Northern Ireland – Page 12 – Don't Stop Living

World Borders: How to get from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland (Belfast to Dublin train)

Posted on June 8, 2013April 12, 2016 by Jonny Blair

** STOP PRESS!! This article was written a while back and scheduled long before this week’s fire on the Belfast to Dublin train, so please bear that in mind…** (this is the first time since starting DSL in 2007 I have had to do this…)

I’m sure a lot of you reading will be thinking “what do you mean a ‘border’ in Ireland?”, which is something I’ve surprised a load of people with on my travels. It still astounds me to this day that most people around the world don’t know there are two countries on the island of Ireland! As much as you’d wish to think it, Ireland is not “one big happy family”, in fact far from it. It consists of Northern Ireland (my country) and the Republic of Ireland.

What? There's a Border? Yes of course there is!! Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland make up Ireland! — What? There’s a Border? Yes of course there is!! Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland make up Ireland!

Since the formation of Northern Ireland in 1921, there has been a border between the Irish counties of Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone, Londonderry/Derry, Armagh and Down and the rest of the island. Those six counties form the country of Northern Ireland, one of four countries in the UK (along with Wales, Scotland and England). I come from Bangor in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland

…is governed by Westminster but has a devolved government in Belfast
…has a Queen (the British Queen)
…uses the British pound (Sterling) but four Northern Irish Banks issue their own notes, so the actual notes are different from those in mainland UK
…is the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup Quarter Finals
…has a population of around 1.8 million people

A Northern Irish "Geordie Best flim" (fiver, £5) — A Northern Irish “Geordie Best flim” (fiver, £5)

(Republic of ) Ireland

…is a separate self governing republic with the capital being Dublin
…has a Taoiseach and a President
…uses the Euro currency (though used to use the Irish Punt)
…has a population of 4.6 million people

map of irish republic — The green bit is the land mass in Ireland which belongs to the Republic of Ireland.

While in the 1970s, 1980s and for most of the 1990s, the border was heavily manned by guards, that is most certainly not the case any more and you can freely cross between the two countries these days – there’s not even an obvious “border” though some derelict buildings of the old border control stations do exist. It’s an overland border and I don’t even think any sea crossings exist between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (if you know different, please let me know of a boat crossing border). You can cross it by car, by bus or by train. And even by foot. I’ve crossed the border a lot of times and in different ways. But today I’ll talk about the train – it’s a popular way to get from Belfast to Dublin in just over 2 hours. There can’t be many train rides in the world that take in two capital cities in 2 hours. Vienna to Bratislava for sure, can’t think of any others off the top of my head.

Northern Irish banknotes – British Sterling is used in “Norn Iron”.

How to book your ticket on the Belfast to Dublin train

You have two main options here and it’s fairly straightforward:

1. Book it online in advance on the NI Railways Website and then print your receipt and pick up your ticket when you arrive at the station.

2. Book it in the train station (to be honest this route is not always full so you can get away with booking it just before you leave – but try to avoid rush hour as a lot of business types get on at the same time).

The prices vary and keep your eye open for special offers on the website, they sometimes do cheap day returns.

belfast to dublin train ticket — You can book your ticket there and then at Belfast Central station but you’ll have to queue.

How much does the Belfast to Dublin train cost?

It depends when you go and how you book. Unbelievably a day return can cost as little as £10 if you book it in advance on this link: day return. That really is a bargain. Singles start at £8.99. Go for the special offers and you will do well – these need to be booked at least 3 days before you travel. One thing to remind you is that to book a single or a return the other way from Dublin to Belfast you actually have to visit the Irish Trains website rather than the NI trains website. This is further proof of the varying nature of the two countries and the fact that they both have separate train websites for what is the same route. To make things easier:

– if you’re going from Belfast to Dublin, either use the NI Railways website or book at the station in Belfast – pay in £British pounds.

– if you’re going from Dublin to Belfast, either use the Irish Railways website or book at the station in Dublin – pay in Euros.

castle in belfast — At Belfast Castle in Northern Ireland.

What Stations in Belfast can I board a train for Dublin?

There are two main train stations in Belfast – Belfast Central (which isn’t really in central Belfast to be honest) and Great Victoria Street (which IS in central Belfast). However the Belfast to Dublin train (known as The Enterprise) only leaves from Central Station in Belfast. At least at the moment. It’s a different company from the NI Railways, the Belfast to Dublin train is run by Enterprise.

belfast central station northern ireland — Belfast Central station – the departure point for the Belfast to Dublin cross border train.

What stops are there on the Belfast to Dublin train?

This depends on the time of day that you go. It can stop at any of these stations:

Northern Ireland: Belfast Central, Lisburn, Lurgan, Portadown, Newry

Republic of Ireland: Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin Connolly

So if you merely wanted to “cross the border on the train” for cheap, you could do Newry to Dundalk.

newry station northern ireland — Newry: The last stop on the train in Northern Ireland before the border into the Republic of Ireland.

How long does the Belfast to Dublin train take?

Again this depends what time you go and any other issues that day. Currently the 8am train takes exactly 2 hours, arriving in Dublin at 10am. Not bad at all and a great journey. Most of them take between 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes. It’s a really nice train trip actually.

dublin irish pubs train — It’s a fast train – in just over 2 hours you’ll arrive in central Dublin.

What facilities are available on the Belfast to Dublin train?

This is Ireland, so alcohol is allowed of course. A trolley will go past serving anything you want from the menu. In terms of food, it’s things like sandwiches and croissants. You can pay in either Euros or Sterling. The language used is English.

belfast to dublin menu — The menu onboard the Enterprise Belfast to Dublin train.

How do you know you have crossed the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland?

These days it’s rather hard to tell. Once you leave Newry, you’re only a few minutes away from the Republic. Tell tale signs are the road signs out the window. They will be written in Irish Gaelic and English in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland they will be written in English only. Also the distances in the Republic of Ireland are listed in kilometres, while in Northern Ireland we use miles. Apart from a slight accent change, currency change, you’d not really know what country of the two Irelands you were in. Arrival at Dundalk will confirm it for you – the station is in the Republic of Ireland and is written in both Irish Gaelic and English: Staisiun Dhun Dealgan/Dundalk Station.

dundalk station ireland — Arrival in the Republic of Ireland will be confirmed when you see Dundalk Station.

Is the Belfast to Dublin train dangerous?

I’ll be honest and tell you that this is one of the least dangerous trains I have ever been on. It’s safe to relax on board. Just be mindful of your possessions as usual, but theft is rare on these trains. On one of my journeys in the 90s the train was stopped and delayed due to a bomb alert. Thankfully, those days appear to have passed us by.

relax on the enterprise train — Relax! Read a newspaper and have a coffee – the cross border train in Ireland is safe!

Any other tips?

Sit back and enjoy the view and make sure you have Euros in advance for when you get off at Connolly Station in Dublin. Whether it’s Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland you end up in, you will love it. Don’t forget your pint of Guinness. It’s more than just a stereotype…and when in Belfast make sure to visit the epic Titanic Museum, Windsor Park football stadium, the Oval Grounds, the Crown Bar and stay at either the most bombed hotel in the UK (the Europa) or the largest backpackers in Northern Ireland.

The famous Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

So there you go – a world borders experience with a bit of geography and history thrown in. It’s the same island, but ultimately there are two separately governed countries on it. Safe travels my friends!

