Our Final Night in Ireland - Farewell Dinner

Welcome back Readers
Tonight we said Farewell to The Emerald Isle and it's inhabitants - Fintan and Conan are leaving us tonight as we are to board the Ferry to Scotland tomorrow morning at 7.35am.
Tonight's dinner was a celebration of our time together in Ireland - it was a fun night and everyone is sad to say farwell to our very good friends.
We had speeches, a quiz and presentations to Fintan and Conan but the highlight was the Tribe names that we were given by Dorothy and then the song she composed and sang. Enjoy!
FROM THE IMCA BAND OF THE GREAT IRON HORSE NATION
THE TRIBE:
JIM – BIG CHIEF LONG FACE
LYNDEL – BROKEN RIB SQUAW

NEVILLE – ONE HAT WARRIOR

CHRIS – LITTLE BURNT CLUTCH

SLOTH – SNOW ON BEARD MAN
ANNIE – WHISKEY WOMAN
RACHEL – PRINCESS PENNY SPENDER
STELLA – MANY SCALP PAPOOSE

PETER – BIG CHIEF BIRD ON SILL
TONI – SQUAW WITH WHOMPUM
MASON – YOUNG SILLY BRAVE
HANNAH – PRINCESS LOLLY FACE

DUGAL – MEDICINE MAN
DANIEL – LITTLE SHOT

PHIL – WHITE MAN’S NAME
HEATH – SON OF WHITE MAN’S NAME

BRETT – ONE BOOT COMMANCHERO
FRANK H – MIGHTY FUN WARRIOR
PETER – HAIRY TATTOO BRAVE
SHARON – BLUE EYED SQUAW
GERARD – BROKEN HEART
TESS – SQUAW WHO WANT TEPEE WITH BROKEN HEART

MICK – INDIAN BRACELET MAN
SUE – BLOG MAKER WOMAN
FRANK S – LONG FORK
MERREDITH – YELLOW TAIL
RON – NUMBER TWO WIGWAM
DOROTHY – WATER FORD
PHILLIP – EX-CHIEF BIG HORN

CONOR – BIG CHIEF BEE JEEZUS

To our brothers from the Celtic Lands we praise your leaders and braves who have made us welcome
TIM – LITTLE SCOUT BRAVE HEART
FINTAN – KEMOSABEE TWO TIRTY
CONAN – BIG CHIEF FIRE WATER

And from the Norse
JORGEN – CHIEF IKEA
KATARINA – SQUAW ON SIDE

We are sorry to go so soon,
You will always be welcome in our teepees
And in our riding grounds for many moon.

The mighty waters of the great oceans
May keep us far apart,
But the great spirit has made a lodge
For each of you in our heart.

We leave you now with this Irish ditty
In our dear ole Aussie way!

To the tune of “Running Bear”

BIG CHIEF PARKER called a POW WOW,
For all the BRAVES and CHIEFS around.
Time to leave the reservation,
For their SUMMER RIDIN’ GROUND!

POMMIE TIM was there to greet them,
As their party came ashore.
CHIEFS and SCOUTS were made all ready,
Full of petrol, full of ROAR!

(Refrain)
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
WITH A LOVE AS BIG AS THE SKY
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
AND THEY WILL UNTIL THEY DIE.

Pass the Palace and through the Tower,
All the teepees of London Town.
IRON HORSES and their RIDERS,
Saddled up and WALES bound.

THEN AUSSIE INDIANS went ridin’ IRELAND,
On a rainy summer’s day.
AUSSIE INDIANS they rode together,
FINTAN MURPHY led the way!

(Refrain)

IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
WITH A LOVE AS BIG AS THE SKY
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
AND THEY WILL UNTIL THEY DIE.

As the TRIBE rode out of KILLARNEY,
They were headed for the shore.
At MUCKROSS PASS there was an ambush,
That began the Horse Shit War!

Riders scattered round the coaches,
But their chances they were slim.
PONY SOLDIERS led the red man,
Except for one PIL-GRIM!

(Refrain)
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
WITH A LOVE AS BIG AS THE SKY
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
AND THEY WILL UNTIL THEY DIE

Extra BOWS and extra ARROWS,
Phonin’ Conan could provide.
Winding roads and windy weather,
Made a rough and rowdy ride.

Stopping only to feed the ponies,
On their way to the MIDNIGHT SUN.
Drinkin’ GUINNESS and IRISH WHISKEY,
Huntin’ for BIG FUN, FUN, FUN!

(Refrain)
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
WITH A LOVE AS BIG AS THE SKY
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
AND THEY WILL UNTIL THEY DIE.

From County Cork to Bloody Belfast,
Miles and times were mostly ISH.
Hearty Soup and Soda Sandwich,
Was by now the preferred DISH.

SQUAWS and WARRIORS were ridin’ on now,
Leaving behind the Erin Isle.
When they return to the land down under,
They’ll be wearing a shamrock smile.

(Refrain)
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
WITH A LOVE AS BIG AS THE SKY
IMCA LOVES RIDIN’ INDIANS
AND THEY WILL UNTIL THEY DIE

Written and performed by Dorothy Le Claire

A day in Dublin is a step back in time - to the Vikings and the Celts, to cobblestones and patriarchs. It's a thriving City that was thrust into the 21st Century with an economic wave of progress and prosperity for all. But the wheels of progress have come to a screeching halt as evident in boarded up buildings and half finished road works - much to our discomfort! A very expensive pint at the Guiness brewery, a stroll down the laneways of Temple Bar and a neck craning moment at Christ Church and St Patricks and we were back at Red Cow safely tucked into our Rose's and Shiraz and Baileys before bed.

Morning broke with a clap of thunder and Dublin wore a skullcap of grey overcast to greet the day. A light rain turned into a gale and our fearsome band headed out toward Belfast. Some twists, turns and roundabouts later, we were missing one back up van - Conan the Mighty Warrior had gone astray in the battle of the bottlenecks getting out of Dublin. Once found he was lost again by errant marshalls and lashing rain. A quick stop at Portmarnock Beach in time for Jim Parker to declare he saw a never before spotted penguin in the waters of the Irish Sea! Rare indeed as penguins hitherto were not known to exist in the Northern Hemisphere! Perhaps a few too many pints the night before added to the sighting....

The gail persisted and no amount of encouragement by our fearless leader, Fintan Murphy, could persuade the drenched riders to follow the beautiful coast line up towards Belfast. Instead we followed the lashing lorries and river of asphalt that is the sometimes on, sometimes off M1 and finally arrived at our hotel - Wellington Park Best Western in Belfast - just in time to see the sun break out and light the way to bed.

The young braves and Indian maidens of our band have been a terrific addition to the tribal experience of this summer ridin' grounds adventure. From Stella's beautiful hair extensions to Rachel's keen eye for photography; from the IT wizardry of Heath and penny ante poker of Daniel to Mason's insatiable appetite for both lollies and wrestling, they have been overall well behaved and a pleasure to have along. Mason was awarded the "Princess" banner for leaving his wallet on the Dublin Tour Bus but it was retrieved and all was well save his pride. As we faced the lashing from the Irish Sea yesterday though, it is Hannah Birthisel that should get a reward for her steadfast duty as a marshall and pillion on her dad's 48 V-Indian. She was finally pulled off the bike at our lunch stop in Carrickdale and flashed her sweet smile dripping with Irish rain.

A soft bed, a cup of tea and another day of this great adventure closes its weary eyes. Goodnight for now.