Ballyclare

[purplerobbie]

I have some family who live in Ballyclare in Northern Ireland and my dad has suggested we sail over and see them for a week next year.

What is the closest marina or good (safe) anchorage near there?
Cheers rob

 

[mehei]

Carrickfergus marina which would be approx 8 miles from Ballyclare

 

[starboard]

A lovely little new marina at Glenarm which is about 11 miles north of larne is also within a bus ride of Ballyclare.

Paul.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

I wouldent advice going during the marching season, you may well have your boat pelted with bottles.

 

[purplerobbie]

[ QUOTE ]
I wouldent advice going during the marching season, you may well have your boat pelted with bottles.

[/ QUOTE ]
Full ones?

Rob

 

[DavidMcMullan]

I would second Carrickfergus marina, as being the closest and more amenities than Glenarm.
David.

 

[snowleopard]

From what I saw of Carrickfergus on my only visit to NI it seems to be a loyalist stronghold - red hand flags on all the fishing boats and red/white/blue bunting around every pub. Pretty intimidating, even though the locals were supposedly on 'my' side.

 

[PhilipH]

Now look - this is absolutely out of order and it's this kind of effing ignorance that does nobody any good. Carrickfergus is a good place to go and you will not have your boat pelted during the marching season. It's Ballycastle for the 'Ould Lammas Fair' on the last public holiday in August where you get stones thrown at the boats, so you tie up on the furthest out pontoon.

Carrick, as we know it locally, has a fine marina with excellent facilities nearby - pubs, restaurants and the very famous castle. So OK, a few renegade UDA people were forced out of Belfast and headed for Carrick but they are only interested in internicene warfare and visitors are OK. The town itself is somewhat run down but there's plenty of shops and a chandlery. The council have made a big effort on the seafront and there are plans to put in more pontoons in the old harbour to attract more visitors. There's a very friendly yacht club (I am not a member) and a travel hoist if a lift out is needed.

So you knockers should now be feeling very sheepish cos if not I'll start on the terrifying experiences of walking through Falmouth late at night. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[bigwow]

Every time I go to Ireland the buggers won't let me buy a round and get me so drunk I get the worst hangovers imaginable,
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
Now look - this is absolutely out of order and it's this kind of effing ignorance that does nobody any good.

[/ QUOTE ] Hear, hear.

I have never felt more welcome anywhere than I have felt in Northern Ireland (or more specifically, Belfast, Bangor, Glenarm and Ballycastle). On warmth and friendliness to strangers, only Liverpool comes into the same league.