Here are my videos from the last time I took the Belfast to Dublin train (April 2012 – I don’t get “home” often enough):

Arrival in Dublin:

Crossing the carrick a rede rope bridge in Northern Ireland

Crossing The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, North Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️

Posted on April 24, 2013January 18, 2025 by Jonny Blair

Travelling in your home country is something people often overlook and despite the fact that I don’t live in Northern Ireland anymore, I still LOVE the tourist sights that we have to offer. On every trip back I make sure I visit at least one tourist attraction. Crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge on Northern Ireland’s north coast is a well known and popular attraction for visitors to the country. Here’s a quick overview of my visit, which was on a rare trip home in April 2012. I loved walking across the bridge at Carrick-a-Rede!

The carrick a rede rope bridge is signposted — How do you get to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge? Well you’ll be glad to hear that it’s signposted these days, took this photo on the way in!

How do you get to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?

It’s on the north Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. One thing I like about Northern Ireland’s transport system is that it makes places difficult to get to, meaning you will have to go off the beaten track a bit to reach places like the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. It’s not on a train route nor is it in an actual town or village so the best way to reach it is by car. Either hire a car, hire a driver or go with friends who live there and have cars.

Car park at Carrick a rede rope bridge northern ireland — There’s a massive car park at the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge, car is the best way to get there.

Drive along the B15 road from Ballycastle to Ballintoy. The turn off and obvious sign posts for the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge are about 5 miles west of Ballycastle and 7 miles east of Bushmills, just past the village of Ballintoy. It is all signposted to be honest but you can still get lost. If you see tour buses on the road, I’d say follow them as they are probably heading for it as part of a north coast tour which will also include the Giant’s Causeway!

Carrick a rede rope bridge information board jonny blair — A sign with information at the entrance to the Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland

Surprisingly there are actually 3 bus routes that head to, stop at or pass the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge! This is the proper travellers way to do it by the way, here are the Ulsterbus routes: Ulsterbus 172 from Coleraine, Ulsterbus 252 and 256 from Belfast. Please check the Ulsterbus timetables when you’re in Coleraine or Belfast though, I won’t put the current routes and times up here in case they change.

Carrick a rede rope bridge north antrim coast jonny blair travel blog northern ireland — The path down to the Carrick a Rede rope bridge in Northern Ireland.

Going as part of a tour or tourist bus is also an option you might want to look into if you don’t want to go by car or take the local bus. Tours head regularly to the north Antrim Coast.

north antrim coast in Northern Ireland — On the walk down you will LOVE the immense north Antrim coastline. The unsung beauty of Northern Ireland.

Once you get to the entrance there is a short walk down from the ticket office on a pretty coastal path to the bridge itself. Enjoy the views – they’re stunning.

What is the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?

It is a rope bridge (now made also with a lot of wood by the way for safety reasons!) that connects Carrick-A-Rede island to the Northern Irish mainland.

Jonny Blair Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge Northern Ireland — Crossing the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland – only slightly more rope than wood these days!

There is an epic cliff top walk down from the car park, the views are fantastic. There is a downward ascent to the entrance to the rope bridge. The Rope Bridge is over 20 metres long, and stands at a height of around 30 metres above sea level. There is a limit of 8 people on it at any one time.

walking down to the carrick a rede rope bridge — The first glimpse of Carrick A Rede rope bridge on the walk down.

While it’s not really suitable for those with a fear of heights, it’s perfectly safe. I wouldn’t advise paying entry to it and then not walking across! You have to walk across it!!

Crossing the carrick a rede rope bridge antrim coast a lifestyle of travel — Walking on the Carrick A Reed rope bridge – probably not for those with a fear of heights but you HAVE to cross it!

By the way, it’s used primarily for tourism of course these days but it was built and used initially by salmon fishermen who were able to get much better catches from Carrick-A-Rede island. In the 1980s it had a reputation for being a shaky and dodgy dangerous bridge with a slight adrenalin factor. Since a tourist boom to Northern Ireland post 1998, it is now totally safe, not scarey and basically just a bridge connecting to the island. Don’t be scared!

Carrick a rede rope bridge Northern Ireland — Crossing the 30 metre high Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland.

The views from the island are fantastic and getting your photo taken on the bridge are something all tourists like to do.

Jonny Blair on the carrick a rede rope bridge — Obligatory photo on the bridge but you actually have to be fast – there’s no overtaking on the bridge!

How Much Does It Cost to Walk the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?

It’s owned by the National Trust so members may get it for discount or for free, but here are the current prices (as of April 2013):

Adult: £5.60
Child: £2.90
Family: £14.00
Group adult: £4.00

Northern Ireland uses the British pound but issues it’s own notes. Due to the fact that the Republic of Ireland uses Euros these days there is a possibility you could also pay in Euros, but please don’t – get British pounds for your trip to Northern Ireland. You’re in the UK!

How much does the carrick-a-rede rope bridge cost? — Entry prices for Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Northern Ireland

When Is The Best Time of Year To Visit the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?

It is currently open from 10 am until 6 pm most of the year. On bank and public holidays it is also regularly open, but seriously I’d avoid it on the 12th July, 25th December and any major Northern Irish or UK holiday as it will either be busy or the roads will be busy, or even blocked with parades.

Jonny Blair and family at Carrick a rede rope bridge Northern Ireland — With my parents and my girlfriend enjoying the wind on the North Antrim Coast with the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge in behind!

If you want my advice, I’d say mid September is a good time to see it in late summer and to get your winter chills experience of it, I’d head on a freezing cold day in January. Northern Ireland does suffer from extreme weather conditions at times and it snows in winter so there is also the possibly of it being closed or no access due to snow. Just keep that in mind!

carrick a rede rope bridge looking back at Northern Ireland — The view of the bridge and mainland Northern Ireland from Carrick-A-Reed island.

Crossing The Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, North Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️

Other Tips for Crossing the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

Bring a poncho or an umbrella as it rains quite a lot. Also be aware that if its busy you have to move in single file quickly across the bridge so if you want your photo taken while crossing the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge have your camera ready. Crossing it only takes about 30 – 40 seconds!

Jonny Blair at carrick a rede rope bridge — Admiring the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge from afar. Really worth seeing!

Travelling Northern Ireland flag back home in Carrick A Rede

What Else Is There To See Near the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge?

There is a lot – this is Northern Ireland after all – one of the best off the beaten track tourist countries in the world!! Even the area nearby is littered with an abundance of top sights. For example the World Heritage Giant’s Causeway which is a mere 7 miles away and will literally blow you away. There are also the white cliffs along the coast, scores of decent beaches and a ruined castle – Dunluce Castle.

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living at Giants Causeway Northern Ireland — Don’t miss the Giant’s Causeway as well if you’re in the north Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland.

The town of Bushmills houses Ireland’s Oldest Whiskey Distillery which is great for a tour and the pubs in the town serve up great Irish food and Guinness. You’ll need to stay overnight in the area if you want my advice. You could do them on a day trip from Belfast – but chill out and have a night in a place on the North Antrim coast such as Portrush, Castlerock, Bushmills or Coleraine. It’s a truly beautiful part of the world.

