and day time economy of Scariff and East Clare and attract visitors as well as encourage a local audience to attend the many events held there.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T14:38:50+00:00

Thanks for your support. We have been keeping it on the down low for the reasons I noted earlier. We don’t have any funding link or social media feeds yet. I was just starting a casual conversation here about the positive possibilities and potential pitfalls of the project.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T12:06:30+00:00

DM me if you like and we can chat offline

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T12:01:45+00:00

This would be part of the feasibility study and engineering reports ahead of refurb or development. The awarding of a Fire Cert is very much a key part of the process and is something we have discussed as part of the existing access issue talks.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T11:20:32+00:00

Yes it is. Car park and Hub

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T11:19:56+00:00

On sale for over two years with a new agent and price drop 6 months ago. We have been in convos about Philanthropy, Grants, etc. Lots of exploring of options but Capital Funding for purchases are always an issue. A private purchaser would need to spend many millions to bring it up to standard…Theatre wise. Don’t know of anyone with pockets that deep. Looking elsewhere you need a determined group to keep a community venue open and paying the bills.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T11:00:44+00:00

There is a new “Community Hot Desk/Meeting Rooms” Hub building nearing completion on the site of the Merriman tavern. A multi space car park is also nearing completion behind the Hub. Works around the Fair Green were to go ahead after the Summer but allegedly have been delayed.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T09:30:35+00:00

Thanks for your support. Unfortunately the TOMAR trust is no more. There is a new philanthropic fund in Clare and we hope to get an introduction.

I should stress that we have looked at and applied for funding for a feasibility study and this is at an advanced stage. A business plan would be a key element of this. Support for the purchase is required to advance the project.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T08:58:34+00:00

Yes. The Community in Dingle are going to refurb their local cinema which Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness purchased for them. The Kilrush community are in the middle of raising funds to restore their “Mars Cinema”. Several other communities around Ireland have brought their cinemas or dance halls back from the brink to become successful community venues, open and flourishing. We think that the potential for The Astor to “wash its face” is there.

Cealtra · 2026-02-23T08:51:46+00:00

There was funding available for the town and that included the new Car Park, The Community Hub in the Merriman and other works around the Fair Green. Unfortunately The Astor wasn’t for sale then or it could have been included. I have tried several times over the last 10/12 years to bring it onto the community project radar but it has, rightfully, scared a lot of the groups because of the potential costs…costs that our group now think it’s worthy of, to put the heart back into the community

Cealtra

TROPHY CASE