[Dave Flanagan]

My guidebook to Bouldering in Ireland is now for sale from www.theshortspan.com



I believe there will be a review up here soon.

[slackline]

  Nice one, just purchased, look forward to getting my grubby mits on it.

[Pantontino]

Lovely shot that Dave, if that doesn't entice folk over I don't know what will.

Well done for getting it published. 

[SA Chris]

Ordered too.

Dave, please check your personal messages.

[fatdoc]

just ordered...

christ!!!

venues.. with kids on holiday... with bouldering & surf???

- nevermind the booze 

OMG...

I love you Dave, not in a gay way mind. 

[SA Chris]

great minds fatdoc.

Is it too early to pack the van?

[Dave Flanagan]

great minds fatdoc.

Is it too early to pack the van?

Lads if anyone wants an advice about where to go or when just send me a PM.

[jonjon]

Guide ordered, ferry booked. Waddage dished out.

[c.j.d.]

Looks grand so it does.  Flano, pm me your mobile!  Need to call you about the meet. Feck - can't feckin wait.

[SA Chris]

Guide just arrived on my desk. Dave it's excellent. Layout wise itanages to look familiar, but feels fresha and new at the same time. Totally inspiring - some fantastic looking problems and the rock just looks awesome.

My only wish is that I had it last time I was over there, instead of spending time frustrated looking for good surf and dry trad crags.

I can see I'm going to get no work done again today. Thanks.

Buy it!

[cofe]

mine's arrived too. nice job dave.

[slackline]

Sounds like I'll have a little package arriving later today.

Heading to NW Ireland (Sligo) at the start of April so hopefully will get a chance to road-test it. 

[jonjon]

The Shark went soft years ago.

Got my shiny guide in this morning's post, still disappointed that I have a house in the only corner of Ireland with no bouldering other than that it's great.

[SA Chris]

By the way, before anyone thinks Shark and I have gone soft, Dave has our sanction for this blatant free plugging ....

[though, Dave: you're welcome to buy a UKB hoodie once the profits start rolling in  ]

How many free copies of the guide exchanged hands?

[shark]

Dave: you are morally obliged to buy a UKB hoodie now ]

I go away for two fucking seconds 

[Norton Sharley]

And there's another order.

[Dave Flanagan]

By the way, before anyone thinks Shark and I have gone soft, Dave has our sanction for this blatant free plugging ....

[though, Dave: you're welcome to buy a UKB hoodie once the profits start rolling in  ]

How many free copies of the guide exchanged hands?

Well one hopefully ... probably being examined carefully for nudie pics by a camel-land customs officer as we speak. And apparently as a minor contributor I rank for a freebie anyway, so Dave's getting away very cheap.

Toby was due one anyway for his photo contribution. There is one small man in the nip shot. I hope that is enough for them.
Thanks for all the orders and kind comments lads. The bouldering meet is on the 4/5/6th of March in Wicklow and is a good time for a visit. Sloper will be there! I will get one of those hoodies though I'm a bit old for them now. Have you considered a UKB v-neck?

[slackline]

Excellent guide Dave, good work.

This description caught my eye and amused me...

Use the good foothold and pinch the shit out of the seam to get setup for the slap to the top

[Norton Sharley]

Have you seen how we wear our hoodies? 

[fatdoc]

gosh...

it's rather inspiring isn't it?


AWESOME

[fatneck]

Just got mine and spent a happy half a hour on the toilet! Brilliant work Dave. Have some waddage 

[ksjs]

Dave, the guide looks / sounds excellent. is it only available through your website or will it be in any shops, even if 'only' something like Surf Mountain in Belfast (not sure what the Cork / Dublin equivalents might be)? im interested to know if theres significantly more Mournes bouldering than there is in the recent Mournes guide. or maybe i should just get it and be done with it...

[SA Chris]

just get it!

[Dave Flanagan]

Dave, the guide looks / sounds excellent. is it only available through your website or will it be in any shops, even if 'only' something like Surf Mountain in Belfast (not sure what the Cork / Dublin equivalents might be)? im interested to know if theres significantly more Mournes bouldering than there is in the recent Mournes guide. or maybe i should just get it and be done with it...

There is a box of guides going to Surf Mountain today. There is 14 pages on the Mournes including Binnian, Chimney Rock and Pierce's Castle. There is more than the route guides but I suppose there isn't a huge amount (71 problems detailed).

[slackline]

@ksjs : order it direct from Dave, he'll get more of the wonga that way as there is no middle man and he did all the hard work compiling it

The guide will also be available in all good outdoor shops in Ireland and the UK within the next two weeks. I get more of the cost price if you buy from this website but suit yourself.

[ksjs]

cheers Dave. will have a look when im next home. i live in N Wales but am from NI originally and only get to climb there very occasionally and my first love is trad so thats the priority when im over. mind you i boulder a bit too and there arent too many folk heading to Fair Head or The Mournes for routes during Christmas Holidays for example so bouldering is the prescription.

another question: i think, maybe it was on The Short Span, i saw mention of a 'dirty' wee training venue near Newcastle which had shades of Parisella's about it. is this featured in the guide? does it stay dry in the rain? have you climbed in Parisella's, are the 2 any way similar?

FWIW i will probably end up buying the guide - although i dont climb there as much as i might like its always good to support and channel a bit of home even if its only in printed form - direct from you obviously.

thanks!