My Videos from my visit to the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge:

Walking down before crossing the Carrick-A-Reed Rope Bridge:

At the wet entrance to Carrick-A-Reed Rope Bridge:

Crossing the Carrick-A-Reed Rope Bridge:

Top 5 Cities I Miss From Europe!

Posted on April 17, 2013October 9, 2014 by Jonny Blair

I often get asked about Europe and why I haven’t written much about my own continent for a while. The real answer is that all my travels in Europe were 2003 – 2009. In the last 4 years I’ve had less than 2 weeks travelling in Europe! This makes it my LEAST travelled continent in the last 4 years, but before that I toured the hell out of it, often doing short trips for football matches as well as doing the whole “inter-railing thing” before. So I thought it would be a good idea to reflect and pick a Top 5, focusing on what 5 European cities would be good for a short city break. Co-operative Travel have a load of decent options if you are looking for a cheap city break and my top 5 European cities all featured strongly which is great! Yes, I know it’s another list, but here are my top 5, which I urge you all to tick off!! Especially Belfast 😉

Jonny Blair in Budapest Hungary — Backpacking on a “city break” in Hungarian Budapest a few years back.

The best thing about travelling to cities is that they are EASY to get to – just a quick flight and you’re there. Yes I know I go off the beaten track a lot to towns and islands that are virtually unreachable, but sometimes you just want a weekend or a short city break to escape your mundane day jobs. These are in no particular order by the way…

1. Paris, France

Despite having a global reputation for oozing sophistication, class, style and wealth, a city break to Paris need not cost as much as you might think. Seriously! I’ve backpacked my way through Paris twice ticking off the usual sights and I still see it as a place I’d like to go to again, as it’s a decent hub. Plus thanks to my education I speak a wee bit of French so I can get by. I’ll write more about money savers in big cities like Paris at some point.

O'Sullivans Paris France — Top 5 European Cities – a wee beer on my last visit to Paris.

With great food being served in abundance, art galleries on every corner and world-famous sites around every turn, discovering everything Paris has to offer in a weekend won’t be easy, but you can bung a lot in believe me!

Halfway up the eiffel tower in Paris France — Good old times with my travel buddy Rene in Paris – backpacking our way to the top of the Eiffel Tower!

2. Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ah good old Belfast! The thriving hub of the Northern Irish economy incites unusual and unexpected love affairs. Rarely does a tourist come away from Belfast feeling like they haven’t been culture struck. The city is steeped in history and has enjoyed a tourism boom the last 15 years.

Belfast Victoria Square view Northern Ireland Jonny Blair a lifestyle of travel — Inspired by Belfast once again on my most recent visit in 2012. A city not to miss for sure!

There’s the spanking new Titanic Centre, Victoria Square for 360 degrees views, Stormont Parliament, the City Hall, the Crown Bar, the Peace Line, the Falls and Shankill, Cavehill (great views) and a whole load more in what is a very very under-rated city. Take your wandering heart there and you’ll love it.

The Oval Glentoran FC Belfast Northern Ireland Jonny Blair a lifestyle of travel — Watching my local football team Glentoran FC on a rare trip back to Belfast in Northern Ireland.

As Northern Ireland’s capital, I just miss everything about the place. The food, the bars, the people, the sights, the local shops, the lifestyle and yes… Glentoran FC my football team. Every visit I’ve had to Europe in the past 4 years has included a trip to Belfast. I have more posts on Belfast scattered around my blog, here’s a couple of my favourite Belfast posts:

– The Crown Bar, Belfast

– Victoria Square, Belfast

3. Budapest, Hungary

An odd choice perhaps, but an underestimated city. It’s a great city to relax in for a quick break. Spend your days admiring the river, the parliament and heading for a view of the city. Other random stuff I did there was visit some Baths (popular in Hungary), visit the Labyrinth (an underground cave complex), check out the football stadium and try some excellent Hungarian wine and goulasch at night in the Old Town. Complete with live violins…

Jonny Blair in Budapest Hungary 2009 — In awe of the cityscape of Budapest in Hungary back in 2009.

Great city for a short break, and cheaper than the big boys like Rome, London and yes Paris.

4. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

When it comes to going on a cheap city break, Amsterdam rarely fails to make it onto the shortlist, but that’s no reason for it to make my list easily…I miss Amsterdam immensely because I have only been there once and it was 20 years ago!!! So I am overdue a visit. I loved it and have no idea why it has taken me so long to book another trip back. I loved the typical streets, the bicycles, the art and the whole Dutch culture…clogs, cheese, delft etc.

My Dad relaxing on a boat in Amsterdam — Chilling on the canals of Amsterdam…this is my Dad not me – he’s been more recently than me!

Despite not being the most knowledgeable traveller on Amsterdam, I couldn’t leave it off my list and I’m gagging to get back and see it as an adult.

5. London, England

I lived in London, I worked in London and I still have a place in my heart for London. Realistically it’s never going to be an off the beaten track city so I’m putting it on my top 5 for definite short city breaks. I miss London pub crawls, the tube, the free newspapers, the random people you meet in bars and the whole lifestyle of the cosmopolitan English capital. For sure I will return someday…it’s where I earned the money to afford my first proper round the world trip so I owe something to it.

Jonny Blair at Westminster London England — I didn’t even think touristy photos of me in London existed as it was once my home, but here’s me at Westminster!

OK so there were some “also rans” in this series, so here’s the extra 5 which would have made it in if I did a top 10…

6. Berlin, Germany

7. Reykjavik, Iceland

8. Ljubljana, Slovenia

9. Stockholm, Sweden

10. Warsaw, Poland

OK and a few videos of my recent trips to a few of these top 5 European cities…

Going into the Ice Bar in London:

Victoria Square Shopping Centre, Belfast:

Titanic Dry Dock, Belfast:

Castle Hill in Budapest, Hungary:

The day I randomly ended up on the Paris – Marseille train:

Crown Bar in Belfast Northern Ireland great place - a lifestyle of travel

Thirsty Thursdays: The Crown Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Posted on April 11, 2013May 2, 2014 by Jonny Blair

The Crown Bar in Belfast in my home country of Northern Ireland is a brilliant place. I LOVE it and I take my friends there any time I’m showing them round my country. I’m pretty surprised this is the first time I’ve written about it, but buzzing at the thought of helping promote Belfast and Northern Ireland again. Belfast by the way, is a city you should definitely check out!! Today’s Thirsty Thursdays takes us to the Crown Bar on Great Victoria Street in downtown Belfast, capital city of Northern Ireland.

Europa Hotel in Belfast Northern Ireland a lifestyle of travel — The Crown Bar sits opposite the Europa Hotel (once dubbed the most bombed hotel in the world)

OK so once you’re in Belfast you’ll want to do a load of sightseeing and this city has a lot to offer! There’s the Titanic Centre, the Parliament at Stormont, the Wall Murals, the Peace Line, the City Hall, the views from Victoria Square and Cavehill, the markets and guess what…the bars! This city’s people like a drink and goodness knows they deserve it. Even the street that the Crown Bar sits on is packed with other bars including the Beaten Docket, Robinsons and a bar in the Europa Hotel (once the “most bombed hotel in the world” you know…).

Jonny Blair in the Crown Bar Belfast Northern Ireland — Admiring the Crown Bar in Belfast on a trip back home to Northern Ireland.

