Nicola Travers

Final Blog, feeling thankful

I took a break from walking yesterday to attend the Alanis Morissette concert at Malahide Castle, and wow, what a gig! Her vocals were every bit as powerful, if not more so, than when I first heard her debut album Jagged Little Pill 30 years ago this year ! I practically wore out that CD and knew every word of every song! Hearing her live brought back a lot of memories. Alanis, Thank You …that performance was something special.

Back to today, and it’s the final stretch of our June walking challenge. I’m completely bowled over by the number of donations we’ve received. I’m not surprised though as according to the CAF World Giving Index, Irish people consistently rank in the top 10 globally for charitable giving! 

To everyone who’s contributed, thank you so much. Feeling incredibly grateful today to be surrounded by such generous, compassionate people.

To close, here’s to music that moves us, walks that challenge us, and communities that lift us up. 🥰🥰

Finished !!!

4.14 km WE DID IT 😂

5.18km, only 3.81 to go !!!!!

Day 26 4.68km; 8.65 to go !!!!

Day 26

Day 25

5 days and 13.33 km left !!!

Day 25 6.88

Day 23 4.21km

Day 22 4.55km

Day 21. 4.92km

Day 20 Sun’s Out, Tongue’s Out!

Day 20 4.03km

Post walk treat !

Day 16 4.44km

Day 15

Day 15 5.08km

Day 14

Day 14: 4.05km

Day 14 Woods and Waves

What started off as a miserable wet day really took a turn for the better this evening. Myself and Lyra headed out to Courtown. Today we did a loop of the woods and then walked out to the pier. It was glorious in the woods; lush, peaceful, and quiet, with just a few solo walkers and a man guiding two small kids on bikes, which is always lovely to see. We were too late to pop into the RNLI shop as it had closed at 4.30, but it’s definitely on the list for next time.

The RNLI in Courtown has been saving lives since the 1800s and is still proudly crewed by local volunteers today. A small station with a big heart! 

The pier at Courtown always brings back memories of one week during the summer spent doing the lifesaving course before we eventually moved out to Cahore. The basin water is just as murky and uninviting as I remember!  We are just over the half way point of our Walk 100k in June so many more lovely walks to come! 

Books, Bloomsday and Breakfast

Apologies!! I’ve been slacking on blog posts the last few days. Happy Bloomsday! I was up in Dublin this morning for a (very) early appointment. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to see any of the Bloomsday celebrations, but we did stop in Ranelagh for some breakfast, and I picked up a couple of books in a lovely little shop called The Company of Books to mark the occasion.

As part of my English literature module, we studied Ulysses. Full disclosure, I only read the required chapters and not the whole thing! Dubliners is one of my favourite books, though. Clay and The Dead are the two stories that have always stayed with me.

Clay is a quiet, bittersweet portrait of Maria, a solitary woman whose small, predictable life is touched with subtle sadness during a Halloween evening.
The Dead is a story of love, memory, and mortality, culminating in Gabriel Conroy's haunting realisation of life's impermanence. I will end the blog with the closing lines of The Dead. 

“His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.”

Day 13 4.5km

Day 12

Day 12 3.2k

Day 11 at the Cross of Kilbride

Day 11 2.67 k

Day 10

Day 10 5.29km

Dublin Vibes

A couple of loops around Courtown woods this afternoon. Lyra’s bandana arrived in the post this morning and she was excited to show it off!! A late afternoon walk as I was in Dublin all morning. The weather was gorgeous, warm with that vibrant summer energy in the air. There was a real buzz around the city.

I had lunch at a fantastic Mexican restaurant on Wicklow Street. You really can’t beat Dublin for its variety of food spots. There’s  always something new and tasty to try! 

I got the Wexford Bus into the city and spent the journey diving back into Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard. I'm nearly at the end now, just a few chapters to go, and I’m planning to finish it tonight … the suspense is killing me! Howard, is known for her gripping thrillers and has a real talent for keeping you hooked right to the last page.

Day 9

Day 9 4.02km

Day 8

2.71km

Day 8: Back to Ballymoney/ Stolen Sister Episode 2

Back to Ballymoney today for a chilly evening walk. Definitely not about to pack away the fleece just yet. There were three very brave souls swimming in the sea. I honestly don’t know how they managed it, I was cold just watching them! 

