title Travels in the Borderlands: An Blaic/Blacklion to Belcoo and back, Cavan and Fermanagh, Ireland - 22nd August 2019 intro This whole trip marks Nosher's first time crossing the border into Northern Ireland, and despite not having been there at the time, as a child of the 1970s and 80s it's hard not to recall the Troubles. Which is why it's all the more surprising how the border really isn't there anymore, save for the automatic change from mph to km/h on the satnav and the occasional reminder of the same on speed-limit signs. However, that more than anything seems to bring home just how much of a big deal the whole Brexit shambles is, because to lose that - with towns and villages literally a stone's throw away facing the thought of finding themselves with border checkpoints to deal with again - really is a big deal. Anyway, this trip around the borderlands of Cavan to Fermanagh came about after the trip down from Derry via Enniskillen, where a particularly good derelict house is spotted with an actual tree growing out of its front window. However, time pressures of having to be somewhere else for a particular thing to occur - twice - mean a special trip is required in order to actually visit it, the other border places, and sites of quintessential Irish rural dereliction on the way back to Manorhamilton. After all of that, we host a mass dinner for the whole tribe, and then it's time to go home. imgp5049 Mullaghdun graveyard and church in Cleenish imgp5050 An epic derelict house on the A4 Sligo Road imgp5053 The house is largely consumed by foliage imgp5059 There's a tree growing out of the upstairs window imgp5060 Inside the derelict house imgp5062 Wires dangle through a hole in the ceiling imgp5064 A shed in the garden is taken over by plants imgp5071 The derelict petrol station at Carrigan Brothers imgp5072 Lough Macnean Lower imgp5076 Anti-Brexit sign in Belcoo imgp5077 The Oak Tree Café in Belcoo imgp5080 The house and cars are split across the border imgp5082 An old dude walks between Belcoo and Blacklion imgp5083 Two pink ladies walk along the Belcoo River imgp5088 The only border is the speed-limit sign imgp5090 The Customs House Restaurant imgp5093 Another anti-Brexit poster in Belcoo imgp5095 Amusing cow sculptures for sale imgp5096 Keegan's Auctioneers in Blacklion imgp5097 The Noel Keegan offices, under let by Noel Keegan imgp5099 Blacklion High Street imgp5100 The semi-derelict Fitz-Patrick's in An Blaic imgp5101 An old dude hangs around on the street corner imgp5103 Another house with a chimney tree imgp5105 Derelict outhouses imgp5107 Lough Macnean Upper imgp5109 Some children are actually swimming in the rain imgp5112 Stones with a poetic message imgp5114 An umbrella in the rain imgp5115 Brockagh National School near Glenfarne imgp5117 Echoes of the school lives that once were imgp5122 National School plaque, Brockagh 1885 imgp5128 The misty hills near Glenfarne imgp5129 A lane with grass up the middle and "go mall" imgp5130 Round the back of the derelict school imgp5132 Another visit to the legendary Rainbow Ballroom imgp5135 Derelict hut outside Glenfarne imgp5136 Another derelict house in Glenfarne imgp5140 The closed-down Ketty's Bar and Lounge imgp5142 The closed-down Keany's B&B and lounge bar imgp5145 A peppermint-green house imgp5146 The closed Keany's Lounge and Bar, established 1850 imgp5147 The petrol station in Glenfarne imgp5151 The clan in the kitchen of Number 2 W8 imgp5155 There's a mingling in the kitchen imgp5156 The children hang around like teenagers imgp5158 Louise digs in imgp5159 Baby Ra-ra has some pasta imgp5162 It's time to eat imgp5165 Fred scoops Rachel up and hauls her around imgp5170 Nosher and Ra-ra imgp5174 The family massive imgp5176 Harry concentrates on getting his coat on imgp5180 A family photo is assembled imgp5183 Fred and Fern take it seriously with vampire teeth imgp5185 Nosher's even in this one, thanks to a timer imgp5189 Harry with a strawberry-lace moustache imgp5190 Fred takes some more photos imgc4347 Rachel puts her hand up imgp5196 An aerial view imgp5200 Fred gets some snaps of Ra-ra imgp5204 Fred shows something on the phone imgp5205 There's a bit of guitar action imgp5211 The W8 lounge imgc4374 There's a load of Italian bikers at Dublin Port imgc4375 We're at the head of a pretty big queue of cars imgc4376 On the fast ferry imgc4378 The ferry opens its doors at Holyhead