How to get to the Crown Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland

It’s easy to find. Get off a train at Great Victoria Street Station and the Crown Bar sits opposite you. It’s on Great Victoria one of the main streets in Belfast, a few minutes walk from the city hall and the bus depot where you can also get buses to Dublin. The Crown’s address is: 46 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT2 7BA. Telephone: 028 9024 3187 . If you really do get lost (which I know you won’t – Belfast city centre is tiny even compared with cities like Asuncion and Hobart!), ask the locals where “The Crown” is. Only “an eejit” will not know the answer, I assure you.

Crown Bar on the corner Great Victoria Street Belfast — The Crown Bar sits on this prominent corner on Great Victoria Street in Belfast. Hard to miss.

Why visit the Crown Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Because it’s unique. For so many reasons. Here are my top 6 reasons to visit the Crown Bar (officially called the Crown Liquor Saloon by the way):

1. It’s owned by the National Trust of the UK (the building cannot be touched or modified – it’s stayed the same for generations)

2. It survived the entire bombings and troubles of Northern Ireland! (This bar is loved by Protestants and Catholics alike and wasn’t ever touched during the troubles – bombs went off across the road and round the corner but the Crown remained 😉 )

3. It was rumoured to be the first ever bar to have a live webstream on the internet. I never found out if this was true or not, or whether they still do it…

Crown Bar Belfast menu Northern Ireland — The menu in the Crown in Belfast in 2012.

4. The Guinness is top notch. Absolutely fantastic.

5. The food is typical of an Irish pub. Great food.

6. The interior architecture and decor will have you staring at it for hours. It’s special and it really feels like a step back in time.

Guinness in the Crown Belfast — Having an excellent pint of Guinness with my Dad in the Crown Bar on a return to Belfast.

When to visit the Crown Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Oh, anytime really! Though some tourists may wish to avoid Belfast around St. Patrick’s Day (17th March) as it gets busy and occassionally has rioting and the first couple of weeks in July is known as “Marching Season” to the locals and places get busy, there are public marches on the streets, some places close down and this is Belfast so don’t rule out a riot! However I assure you that Belfast is as safe a city as any to visit and you will love it.

bar taps in the Crown Belfast — The taps on the bar in the Crown – the only apparent advertising on display!

What is it like inside the Crown Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland?

The interior is stunning. Some tourists come in just to take photos and then walk back out (I actually don’t like them doing that – I want them to buy at least a drink and help the pub’s cause). That’s how good it is inside.

The Crown bar interior in Belfast Northern Ireland — The interior of the Crown Bar is just stunning – a work of art.

It’s like you are stepping back to Victorian times. You won’t see trendy modern posters, adverts or basic windows. The floors are marvellously tiled, the ceiling hosts glamorous chandelairs, the bar is so clean and perfect you struggle to believe it’s that old. The only advertising is on the pumps for the beers. Harp, Guinness and Smithwicks are all Irish beers served up to perfection!

Having dinner in the Crown Belfast with a view of the city — The food is also great in the Crown – the restaurant upstairs also offers a window view to one of Belfast’s busiest streets.

If you’re ever in Belfast you must head to the Crown Bar. I could while away the hours in there. I couldn’t find the Crown Website online, seems they are now part of the Nicholson Group, so more information here: Crown Bar, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The only video I made in the Crown Bar:

Thirsty Thursdays is an ongoing regular feature on Don’t Stop Living – a lifestyle of travel. If you have a bar, pub, drink, restaurant, brand or idea that you would like featured on Thirsty Thursdays, please get in touch via my contacts page or my advertising page. I’d love to hear from you, and I’d also love a free tea or a beer! Cheers!

Working Wednesdays: Interview for a Football Book, Green and White Army (The Northern Ireland Fans)

Posted on February 27, 2013July 20, 2024 by Jonny Blair

I was driving through Yeovil in England in early 2008 when a call came through from a renowned Northern Irish journalist “Jonny, I’ve been asked to do a few interviews on Northern Ireland football fans for a new book, are you interested?” Straight away it was a “yes” and that was it – I was appearing in my first book. Not your average “Working Wednesdays” this one, but none the less, I am in a two page interview feature in a published book on Northern Irish football fans. The book was released in 2008 by Ivan Martin. It was released in Northern Ireland but is also available through Amazon.

Jonny Blair of SOENISC Northern Ireland fans — At the time of my interview I was chairman and head PR guru for the notorious SOENISC, the South of England Northern Ireland Supporter’s Club!

It’s hard to believe for me that the interview was FIVE years ago now, you may have read about how crazy a football fan I am, how I visited the stadium that hosted the first World Cup in Uruguay, and how I keep up to date with football on my travels.

SOENISC partying in Bournemouth — Just another crazy day in the life of the SOENISC, working (or drinking) Wednesdays…

At the time of this interview I was the chairman and head PR guru for the notorious South of England Northern Ireland Supporters Club, commonly known as SOENISC. Having lived in the South of England since 2003, I formed the club officially in Weymouth in 2005 and remained as chairman until early 2009 (even during a lot of my travels). An example of what the SOENISC were about is here: The Day the Isle of Wight was the Isle of Green!

SOENISC and Jonny Blair in Oxford — Another crazy Northern Irish day out – this time in Oxford, England

Aside from that I had been attending every Northern Ireland home match since 1996, and a few away matches (something which also helped spark my passion for travelling), and so I headed down to Fareham in county Hampshire for the interview. I knew the journalist well though – it was Marshall Gillespie, an author of manys a book and a very popular journalist from Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

Jonny Blair and Shaun Schofield on Estonian TV — Being interviewed at a football match at Wembley in 2007, with Shaun Schofield. It was for Estonian TV!

Over the course of the evening, this interview was just typical of the pair of us! I turned up at Marshall’s house and was treated to a full roast dinner with all the trimmings plus a few beers. We did the interview in his office, a custom built shed which had football memorabilia all over it! Amazing. It was recorded and we reminisced on the glory years of the Northern Ireland team and it was a great interview. As Working Wednesdays go, this was pretty damn relaxing and good. Yes, I class all this sort of stuff as working – it’s my mentality. Being a football supporter’s club chairman is a full time job, being a travel blogger and writer is a full time job, even teaching English is a full time job to me!

Jonny Blair travelling Northern Ireland fan book interview — Working Wednesdays: In 2008 I did an interview for the book Green and White Army, the Northern Ireland fans

After the interview, we headed down to Marshall’s local for a few pints – it was great craic and I have to admit, I miss the lifestyle of going down the local pub in England. After that, we watched DVDs at Marshall’s place of David Healy’s heroics. A gin and tonic for night cap and I had completed my first ever interview to be published in a book. I was up early the next day to drive back to my base in Bournemouth, give my old friend Gemma a lift to the airport and work a shift in a theatre serving afternoon tea and coffee!

Jonny Blair green and white army book interview — Working Wednesdays: My first ever book interview was in 2008 for a football book on Northern Ireland fans!

The book is called Green and White Army: The Northern Ireland Fans and it was released by Ivan Martin in October 2008. I was featured on 2 pages, edited perfectly by Marshall and coming across the way I had wanted. I was chuffed at finally being in a book, and things changed a bit for me after that.

Jonny Blair the travelling Northern Irishman interview — Working Wednesdays: being interviewed for a football book over a few beers back in 2008!

