Rob Little's Blog – the musings of an English / British Tour Guide !

Although barely able to move after our meal, I insisted we went to watch traditional Irish Music at Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo – Monday March 7th 2011.

A brilliant night – the old guy, age 81 (anyone tell me his name?) was telling jokes and singing – really doing a brilliant”warm up” act although I understand he is a “fixture” there! Then the two guys on the fiddle and banjo were great as well as the chap on the guitar and the lady singing ! This is a brilliant venue but perhaps not on a Saturday night when it was heaving with stag and hen nights !

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

Music at Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo in the West of Ireland

Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo

Story Telling and Music at Matt Molloys Bar in Westport, County Mayo last night – a Real Character !!

Traditional Irish Music at Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo

A Monday night in March at Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland !

Today it was off to Achill Island – I have been lucky with the weather but not as good as last time I was hear in July last year. This time I managed to find the route around the Atlantic Drive and the deserted village – a number of ruined houses left empty since the 1800s.

Beforehand I had a good walk around the shops in Westport – still very many small family run stores even though there is now a Tesco and Dunns supermarket in the town. One wonders how long these small shops can survive?

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

My supply of Guinness being delivered to Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, Mayo; where i will be tonite

Cliffs and ocean at Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo

Mountain Stream on Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo

Keem Beach on Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo

Herding sheep with dogs on Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo

Herding sheep with dogs on Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo, West of Ireland

The deserted village, Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo

The deserted village on Achill Island near Westport, County Mayo

The tricolour, a lane with a hint of grass in the middle, farm shack with a few cows – Achill Island

I think there should be an forensic investigation into exactly who is responsible for the global financial crisis, of which Ireland has caught it particularly badly. We probably have to look no further than the banks whose totally irresponsible behaviour has put us where we are today and, yet, while we are all suffering, the bloody bankers are drawing their six and seven figure bonuses once again.

Where we are all feeling the pinch – I know State employees in the US and no doubt elsewhere, are losing a day a month to help towards debt recovery, I was talking to one of the hotel administrators whose working week has been reduced from five days to three at a stroke. So a 40% pay cut AND they all have to help pay of the debt by paying 20 euros a month “unified social charge” specifically used towards paying off the debt, reduction in the minimum wage, taxing anything that moves…..all while the bankers still live it up. Meanwhile on the news I note that teachers and health workers are facing a substantial pay cut.

The politicians say the bankers must be allowed their bonuses or they will leave the country – I say call their bluff? If you had a gang of people in town getting their money by thieving and then spending it in the local economy, would it be moral to let them carry on thieving? Boot them out that’s what I say!! (If you are a banker and want me to guide you….only joking!!)

Finally, again in the hotel we said how nice and unusual it was to have mashed potato to which the reply was “you’re lucky…..all we eat is mashed potato”! Perhaps a slight exaggertion but none the less salutory ?

So let’s get this straight…..while the people who caused the havoc resume their decadent lifestyles, the rest of us pay for it with our jobs, reduced hours, increased taxes and mashed potato ? And that’s ok?

No way Jose !!

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

Last night in Campbell’s Bar, Murrisk, near Westport, County Mayo, Ireland !

Right next to the Reek, the sacred mountain, Croagh Patrick, Campbells describes itself as a “museum pub” – not because is isn’t a regular working pub because it most certainly is. But the bar is full of old photos and curios relating to The Famine and life in the area in the old days. Much of the furniture is ancient and the lighting is all tastefully converted from gas lights.

The bar was empty when iwe arrived just before 9pm but soon the musicians arrived and by 9.45pm the pub was full and the musicm…..”the craic” was brilliant – as was the Guinness !!

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

This would have originally have been a gas light at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

Old Bar at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

The main bar at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

The Band have arrived at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

Guinness “resting” as it is poured at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

Why didn’t he keep still? Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

Musicians at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Wesport, Mayo

Music at Campbell’s Bar in Murrisk, near Westport, County Mayo, West of Ireland

Ireland really is a “work in progress”. On the one hand you have these beautiful vistas as shown here, but then houses are left half finished, the towns are on the scruffy side and the pubs not decorated in the sort of way that would encourage you inside although when you do go inside you are made most welcome.

I did a long blog about Ireland back in July last year which you can look up if you are interested. Its a beautiful country in places with lovely people but the centre is a bit of a bog and there are serious issues here with debt which is effecting their ability to keep things up and that shows up in the condition of the road surfaces etc

More later…..I’m late for dinner.

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

View from Croagh Patrick, near Wesport, Mayo, Ireland

Teevnabinnia Lake, County Mayo, Ireland

Teevnabinnia Lake, County Mayo,

Teevnabinnia Lake, County Mayo,

Near Leenane, County Mayo,

Gowlaun, County Mayo, Ireland

Near Renvyle, County Mayo, Ireland

Bleating Sheep and a view of a “highway” and inlet near Letterfrack, Ireland !

Near Renvyle, County Mayo, Ireland

Cong-the film set village for the John Wayne movie “The Quiet Man” -still living off it 60 yrs later

Well?? Don’t you have a donkey outside your front door?

….at Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport on the West coast or Ireland!

The places was heaving and “the craic” was there in abundance !!

Rob Little
Driver / guide
Let’s Tour England

Traditional Irish Music in Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo

….oh and a pint of Guiness

Traditional Irish Music in Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo

Traditional Irish Music in Matt Malloy’s Bar in Westport, County Mayo

Fairly crap video of Matt Malloys Bar in Westport, County Mayo on Saturday 5th March – I will try again soon !

Going through some old photos – here’s one of my 1972 MG Midget taken 01 May 1984 (pre fat and pre kids!!).

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

My 1972 MG Midget taken 01 May 1984

Here we are at The Cat and Custard Pot
In Shipton Moyne – not only my “local”, but also to various Regal people! Tom, the Cat had been to the vet for an investment in teeth removal so was being “kept an eye on” in the bar!

Meanwhile Gladys the Dog was anxious for her sausage, lovingly prepared as always by Chefs Vera and Lynn !

Rob Little
Driver / Guide
Lets Tour England

Gladys the Dog at “The Cat & Custard Pot” anxious for her treat – a sausage cooked by Lynn and Vera

Tom – “Alli’s” Cat at “The Cat & Custard Pot”

Tom – “Alli’s” Cat at “The Cat & Custard Pot”

Dinner at “The Cat & Custard Pot”

“The Cat & Custard Pot”