A Sligo trip with an experience.

June 6, 2009 by Keith Farrell

Starting off on my journey In Dunlaoghaire.

Well, my day started like any other, I woke and decided I wanted to visit Sligo once again. Only my day was delayed when I realised I had to do the cooking before I left home. After being some-what delayed, I missed the Connelly to Sligo train at 15:05, so I had to get the 16:05 instead. I was going to stop-off at Carrack On Shannon.

I said feck it; and I'll go on to Sligo as I was at Shannon last week anyway. Little did I know that if I continue to travel to Sligo, I'd be stuck there ! Because my train was late arriving and as I arrived at Sligo, the last Sligo to Connelly had already left. Leaving Keith stuck in Sligo.

If I got off at Carrack On Shannon, I'd be home now and I wouldn't be writing this. Apart from the fact I decided to travel without my wallet. I was now totally snookered for food/drink and accommodation. And I don't know many B&B's that do "I-Owe-Yous" with Dublin People. LOL, I also just missed the first Bus from Sligo to Dublin Airport by about 10 minutes. Was I lucky? To top it off, I'm now stuck in Sligo. I stopped by the Bus-Office at the Sligo station and asked how the Bus service runs. (But He didn't know. And he fecking works there.) All he did know; he knew there was a 02:00 O'Clock Bus Service running from Sligo Rail Station to Dublin Airport. However, I'm writing this blog outside the station and It's now 21:20 and I have a weird, unlucky feeling about the night-ahead.

So What did I do between 19:45 and 02:00? Well I got off the train after realizing that it was the last train for the night. I asked an Asian taxi driver what the story was with the local transport in the area - heading back to Dublin. He told me to get in while he checked for me, as it was also pissing rain. So I sat in his car, but for some reason I was already sceptical of the taxi guy anyway as I thought he was a bit weird. The taxi guy's name was Sied.

Sied offered me a lift from Sligo to Dublin for 350 Euro. I of course said no, and he employed; you help me and I'll help you. I can only assume he wanted sexual favours. LOL - F*ck that ! NO WAY !!! He gave me his phone number anyway and I got the hell out of his car. OK, the guy was Asian, so I may have been miss-reading his generosity and expressed emotions? But I don't think so... Besides, for the three times he said "you help me and I'll help you", he was kinda nodding below my man-hood. So what do you think? Exactly ! (If you know me, you can only imagine my response.) ?

After a five minute chat with the taxi guy, I later met a young chap by the name of Niall.
Here is me and Neil, - a young chap, hiding in a sheltered bus stop.

Niall was stud-up by his girlfriend. He too was also stranded, but fortunately for him, he was only stranded for about 2 hours, and he was only going to Bundoran. Niall and I talked in the bus shelter for about two hours, while we also pondered how to get home. Niall was from Bundoran, and Bundoran's not that far from Sligo town anyway. Niall told me he had travelled all over Ireland. Just like me, he travelled to every county in Ireland. Niall and I had a lot in common and we had discussed a hell of a lot in two hours or so... We both like "South Park - the TV Show", we both travelled all over Ireland, and we both had the same views and opinions while discussing various things.

We had something else in common. We were both F*ucking freezing in the lashings of rain, and we're both stuck in Sligo. And I can honestly tell you that Sligo is not the town to be stranded in with no accommodation. As your not far from the Atlantic cost and it can get very cold and windy just like tonight ! Somehow Niall and I started talking about the charity work I do back in Dublin I.e. feed the homeless etc... Now before you read-on, I'm not religious, but I do believe in A God. Before I left Niall, he advised me to visit a pub which I may find helpful. (The Gateway)

This is an unfortunate picture of the Gateway. I was half jarred leaving and didn't know what size the pub was. Not to mention there are no light's so It's a little dark. But a great pub with a bit of craic! What you see below, is only a quarter of the pub's actual size. |-|

I was listening to "Van Morrison - When God shines his light", It was like God's way of showing me how unlucky ones day can be. OK, I'm stranded and I'm homeless. But tomorrow, I'm grateful for having my own bed again! Some people don't have that luxury. :P After spending a few cold hours here in the lashings of rain, - thinking you've nowhere to go Keith... I can now relate to homeless people. I now have a very good idea what its like to live and sleep in the cold. Its amazing what your mind thinks once in a situation like this...

OK, some time has passed and I'm typing again... Although it was only a few hours being stuck outdoors. I did manage to slip into a pub to pass some time, - as Niall recommended. I was searching for a shelter of some kind anyway. LOL - Had my luck changed? Just a little... I forget your name, but thanks for the pint mate.

Its 21:45 now and I'm sitting in a pub across from the Sligo train station. (out of the rain) - Killing time with a pint of Bulmers. :) I'm hoping I can get a Bus at 02:00 back to Dublin Airport. I only have ten Euro - fifty left to spend. I'll write more when I have one more pint !

To be continued...

OK, its 23:00 now. I had a great chat with the bar manager who is actually a distant friend, more-so a-friend of a-friend. What a small world we live in. John Paul was the bar managers name. Convenient that my mates friend works in that pub Neill told me to go to. I was destined to meet Neil that day. Because John Paul let me stay in the pub after hours. And John Paul also arranged accommodation for me in an over-night snack shop encase my bus never turns up.

Well its now 02:00 and I'm sitting on the bus finishing my story. I'm to tired to type any more, so I hope you enjoyed another one of my travelling stories. Neill, Hope you get to read this and drop a reply.

Ahh, Dublin Airport ! Pictures below are of Dublin Airport.

And another picture of Dublin Airport.

Time to have a sleep on the coach...

Thanks for reading, Feel free to leave a comment if you like. :D