I quit the supporter’s club after the very next meeting for personal reasons, packed my bags and headed to Taiwan! I later wrote a full length chapter on watching ladies football in Belarus for Shaun Schofield’s excellent book, Albania to America (with Belfast in between) just to prove this wasn’t a one hit wonder. That book, released in 2010 I wrote about here: Albania to America.

I am ready for more book appearances, but then again I write about my travels EVERY day now, so in essence I am my own book, here on this website, though you cannot beat printed books.

Jonny Blair travelling Northern Irishman meets Nigel Worthington — Meeting former Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington in Belfast in 2008 before I headed off travelling again…

The thought of watching a Northern Ireland match live again passed me by for a while as I had a topsy turvy few years from 2008 – 2010. Life got back on track for me and I’m a massive football fan once again – currently dreaming of heading to Baku in Azerbaijan to watch Northern Ireland play live in October 2013. It will be my first Northern Ireland match in almost 5 years. I’m hotly anticipating it and eagerly looking forward to seeing some old faces again, such as Graham and Luke Anderson, Marty Lowry, Andrew Milliken, Garreth Todd and Nial Coulter. I may be a travelling nomad and writer, but if you know me well – deep down I’m just a travelling Northern Ireland football fan dreaming that the glory days of 1982 and 1986 World Cups return!

Thanks to Ivan Martin, Marshall Gillespie and Shaun Schofield for this opportunity that fell my way back in 2008.

Buy the books I am in here:

1.Champian Stewartnova

How To Buy My New GAWA Book: Champian Stewartnova – Supporting The Northern Ireland Football Team 1980 – 2009

2. Green and White Army: The Northern Ireland fans, by Ivan Martin (2008)

(containing an interview with Jonny Blair, former chairman of the SOENISC and current travelling Northern Irishman author of websites Don’t Stop Living and Travelling Northern Ireland Flag)

3. Albania to America (with Belfast in between), by Shaun Schofield (2010)

(containing a guest chapter on Belarus by Jonny Blair, travelling Northern Ireland fan)

While this is a Working Wednesdays feature, here in Ma Wan where I write this from it’s almost a Thirsty Thursday so it’s time for a beer!

Videos of 2 of Northern Ireland’s greatest ever moments:

1. Spain 0-1 Northern Ireland (Gerry Armstrong, Valencia 1982 World Cup):

2. Northern Ireland 1-0 England (David Healy, Belfast 2005 World Cup Qualifier):

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living featured in the County Down Spectator in Bangor in January 2013

Working Wednesdays: Journalist for my Local Newspaper!

Posted on January 30, 2013September 24, 2020 by Jonny Blair

My Working Wednesdays series covers stories from my constantly changing career. For today’s post we head back to January 1998, exactly 15 years ago this week I was working for the local newspaper, the County Down Spectator in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Now obviously writing is something I love doing, so this seemed an obvious job for me. The reason for this post today is that this week, I have just been featured in the newspaper as an “unstoppable globetrotter”!! What an apt title – I laughed out loud when I read it!

Jonny Blair of Here We Go...Again the Northern Ireland fanzine that ran from 1997 to 2004 — Back in 1998 I looked like this!! I edited, produced and sold my own football fanzine in Belfast, NORTHERN IRELAND (separate from my Journalism Course)

So it was January 1998. I was a student at the time in Belvoir Tech in Belfast (now non-existent) and I was doing an NVQ course called Media Techniques and Competences. I had my heart set on a career in newspaper or magazine journalism, so I arranged work placements at three top local media outlets:
1. The BBC in Belfast
2. The Belfast Telegraph (Northern Ireland’s National Newspaper, at least at the time)
3. The County Down Spectator (Bangor and North Down Newspaper)

In my spare time I wrote or music fanzines and edited and sold my own football fanzine, three times a year at Windsor Park in Belfast, for Northern Ireland home matches. Working at the local paper gave me a flavor for the big world, and I enjoyed it.

I wrote articles about badminton and rugby. I edited countless other articles and press releases, working alongside a variety of local journalists. I will not remember any of them except for John Monaghan and Ruth Dowds. Those two stick in my mind – they won’t remember me either – but my name came up a few times in articles in the paper. I wasn’t getting paid at all, but got to attend a few events with the guys at the Spectator and some valuable experience. Where life took me after that was completely different.

Jonny Blair on the Belfast to Dublin bus in 1997 living a lifestyle of travel — While I worked in the local paper and studied, I also did some travelling – on a bus here to Dublin back in 1997…

Even in 1998 I travelled – OK so I only went to Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, but I was working in the local shop at the time and didn’t have a lot of time, money or experience. In September 1998 I passed my journalism course with flying colours before spending the next 4 years working in local shops, pubs, banks and offices. I never became a journalist.

Jonny Blair local newspaper County Down Spectator 1998 now he is a travel writer — OK so I didn’t go on to become a journalist, but I’ve been in two books and I write about my travels EVERY DAY! Relaxing with a beer here in the mountains of China!

But you’re reading this! So 15 years on, I have become a travel writer, so those weeks spent working in the local paper count for something. It was nice to be featured in it this week – if you live in North Down, you can pick up a copy from your local shop. I’ve also scanned in the article onto this post.

Journalist? No. Travel Writer? Yes – it really is a lifestyle of travel for me. I type this on a train to Guangzhou in China, having just booked yet another two trips!

ON a final note, the article in this week’s County Down Spectator also included two fellow Bangor travel bloggers and came about because all three of us were nominated for Wanderlust Blog of the Year, you should also check out their excellent blogs here:

Allan Wilson – Live Less Ordinary and Boutique Bangkok

Justin Egli – Ikimasho

And don’t forget my excellent A Lifestyle of Travel inspiration post!

If you want to read the full article then buy this week’s County Down Spectator from newsagents in Bangor and North Down, Northern Ireland. This is their website: Spectator Newspaper . Working Wednesdays is a regular feature on Don’t Stop Living – a lifestyle of travel.

keeping up to date with football while you travel jonny blair

How To Keep Up To Date With Football On Your Travels!!

Posted on January 29, 2013June 5, 2024 by Jonny Blair

Jonny Blair keeping up to date with the Northern Ireland match in Taiwan in 2009 — How to keep up to date with football on your travels! Beer, laptop, flag and footy shirt – watching Northern Ireland ‘live’ in Taiwan in 2009!!

I was once described as a “football nut” and I’m not sure what that entails, but basically I LOVE football. Ever since I saw Norman Whiteside score for Northern Ireland against Algeria in the 1986 World Cup on a black and white TV, I have been a football fan. Firstly I played it – at any given moment. At some point or other I realised I was never going to make it as a professional so I stuck to watching. Not just armchair watching, actively supporting. But now I’m a world traveller, a self confessed “travel nut” so how on earth do I manage to keep up with football on my travels? Read on for my methods, hoping some of them will apply to fellow football mad travellers!

Jonny Blair playing football in Bangor Northern Ireland in the 1980s — Playing football at Ward Park in Bangor, Northern Ireland in the 1980s.

Those that know me will know that I have three main teams I support. OK so I’ll tell you a bit about them, but won’t bore you – I seriously hope my tips on keeping up to date with football can help make your decision to travel. I thought I couldn’t travel as I love football too much, but there are ways to get your football fix when you are a nomad! My teams:

1. Northern Ireland:

Jonny Blair is a Northern Ireland fan - he was at the Healy 74 match in 2005 but he now lives a lifestyle of travel — Enjoying great times at Windsor Park in Belfast in 2005 as Northern Ireland beat England 1-0!