What helped distract me from the chill was episode two of Stolen Sister, which dropped today. A difficult listen and very upsetting to think of what happened to Elizabeth at the hands of two monsters. The musical backdrop to the podcast is by Oscar winning composer Stephen Warbeck and is performed beautifully by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. I listened to an interview on the Claire Byrne show where the producer of the podcast described how the composer spoke with Elizabeth’s family in order to get a sense of Elizabeth and developed his score from this. The family were also invited in to hear a performance of the music with Stephen playing on piano. I hope they take a little bit of comfort from that. 

Stories like this are tough to hear but so important to tell. 

Bark in the Park

Today’s walk took me through one of Gorey’s most treasured spots, the town park. This year marked a special milestone, as Gorey Town Park celebrated 50 years at the heart of the community. Over the past five decades, it has grown and adapted alongside the town, becoming not just a green space, but a vibrant hub of connection, play, and wellbeing for all ages.The park now boasts everything from a doggy play area, children’s playgrounds, a skatepark, sports fields, a sensory garden, and colourful graffiti art. The local addition of the Coffee Pod cafe makes the park a perfect pitstop for families, friends, and solo strollers. 

As I walked around the park today, I couldn’t help but think back to the “Tommy Sports” races that took place every summer. I don’t remember winning many medals, but I do remember the thrill of running, and more importantly the chocolate bars and lollipops handed out to every child who took part!It’s been wonderful to watch the park grow and change while still holding onto the spirit that made it special in the first place. Whether you’re young or old, it remains a place to breathe, move, and connect. 

Here’s to 50 years of memories, and many more to come.

Day 7

Day 7 5.06k

Day 6: Trip in to Town

Another evening walk and Lyra’s second of the day! This time we stayed local, taking a short trip into town, passing St Michael’s Church along the way.On a recent walking tour of Gorey with Lorraine fromGallivanting, I learned some fascinating facts about the town but one story really stuck with me: the tale of Augustus Pugin, the architect behind St Michael’s.

Pugin was a leading figure in the Gothic Revival and designed parts of the Palace of Westminster. His work, including St Michael’s, reflects his passion for medieval Gothic design and Catholic tradition. But behind his genius was a troubled life. He suffered from mental illness, likely caused by syphilis, and died at just 40 after being committed to the infamous Bedlam asylum.

Knowing his story adds a whole new layer to the church’s dramatic presence. It’s a reminder that beauty often comes from complicated places.

Day 6 Trip in to Town

Day 6; 3.68km

Day 5 3.06km

Mucky Pup

Day 5: Wet Wet Wet

Spent the morning correcting exam papers. Full disclosure, not exactly my favourite part of teaching, so I didn’t get out for a walk until late afternoon. The second we stepped outside, the heavens opened. It bucketed rain, and it didn’t let up.

Lyra, as usual, was unbothered! We passed a lone fisherman casting into the Ounavarra River, just as undeterred by the downpour. I pulled my hood up, pressed play on a new podcast, and off we went.

I listened to the first episode of Stolen Sister, a gripping new RTÉ true crime series about the 1976 murder of Elizabeth Plunkett in County Wicklow. The podcast retraces the tragic events and includes interviews with her family. The storytelling is both sensitive and powerful, raising questions that still resonate nearly fifty years later. Definitely one to keep listening to.

The puddles were plenty, the dog was happy, and the story of Elizabeth stayed with me long after I got home.

Day 4 Woodland Walk

Day 4

Wed 3.18km

Memories of Sea Road

Day 3: 2.27 km

Day 3

Day 2: 5.4 KM

Day 1: 3.3km

Day Two

Day Two: Kilometres, Company and Costal Change

Day 2 – Courtown (Burrow Beach)

Today Lyra and Lily were joined by their friends Dee and Pico on Day 2 of our Walk 100k adventure. We racked up some extra kilometres today compared to yesterday. It's always so much easier to go further when you’ve got someone to natter with I think! 

It’s been a while since we were last on the beach. It definitely looked clearer than before, though still scattered with plenty of uprooted trees. You can really see how the coastline has taken a battering in recent years. 

On a hopeful note, there’s a beach regeneration plan in the works. Wexford County Council has announced a long-term project aimed at restoring Burrow Beach and the surrounding coastline. The first phase is due to start in 2027, with plans to re-nourish the beach and even develop a marina in the years ahead. It’s good to know steps are being taken to protect and revitalise this special stretch of coast.

Day One

Day One: Direct hit from a feathered sniper

Destination for Day One: Curragh Woods, just a seven-minute spin from Gorey town.

Lyra was joined by her four legged pal Lily, who’s staying with us for a few days . 🐾 

The plan was a peaceful post-walk coffee at Lavender Farm… but a feathered sniper had other ideas. 🐦💩

I’m off to do the lotto!! Clearly, the universe owes me something.