Margot Walker (nee Hammond) - Sep '06
I have just read your articles about Giants causeway. I visited this wonderful, magical place in 1947 when I was seven years old. My parents brought me from London to Coleraine to meet the great people who had taken them into their home during the war when my father was training there.

I still have one of the little carved wishing chairs which I have taken with everywhere I have been for the last 58 years. Last year we were staying in Kruger National Park in South africa and I thought I had lost this chair and I was in tears until my husband found it at the bottom of my bag. Don't laugh but when there is something terribly important happening to me or my family and I pray for safety or health I also sit on this poor little chair and wish too. I am sure it sounds absurd but I have done this for 58 years and am not about to stop.

I now live in Canada and this autumn I am bringing my husband to see Giants Causeway and I cannot wait - as to be perfectly honest I hardly rember the first time I was there - but I do remember sitting on the real wishing chair and wishing for good health for my Mother who had recently had a big operation. She actually bought me the little replica. She lived to be 87 years and died in 2000. Thank you wishing chair!!!

Stephen Smyth - Jul '06
Is the giants causway a wonder of the world?

Barbara Smith, Burlington, Ontario, Canada - August 2004
My daughter is backpacking through Ireland, and I just received an email saying she had spent the day at the Causeway...I'm following her journey here at home through the wonders of the internet and came across your page...which brings her travels more alive for me. My husband and I visited Ireland many years ago and had a great time, and came back with wonderful memories. I'm happy that she has taken this opportunity to travel in your land as well.

One of my fondest memories of Ireland is when walking up a road in a little town,.. I called across to a man who was standing by his gate how much I liked the colour of his house and his garden...he replied... you've been kissin the blarney stone, but come over and have a drink...my husband and I spent quite some time in conversation with him, and when I look at the picture of him with my husband it's like it happened yesterday.

Robert Bashford
Local Poet, James Moore, better known as Dusty Rhodes the Tramp, wrote a famous local poem called :-

THE CAUSEWAY FAIR

Says Molly to Tam "Are ye ready"
The train she is getting up steam,
Tak breakfast and keep yersel steady,
An we'll baith enjoy the sweet scene".
Sae Molly an Tam, they baith hurried,
Their faces unclouded with care,
Awa' doon the loaning they scurried
On their way to the auld Causey Fair.

O, when they arrived at the Causey
Sure a' things were jollie an gay,
there's mony a lad an' fair lassie
Were tripping an dancing away;
When they met with a yankee fair stocket
Dannering by wi' his heid in the air,
Wi' the pillars o' Finn in his pocket,
On his way frae the oul' Causey Fair.

O' the organs wistootin fu' merry
Wi' the tunes that aul' Boreas blew,
While twa three pickpockets frae Derry
Were gitting themsels in a stew;
The pillars were looming richt proudly
Their heeds stickin up in the air,
While the guides were extolling' fu' loudly
The scenes at the aul' Causey Fair.

The swing boats were birlin roon brawly,
Their occupants snorin' wi' dreed,
While beside them an ould Dolly Molly
Wis kickin her heels ower her heed;
We spent a' we had at the daffin
Till we hadnae a copper tae spare,
Then hameward roaring an laughin'
The scenes at the oul Causey Fair.