First and foremost I am a Northern Ireland fan. We are still the smallest country ever to qualify for the knockout stages of a World Cup. I went to EVERY Northern Ireland home match from 1997 – 2009, and selected away matches. In fact it was only on a break from Northern Ireland matches that I first travelled round the world on a big trip (in 2007). For a few years, I hadn’t been to watch Northern Ireland live. So this meant trying to catch up with the matches online from all over the world.

2. Glentoran FC:

Jonny Blair at the oval watching Glentoran he lives a lifestyle of travel — I love watching Glentoran FC any time I’m back in Belfast, which is hardly ever!

My Dad was born in Glentoran Street in Belfast and Glentoran were the first club team I supported. I still try and keep up to date with every match and am proud to say I currently write for the Glentoran Gazette programme! I’ve my own column called “Globetrotting Glenman”.

3. AFC Bournemouth:

Jonny Blair supports AFC Bournemouth the Cherries he now travels the world — BARMY ARMY!! I’m an AFC Bournemouth fan and spent many days down at Dean Court/The Goldsands Stadium!

Bournemouth are the biggest club team I support. I became a Bournemouth obsessive whilst living in the English seaside town. I owned a season ticket for a few years and went home and away to watch them. In 2005 and 2008 I only missed ONE home match. On my only 2 days in England in the last 4 years, my visit was ONLY so I could go to a Cherries match!

Since 2003 I have lived away from Northern Ireland and since 2009 I have lived away from Europe so from corners of the world, I use the following 16 ways to keep up to date with football:

1. BBC Radio 5 Live Podcasts

These Podcasts on BBC Radio 5 Live, which currently are free and almost daily are basically what I rely on! The 5 Live Football Daily. The main reason I love these is, when I’m on the move I listen to them. While on buses, trains and walking I have my iPod on with the BBC Radio 5 Podcasts. This includes Alan Green’s 606 Phone in, Robbie Savage’s Doc Savage and Colin Murray’s show.

Download and Subscribe to the BBC Football Daily Podcasts here!

2. Twitter

I’m on twitter and thankfully so are Glentoran FC – that is the best way to keep up to date with Glentoran – through the official Glentoran twitter feed! You can join them here to keep up with gossip at the Oval:

Glentoran FC on Twitter

3. Wear Your Football Shirt

Jonny Blair the travelling Northern Irishman in Bolivian wilderness — Wearing my Northern Ireland football shirt with pride in the deep wilderness of Bolivia. Miles from a football stadium…

As odd as that sounds, this is one of the best ways to keep up to date with football, for one reason only – talking to people. Wearing a football shirt is a topic of discussion and an ice breaker. Picture the scene – you haven’t seen a football match for months and you turn up in a hostel in Paraguay and the guy in the kitchen is wearing a Man. City top – you talk to him. You get the latest news, you tell him some football gossip, you go for a beer and you also have a new friend. This is actually a very common football habit of mine, and to namedrop a mate that I met through this method, is Blackburn Rovers fan Anthony Moulden who I met in Ecuador.

4. Drink in Sports Bars

a lifestyle of travel keeping up with football on my journeys by Jonny Blair — Tiger FC and a Guinness watching live in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia

Every now and then you get lucky and find a decent sports bar to catch a live match. I won’t name the exact bars and cities I have watched football in, but I wouldn’t imagine many have watched a live match in Gaborone in Botswana.

5. Drink in Irish Pubs

how to keep up with football on your travels - irish pubs — I watched Chelsea v Tottenham at 4 am once in this fake Irish Pub in Seoul, SOUTH KOREA!

Love them or hate them, Irish pubs provide great craic, great food, friendly banter and quite often live football!! I hadn’t seen a live match for a while and then ended up watching Liverpool v. Udinese in the Wild Rover in La Paz, Bolivia a few years back.

6. Text Your Mates

how to keep up to date with football on your travels - text a mate — How to keep up to date with Football? My mates Dan and Austin are always only a text away!!

I text a few friends who live in England and Northern Ireland, though slowly this is moving to Facebook to save money, but for the big games I still text Dan Darch for Bournemouth results and Richard Ingram for Northern Ireland results.

7. Check Your Facebook Feed

Yes, Facebook feed is a great source of football updates, I have over 1,000 contacts on my own Facebook page and they regularly update the feed with everything from transfer news to matches being postponed, indeed my mate Ian McKinney notified me recently of a postponed Glentoran match via Facebook!

8. Go to Football Matches

Just because I travel around, doesn’t stop me going to football matches, and I try to go as often as I can. Whether it’s Uruguay, Australia or Hong Kong, in recent times, I’ve surprised even myself at how many matches I can actually attend. Only last month I watched the Unofficial Football World Championship final between Hong Kong and North Korea

9. Skype

Believe it or not, I ended up watching a few matches live on Skype as I had no other way at the time of getting the matches (my live streaming option was down). I phoned my parents and they turned their laptop to the TV in their house and I watched the match live!

10. Live Web Streaming

keep up to date with football on your travels with live webstreams — How to keep up to date with football on your travels – I used to rely a lot on webstreams from the internet, but these have their downsides.

Live webstreamsing is good on the short term for a 90 minute match, but ultimately damaging to your computer virus wise I assume! Having recently had a lot of computer problems, I have guessed that my live streaming has partly caused this. There is also the problem of intermittent coverage and I have missed goals and red cards before sue to the stream cutting out. Sites I did use (and may do again at some point):

Sport Lemon

VIP Box

11. Stare at the BBC Vidiprinter

You really cannot go wrong with the BBC vidi-printer on the BBC website. I grew up in the era when 4.45 pm on a Saturday afternoon was the most exciting part of my week. When the scores simultaneously come in. I love it – the BBC website is the best current site for me to do this on.

BBC Vidiprinter

12. Football Fans Forums!

Not sure why this is one of the last on my list, when it should rank higher as I get to chat or communicate online with fellow fans. My favourite football fans forum by a mile is the excellent Our Wee Country Forum, run by Marty Lowry. It is an excellent place to talk about my beloved Northern Ireland team and any chance I get a spare moment, I log on, have a read, have a rant, submit a few comments and keep up to date!

13. Write Travel Articles for Football Magazines

I currently write a regular column for the Glentoran Gazette, which means I get a PDF copy of each match programme e-mailed to me. An excellent read and the only way I can realistically keep up to date with events at the Oval in Belfast. I have also written a number of articles for Happy Days, a Northern Ireland fanzine. Local fans love to hear about a nomad travelling footie fan so ask your team if you can have a regular column the way I do. (I also send travel photos of me wearing my Bournemouth shirt to the AFC Bournemouth programme).

Glentoran FC Official Website

14. Visit Football Stadiums!

jonny blair keeps up to date with football on his travels by visiting football stadiums — How to get your football fix on your travels – head to a football stadium in every town or city you visit! Here I am standing on the pitch at the world’s highest football stadium in La Paz, BOLIVIA.

I love visiting football stadiums on my travels and try my best to do one in every city. My recent exploits have taken me to the highest national football stadium in the world – Estadio Hernando Siles in Bolivia where I sneaked inside and stood on the pitch!!

