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Crossgar Women's Institute
Outing 2000
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Saturday,
17th June started warm, dry but a little overcast
as members boarded the coach in Crossgar.
However, the weather forecast was for sunshine
later in the day and well before lunch the light
cloud evaporated and the sun broke through. We
enjoyed a short break at Frenchies Restaurant in
Clough for coffee and scones before heading
onward to Newry.
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Aboard the coach and
ready for shopping and sightseeing
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| Arriving in Newry shortly after
mid-day visits to the two shopping malls were
high on the agenda. The Buttercrane and Quays
centres are on opposite sides of the main Dundalk
Road and boast a large number of familiar high
street names together with a variety of local
shops and traders. Members and guests took the
opportunity to visit both malls browsing the
shops and making a few purchases. Clearly this
interlude was thoroughly enjoyed before returning
to the coach in the early afternoon to make our
way along the canal towards Carlingford.
Following our shopping spree it was refreshing to
sit down and enjoy the scenery as we drove along
the canal and the shores of Carlingford Lough.
Bounded by the Lough on one side and the steep
inclines of the Cooley Mountains on the other the
views were inspiring as we looked north towards
Warrenpoint and Rostrevor set against the
backdrop of the Mourne Mountains with clear blue
skies above. |
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| Carlingford is only a short drive
from Newry and the town really looked its best
when we arrived on what can only be described as
a balmy summer afternoon. The town takes its name
from the Norse - the fjord of Carlinn - and can
be classified as one of Ireland's best preserved
medieval towns which was originally founded by
the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. |
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A relaxing afternoon
spent visiting the
quaint shops in Carlingford
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The setting was delightful with its
narrow streets and beautiful views of the sea and
mountains while the stone medieval buildings
transported us back in time. The small shops have
a lot of character and exude a feeling of tranquillity and friendliness that somehow seems
absent in the large, modern shopping complexes
which we had left behind a short time earlier.
Our sojourn in Carlingford reminded us of the
much more relaxed pace of life that prevailed in
rural villages throughout the country many years
ago. It was a beautiful afternoon and many
members took time to explore the streets and
byways and to enjoy the beauty of the setting in
such a peaceful atmosphere. |
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| The warm weather combined with
several hours of arduous shopping eventually took
its toll encouraging some members to seek
refreshment in the local coffee shops while
others enjoyed a cooling ice cream. Reluctantly
we departed Carlingford and made our way to the
other side of the Lough passing through
Warrenpoint and Rostrevor this time looking south
towards the Cooley Mountains. As we headed north
towards Newcastle the sea on our right glistened
in the brilliant sunshine while on our left the
Mourne Mountains towered majestically above us. On arrival at the Enniskeen Hotel in
Newcastle members were in relaxed mood and
looking forward to the very enjoyable high tea
that unfortunately also signalled that our day
was drawing towards its conclusion.
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| Before
heading home many members purchased plants that
were available for sale and our coach looked like
a horticultural arrangement as we returned to
Crossgar. From the conversation and comments made
during the final leg of our journey it was
evident that the day had been enjoyed by all. |
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Last modified 09/11/2004 22:03
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