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2019 G’Day From

15th,

May

| Downunder
EXAMINER Mike Bowen With all The Latest From Irish-Australia

IRISH am back at my desk and joining animal bodies anywhere in the small interesting towns such as Mount Roland. mal that has a bad repetition is

thedots,comparingthe similari- world as I saw on this visit. Dingle, Blarney, Kinsale, Adare, My wife’s favourite pastime the Tasmania Devil, which in
Ities ofTasmaniaandIrelandafter I must have seen at least a New Ross, Greystone’s and is walking and it doesn’t matter actual fact is rather tame and
my spell there over the last few thousand plus, though I am not many more, there are also if it’s in Tassie, Morocco, Rio, only growls when eating.
weeks. sure if it is the fault of drivers or many interesting little towns in Dingle, Paris or anywhere else, Maybe it’s because he is called a
I was reminded on my jour- the fact that the animals haven’t Tassie as it’s called by the she just likes the wild country Devil that puts the fear of God
ney what Ireland’s roads were been taught how to cross the Australian mainlanders, such as walks most, such as the Mt in everyone, I suppose the poor
like back in the late 1960s and roads? Burnie, Longford, Sheffield - a Roland track. Devil’s looks don’t help him to
early seventies as I travelled the While Ireland has its magnif- town of murals, St Helens and Her favourite food is the have many friends either.
back roads of this beautiful part icent iconic places and scenic St Marys all on the north. Then freshest Tassie Oysters. So Oh, I nearly forgot to men-
of Australia. attractions, so does Tasmania. in the south there is Geeveston, when in Tassie, she is in heaven tion the rains in Tassie, how
For those of you who In spite of the very sad history of Richmond and Swansea, where with the walking tracks and could I? Yes the rains there
haven’t read my last article, Port Arthur, it has become a just a few miles off the beaten some well-worn tracks to where almost made me feel homesick,
Tasmania is the most southerly huge attraction for visitors seek- track in a place called Dolphin the freshest oysters can be boy oh boy when it rains there it
state of Australia and not ing information on the tragic Sands we bought a few fresh found. My equivalent to that is a rains bucket loads. I just closed
attached to the mainland; it was events that took place there all dozen oysters straight out of the nice cosy bar that has a great my eyes and I could swear, I
a penal colony too hosting those years ago. bay at the Ian and Cassie pint, a blazing fire and a good was in the middle of Patrick
many Irish in day’s long gone Port Arthur is now a beauti- Melrose Oyster Shack. These sing song. Street, Cork in the middle of
by. ful place of peace of tranquillity oysters just melted in our Even though Tassie is an winter.
It is about the same size as with wonderful surroundings, a mouths and put a glowing smile island state, the Bass Straight In a strange way I liked the
Ireland and has a similar laid place where you can find your on my wife’s face. waters haven’t stopped some experience as it brought back
back pace of life there. The soul again. We made a call to Seven critters from crossing the treach- some great memories, memo-
beauty, the climate and the very I often return to Dun Chaoin Mile Beach where we had the erous waters from the mainland ries of my childhood when
narrow curvy twisty country near Slay Head on the Dingle whole place to ourselves and it’s to make their homes there. queues would rush for the
roads that seem to go on for Peninsula in Co Kerry, where just a stone throw away from These critters are not the Gurranabraher bus in Patrick
ever, gives it an Irish feeling. that great David Lean movie Hobart Airport. If you are a hik- cuddly type that you would like Sreet and it was like taking you
The good news is, if you Ryan’s Daughter was filmed, to ing type of person all your wish- to take home, not what you life in your hands trying to get
travel on the major roads you find my own soul. es will be fulfilled if you do would call cosy critters, espe- on the bus. Once on the bus
will have your sanity restored Both of those places have some of the Franklin Gordon cially for my Irish visitor friends. there was the problem of trying
and your blood pressure should that wonderful airy feeling and Cradle Mountain hikes. Snakes, deadly ones at that, spi- to keep your distance from the
soon return to normal after you about them, you know the While spending four days in ders - certainly not cuddly ones, other passengers who, like me,
drive a few miles on the straight minute you arrive the hair on the Cradle Mountain we were and how about throwing in a looked like drowned rats.
roads. the back of your neck stands lucky to find accommodation in few venomous creatures from Quirky, but somehow I quite
Of all the roads that I have out, then you know you are in a the Mt Roland Conservation the sea? enjoyed the Tassie rains as
driven on over the many years, special place. Area and woke up each morn- At least there are no much as I enjoyed the rains
I have never seen so many dead Just as Ireland has many ing to the amazing sight of Crocodiles there. The one ani- there. Why? Because the mem-
ories brought me back to a time
in Ireland when life was simple
and innocent, a time when the
only thing that mattered in a sit-
uation that like this was stand-
ing in front of a fire and drying
off and jumping in to a warm
bed. Just like what I did here in
Tassie.
The nine and a half hour
ferry boat trip back to mainland
Australia was surprisingly calm
considering the rains and storms
of the previous night.
It is well documented that
water and I have never been the
best of friende and if I were a
whisky drinker I wouldn’t ever
have water in the glass. Being in
Tassie was in some way like a
very short journey back home
to Ireland for me.
Until next time be good to
those who love you and Slainte
Port Arthur, Tasmania from Downunder. C