[Dave Flanagan]

cheers Dave. will have a look when im next home. i live in N Wales but am from NI originally and only get to climb there very occasionally and my first love is trad so thats the priority when im over. mind you i boulder a bit too and there arent too many folk heading to Fair Head or The Mournes for routes during Christmas Holidays for example so bouldering is the prescription.

another question: i think, maybe it was on The Short Span, i saw mention of a 'dirty' wee training venue near Newcastle which had shades of Parisella's about it. is this featured in the guide? does it stay dry in the rain? have you climbed in Parisella's, are the 2 any way similar?

FWIW i will probably end up buying the guide - although i dont climb there as much as i might like its always good to support and channel a bit of home even if its only in printed form - direct from you obviously.

thanks!

The Rockpool is on the seafront in Newcastle (see photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/globetrottingmatt/sets/72157605383132198/with/2544322896/ ), its no Parisella's being much smaller, more eliminatey and less steep. It might stay dryish in the rain but its not that steep.

[ksjs]

@ slack---line : i appreciate this and if i do buy the guide it would be direct.

[ksjs]

looks neat Dave. is it feautured in the guide? dont think its a deal-breaker if not

[Dave Flanagan]

looks neat Dave. is it feautured in the guide? dont think its a deal-breaker if not

Yep its there, just directions, a map and a photo. No topo.

[AndyR]

By the way, before anyone thinks Shark and I have gone soft, Dave has our sanction for this blatant free plugging ....

[though, Dave: you're welcome to buy a UKB hoodie once the profits start rolling in  ]

How many free copies of the guide exchanged hands?

Well one hopefully ... probably being examined carefully for nudie pics by a camel-land customs officer as we speak. And apparently as a minor contributor I rank for a freebie anyway, so Dave's getting away very cheap.

 I will get one of those hoodies though I'm a bit old for them now. Have you considered a UKB v-neck?

Bloody Hell TFK - good effort - that will be the first item of new clothing that The Flan has bought in over 10 years...

[Dave Flanagan]

Bloody Hell TFK - good effort - that will be the first item of new clothing that The Flan has bought in over 10 years...

Nothing has changed on that front Andy.

[turnipturned]

What's the cheapest way to get to Ireland form England/Scotland/Wales considering transport will be needed over there? Is the best way to either get a ferry with a car (if so where and when is the cheapest place to sail) OR to fly and rent a car (considering we are youths  and people don't like to insure kids in cars for cheap)? And heaven forbid this option but is it possible do a trip by train (mainly interested in going to the East locations and possibly fair head).

Thanks for your help.

P.S. I can't swim!

[slackline]

Ferry costs will vary depending on where you are sailing from and to.  It might be cheapest from one place e.g. Holyhead, but if you live near Glasgow thats going to cost you a fair bit driving all the way down when there are nearer options for ferries which may be cheaper.

Flights are relatively cheap from East Midlands or Manchester (the two places I fly to Dublin from with Aer Lingus, fuck Ryan Air, although they are often cheaper).

How youthful are you youths, as that often has a bearing (e.g. 17 v's 23).

Perhaps try using  which might lead to some useful information on different options and their associated costs. 

[Dave Flanagan]

It would be possible to get to some of the bouldering by public transport. A bus called St. Kevin's Bus goes from Dublin to Glendalough a few times a day. Glendo is an hours walk then. Glendasan would also but about an hour's walk, maybe less.

[SA Chris]

If you are Scotland based you can get the ferry from Stranraer.

Cheapest option depends on many variables; how many of you going, how long for, how much travelling do you plan doing there, etc etc etc.

[turnipturned]

Thanks guys, yeah I have done quite a bit of researching seems expensive (£220 for the cheapest return ferry!). I was just putting a feeler out too see if anyone recently has done it for super cheap.
Cheers for the help and useful suggestions though 

[slackline]

'Ireland' and 'cheap  holiday' are two phrases that don't rarely get mentioned in the same sentence.

[Dave Flanagan]

'Ireland' and 'cheap  holiday' are two phrases that don't rarely get mentioned in the same sentence.

Once you get here you can do it cheap. Camp and buy your food and beer in Aild/Lidl and keep out of the pub.

[slackline]

That'd be where I always go wrong   

[Danny]

Once you get there try and buy your food and beer in the North. Or, better still, stock your vehicle up in England. Way, way cheaper.

[SA Chris]

keep out of the pub.

Are you sure you are Irish?

[roddersm]

Flying to Belfast (intl or city) or Dublin and highering a car might work out cheaper? You could fly to Belfast, stock up on supplies and head North to Fairhead, then south to Wicklow via the Mournes? Maybe you can rent Mats of Dave to save on the baggage?

Dave whats the best time of year to go to wicklow? Was thinking of getting  down sometime this soon but was wondering if maybe the frictions not so great over the summer?  Cheers.

[Dave Flanagan]

keep out of the pub.

Are you sure you are Irish?

To be sure, to be sure, I am indeed.

[Dave Flanagan]

Flying to Belfast (intl or city) or Dublin and highering a car might work out cheaper? You could fly to Belfast, stock up on supplies and head North to Fairhead, then south to Wicklow via the Mournes? Maybe you can rent Mats of Dave to save on the baggage?

Dave whats the best time of year to go to wicklow? Was thinking of getting  down sometime this soon but was wondering if maybe the frictions not so great over the summer?  Cheers.

Yep I have a few pads available to rent. Rodders the best time is probably March or September. Its starting to get warm now and the ferns and the midge are due any day now. If you are not that bothered about conditions now isn't a bad time...

[SA Chris]

keep out of the pub.

Are you sure you are Irish?

To be sure, to be sure, I am indeed.

Ah Bejesus! Have ye stolen me lucky charms!

[roddersm]

Cheers Dave will probably sack it until September.