We are back down at the wonderful Farnham Estate Radisson Blu Golf and Spa Hotel in Co Cavan for a few days pampering. In this video we have dropped into Cavan town after which the County takes it' s name. Cavan is a typical Irish market town. It has the narrow streets with all their friendly hustle and bustle. Cavan (/ˈkævən/; Irish: an Cabhán, meaning "the hollow") is the county town of County Cavan in Ireland. The town lies in Ulster, near the border with Northern Ireland. Cavan was founded by the King of East Breifne, Giolla Íosa Ruadh O’Reilly, sometime during his lordship between 1300 and his death in 1330. During his lordship, a Franciscan friary was established close to the O’Reilly stronghold at Tullymongan and was at the centre of the settlement close to a crossing over the river and to the town’s marketplace. The friary’s location is marked by an eighteenth-century tower in the graveyard at Abbey Street which appears to incorporate remains of the original medieval friary tower. There are about 30,000 people living within a 16 km radius of the town. Cavan's successful O'Reilly 'clan', gave rise to the well known term 'Living the life of Reilly' for anyone who was doing well financially. Popular Irish ballladeer Percy French lived in Cavan for a number of years. I learnt from grim experience that there are plenty of ladies shoe shops in Cavan! lol

Come with me for 20 minutes or so, as I take a leisurely dander along the Shandon Park and on to Kensington Road East Belfast. The Shandon Park postcode has been traditionally regarded as being very prestigious. I'm not sure why this might be but it is possible that this is no longer the case as less desirable, 'newcomer' residents, slip into the area. lol Shandon Park is a relatively recent residential area. Aidan Campbell's excellent book on the area tells us, ' The name Shandon comes from the Irish, Sean Dún, meaning ‘old fort’. By 1898 the Belfast Street Directory reports that there were only 4 houses in existence, at the Knock Road end, of Shandon Park. However the famous ‘Shandon Mound’, ‘Motte and Bailey’ and dates back to the late 12th Century and Norman adventurer Knight John De Courcy.

Vilamoura Marina was fabulous. Sandy beaches nearby, sea, piers, shops, views, restaurants, fish, massive 1000 berth marina, Renaldo Museum, interesting nightlife, walks all within a very short distance from hotel/marina. See how the other half live!

I'm down at the Ulster Folk and Transpot Museum for their American Harley Davidson Motorbike and American Vehicle Day. This is a fantastic example of a American Army Reo M35 6X6 Military Truck The M35 2½-ton cargo truck is a long-lived 2½-ton 6x6 cargo truck initially used by the United States Army and subsequently utilized by many nations around the world. Over time it evolved into a family of specialized vehicles. It would not only inherit the World War II GMC CCKW's famous "Deuce and a Half" nickname but forge its own legacy. The M35 started as a 1949 REO Motor Car Company design for a 2½ ton 6x6 off-road truck. This original 6-wheel M34 version was quickly superseded by the 10-wheel M35 design. While the basic M35 cargo truck is rated to carry 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) off-road or 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) on roads, they have been known to haul twice as much as rated. Trucks in this weight class are considered medium duty by the military and Department of Transportation. Type 22 1⁄2 (2,268kg)[a] 6x6 cargo truck Place of origin United States United States Production history Designer REO Designed 1944 Manufacturer REO, Kaiser, AM General, Kia and Ssangyong (South Korea only), Bombardier (Canada only) Produced 1950 – 1988 (M35,A1,A2) 1993 – 1999(M35A3) Variants M35A1, A2, A3 Weight 12,880 lb (5,840 kg) empty 17,880 lb (8,110 kg) loaded Length 274 3⁄4 in (6.98 m) Width 93 in (2.36 m) Height 111 in (2.82 m) to cab Engine REO OA-331 127 hp (95 kW) Transmission 5 spd. x 2 range trf. case Suspension Beam axles on leaf springs Operational range 300 mi (480 km) Speed 58 mph (93 km/h)