15. Supporters Clubs!

Jonny Blair a lifestyle of travel with Spencer Prior in Sydney — How to keep up to date with football on your travels – supporters clubs – the day I met Spencer Prior, once of Norwich City, in Australia.

Either form one or join one and you’ll meet a load of other football fans. I have formed Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs now in three different continents on my travels. These have provided me with loads of memories and a ton of new mates and football experiences.

jonny blair football nomad and loves northern ireland - watching the match in 2012 with the Hong Kong NISC — How to keep up to date with football on your travels – form a supporters club! Myself and the Hong Kong Northern Ireland fans watching the Russia match in 2012.

My recent exploits have involved forming the Hong Kong Northern Ireland Supporter’s Club, meeting ex-Glentoran player Robbie Craig in Sydney and also meeting Spencer Prior at an event in Sydney, Australia.

16. Adopt a local team!

Jonny Blair supporting Penarol in Montevideo Uruguay — How to keep up to date with football on your travels – adopt a local team. Here’s me becoming a Penarol fan for a few weeks in Montevideo, URUGUAY!

When you are temporarily based in a town or city, simply seek out the local team and make them your team. I went to three matches while living with a family in Montevideo in Uruguay back in 2010. I adopted Penarol as my team and still look out for their results!

That’s all for now, I’m off to the BBC Website to check the latest news from Dean Court…and by the way I make no apologies for the references to Northern Ireland, Glentoran and AFC Bournemouth! They are my teams and I love supporting them. You know what it’s like when you’re on the other side of the world…

ALL my football posts are here:

Don’t Stop Living – travelling football fan!!

My favourite travel football posts 0n Don’t Stop Living:

My Visit to the World’s Highest Football Stadium!!!

Watching Penarol in Uruguay!

North Korea retain the Unofficial Football World Championships!

A Visit to Paraguay’s National Stadium

Road Trip to Hereford

Here are a few of my favourite videos watching football on my travels, love them!!:

Watching Glentoran v Man United live in a bar in Prague in 2007:

Watching Netherlands v. Northern Ireland in Delaney’s Irish Pub in Kowloon, Hong Kong in June 2012:

Watching Northern Ireland v. Estonia online in my hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2011:

Watching Penarol live in Montevideo, Uruguay in 2010:

Watching Live English Premier League in Finn McCools Irish Pub in Quito, Ecuador in 2010:

Standing on the pitch at the world’s highest national football stadium, Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia:

Watching the Play Off Semi Final between Bournemouth and Huddersfield in my flat in Australia in 2011:

Jonny Blair compiles a list of the best Northern Irish travel blogs

The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs, 2013

Posted on January 20, 2013February 21, 2019 by Jonny Blair

As the title suggests this is a compilation of the 10 best Northern Irish travel blogs out there, as of January 20th 2013. What do I mean by that? OK so these are travel blogs that are written by world travellers who come from Northern Ireland and are currently travelling around the world or have at least travelled a lot recently. It is NOT about world travellers who are currently in Northern Ireland or writing about Northern Ireland.

Dont Stop Living and The Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs 2013 — The Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs 2013

It’s not compiled using any statistics or analysis whatsoever – these are just fellow Northern Irish travellers who love to write about the world and as a travelling Northern Irishman myself, I LOVE reading these blogs. Plus if you’re sat at home in Belfast or Dungannon right now wondering what to do with your life, take some inspiration from your fellow Northern Irishmen and women and get out and see the world!!

Wanderlust blog of the year best of Jonny Blair Dont Stop Living a lifestyle of travel — No less than FOUR of the top EIGHT on Wanderlust’s Best Travel Blogs of 2012 are written by Northern Irish bloggers!

The catalyst for this post comes from the fact that in 2012, travel magazine Wanderlust included FOUR blogs with a Northern Irish link in its top eight of the year. I was quite astounded by that, three of those four even came from my hometown of Bangor, and of course Don’t Stop Living (which you are currently reading by the way) is one of them. It got me thinking about how many other Northern Irish nomads there are. I honestly don’t meet many Northern Irish people on my travels. For example I only met 1 other Northern Irish person in Africa, Antarctica and South America combined (Grant, from Carryduff). BUT there are a few of us about and those that write travel blogs and are good at it, I really recommend you check out this list and these EXCELLENT sites. If you are in Northern Ireland right now and want to escape the flag issues, cold weather and lack of opportunities, get out and see the world – and these blogs are all run by Northern Irish people, if we can do it, anyone can!

Jonny Blair backpacks his way to Antarctica living a lifestyle of travel — If travelling Northern Irishman Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living can backpack his way to Antarctica, so can you! Top 10 Northern Irish travel blogs!

Here is how the Northern Irish travel blogs qualified for the Top 10 list:

– The writer of the blog has to come from Northern Ireland

– The writer of the blog has to be regularly updating their content

– The writer of the blog has to be travelling around the world currently (or has extensively travelled the world and is still writing aboutit)

– The website has to be an actual ‘blog’ (i.e. no travel, flight, tour operator sites count, even if they are owned and run by a Northern Irish person abroad)

– Each Northern Irish travel blogger can only have one website on the list.

Jonny Blair and the top 10 northern irish travel blogs a lifestyle of travel giants causeway — Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs – and the life I left behind in 2003 – The Giant’s Causeway

I picked my favourite 10 Northern Irish travel blogs. So yes, this list is compiled by me and it’s one person’s opinion BUT feel free to disagree, message me with other blogs I’ve missed or nominate your own travel blog. You must meet the qualifying process above to enter your travel blog. I will compile a list every year in January, so this list os for 2013.

These are in alphabetical order by the way, not in order of which site is “better”, they are all great in their own way and there isn’t a “winner” or a “best” site! I love them all! The shortlist, the 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs, 2013:

An Ulsterman Abroad – by Chris from East Belfast

Don’t Stop Living – a lifestyle of travel – by Jonny Blair

Geriatric Traveller – by Maura Ward

GAWA9 – by Jono Crute

Helen Moat: Travel Writer – by Helen Moat

Ikimasho – by Justin Egli

Live Less Ordinary – by Allan Wilson

** ENTRANT DELETED DUE TO STALKING MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SAYING THAT LYING IS DOING NOTHING WRONG **

Seven Continent Dander – By Phil Mooney

The World is a Book – Life in a rucksack – by Abbi Morrison

ALSO RAN: This website of mine obviuosly didn’t make the list as it’s not an actual blog but it’s worthy of a mention given that it features a journey round the globe with my Northern Ireland flag:

Travelling Northern Ireland Flag – 1 man, 6 counties, 7 continents – by Jonny Blair

Notable Absentees From the Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs:

The following Northern Irish travellers didn’t make the 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs list, probably because they don’t actually have a travel blog 😉 :

Jonny Blair tries to hunt down Rory McIlroy in Hong Kong - top 10 best northern irish travel blogs — Rory McIlroy is a travelling Northern Irishman too, he plays golf. However he didn’t “make the cut” into the best 10 Northern Irish travel blogs 😉

– Rory McIlroy (a golfer from Holywood touring the world playing golf)

– Tim Wheeler (a singer from Downpatrick touring the world with a guitar)

– Terry McFlynn (a footballer from Magherafelt playing in Sydney)

So now that we have our top ten, here’s an overview of each site, from my perspective:

1. An Ulsterman Abroad

Dont Stop Living and The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs - An Ulsterman Abroad by Chris — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – An Ulsterman Abroad by Chris

I love Chris’s site “An Ulsterman Abroad” because he focuses heavily on North Korea. Indeed Chris has lived in Asia for a few years and writes regularly about his fascination for the “closed country”. He has been to North Korea a few times, was recently living in Pyongyang and has even taken his Northern Ireland flag to watch the DPRK National team. Well worth checking out!

Chris comes from East Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2. Don’t Stop Living

Jonny Blair's a lifestyle of travel website picks The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs - Don't Stop Living — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – Don’t Stop Living by Jonny Blair

You’re here and this is my site, run by me, Jonny Blair. It’s not arrogant or boastful to put my own travel blog in the top 10, it’s my belief that mine is one of the 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs out there. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t keep the blog going!! I love travelling and I love writing about it!! My stories and statistics speak for themselves. I have travelled extensively round the world for the last 10 years, starting my blog in 2007, visiting all seven continents, writing over 1,000 blog posts and I am always on the lookout for a new journey. I live a lifestyle of travel and I encourage you to do that too!

Jonny comes from Bangor, Northern Ireland.

3. GAWA9

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living and The Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs - GAWA9 by Jono Crute. — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – GAWA9 by Jono Crute.

The youngest blogger on the list is Jono Crute, who was born in Derry/Londonderry, spent a lot of time in England and now lives in Canada. Jono is a young Northern Irish guy who travels the world and LOVES a beer with his mates! Yes, BEER features heavily in his tales which include booking a flight to the USA on the spur of the moment because his computer was broken!! Just because he had a few pints of Guinness in Belfast back in 2011!! Jono is a top lad and always up for a pint, that’s when he’s not playing poker or watching Manchester United or Northern Ireland.

Jono comes from Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland

4. Geriatric Traveller

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living and The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs - Geriatric Traveller by Maura Ward. — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – Geriatric Traveller by Maura Ward.

The joys of Facebook have seen me connected with Maura and her excellent website Geriatric Traveller. I won’t mention Maura’s age (nor do I know it!!) BUT she is the most experienced traveller of all of us, and now as a “geriatric traveller” Maura can relax and see the world through a different perspective. Maura appeals to those of us who have had our children grow up and are looking to explore some of the planet while finding time to relax over a coffee beside a river. Have a check at where Maura has been, recent places include Harbin in China and Prague in the Czech Republic. Maura proves that you are NEVER too old to travel.

Maura comes from the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland

5. Helen Moat – Travel Writer

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living and The Top Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs - Helen Moat's Travel Writer Blog — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – Helen Moat’s Travel Writer Blog

I wasn’t actually aware of Helen’s blog until I read about it on Wanderlust as she was one of 4 Northern Irish bloggers to make the top 8 posts of 2012. Helen grew up in Northern Ireland and has lived and worked abroad for years. Her recent journey back to Belfast received high acclaim and is worth checking out for its random comments in regards to the Northern Irish ‘language’ -yes those wee sayings that we use in Norn Iron that you just don’t hear anywhere else! Boys a dear, my head’s cut…so it is! Here’s me till im.

Helen comes from Belfast, Northern Ireland

6. Ikimasho

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living and the The Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs - Ikimasho by Justin Egli. — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – Ikimasho by Justin Egli.

You will fall in love with Ikimasho’s quirky travel wit. A fellow Bangorian traveller, currently based in Japan’s crazy capital Tokyo, Justin Egli loves photography, writing and travel in equal measures. The passion for this hat-trick of loves comes across in his recent stories from Bagan and Bangkok. Even without the words, his pictures tell a great story on their own! The very title of Justin’s blog is Ikimasho, which means “let’s go” in Japanese. If that’s not a two word phrase to get you to see the world, I don’t know what is. Justin had the most popular blog on Wanderlust’s Blog of the Week for 2012 and is planning more adventures!

Justin comes from Bangor, Northern Ireland.

7.Live Less Ordinary in South East Asia

Jonny Blair of Dont Stop Living and the top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs - Live Less Ordinary in Southeast Asia by Allan Wilson — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – Live Less Ordinary in Southeast Asia by Allan Wilson

Allan Wilson knows street food in Bangkok even better than he knows the back of his hand. Aside from living the less ordinary lifestyle in Thailand, Allan runs another site on Bangkok’s Boutique Hotels and traipses around Asia at any given opportunity. He recommends living the dream life in Southeast Asia, sometimes he not only aspires to, something that he now does 😉 Check out Allan’s site and head to Bangkok for a food feast. What Allan doesn’t know about food in Bangkok, isn’t worth knowing. His lifestyle can also help inspire others from Northern Ireland to get out and settle in a new city. Allan’s love for Bangkok is evident not just through his website but the fact he has featured on Wanderlust as recently as last month. His love affair with Thailand’s capital stretches back to 2002!

Allan comes from Bangor, Northern Ireland

** ENTRANT DELETED DUE TO STALKING MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND SAYING THAT LYING IS DOING NOTHING WRONG **

9. Seven Continent Dander

Jonny Blair at Dont Stop Living and the The Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs - Seven Continent Dander by Phil Mooney. — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – Seven Continent Dander by Phil Mooney.

OK so “Seven Continent Dander” is not the actual name of this travel blog, which is hosted via the Travel Pod wesbite, but it fits. Phil (eas Fogg) and Jules (Verne) left behind their life in Carrickfergus a few years ago with a conquest to visit every continent! They did it! Although recently their travel stories haven’t been kept up to date, they qualify for this list simply because their stories are so witty and quintessentially have a Norn Irish edge to them, such as “I’m top o the world, Ma!” for their Potosi post. This is the only other travel blog on the list except for Don’t Stop Living that has travelled to and written about every continent. The stories on here are fantastic, I really hope Phil turns it into a standalone website at some point as it merits that!

Phil comes from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland

10. The World Is A Book

Jonny Blair at Dont Stop Living and The Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs - The World Is A Book by Abbi Morrison. — The 10 Best Northern Irish Travel Blogs – The World Is A Book by Abbi Morrison.

Taking its title from a popular travel phrase by Saint Augustine, Abbi Morrison is turning more pages everytime she gets time off work to travel. Hailing from the north coast of Northern Ireland, Abbi is now based in New Zealand living her own travel dreams. Abbi offers extreme variety on her blog posts ranging from long distance running to relaxing on beaches to sky diving, this young lady is a Northern Irish adventurer. Her recent travels have taken her to Australia and Fiji.

Abbi comes from Coleraine, Northern Ireland

So that’s it for 2013 as far as the Top 10 Best Northern Irish blogs go. In the meantime, if you’re from Northern Ireland and thinking about heading out to see the world, my advice is get out there and do it! If you are also from Northern Ireland and have a travel blog that I have not listed but you think should be included, please get in touch, by e-mail to jonny at dontstopliving dot net, by filling in the contacts form, by commenting below or by liking my page on Facebook!

This is the first ever list of Top 10 Northern Irish Travel Blogs, I will make it an annual thing every January!!

Please comment and let me know your thoughts!!

Jonny – living a lifestyle of travel at dontstopliving.net!!