Blackie's Itinerary

1.Doolin, Co Clare
2.The Burren National Park
3.Ennistymon, Co. Clare
4. Lahinch, Co Clare

Meet Blackie | Q&A

Question: So tell us a little about your interests and lifestyle here in Clare

Answer: Fishing! Clare is an angler's paradise. There's the Atlantic Ocean of course, but there are great lakes for fishing around Ennis. There have been world record fish caught in there. I know the biggest bream caught in Britain and Ireland was out of a lake in Corofin. I'm mostly into Pike fishing in Ennis and the Shannon Estuary and in the summer I enjoy fishing for mackerel and off the rocks by Fanore and Doolin.
   
Question: I see you've revived impromptu house get-togethers in Clare, like what we see in Patsy O' Grady's house in Doolin...

Answer: Yep, that's starting up again a small bit, especially since the smoking ban and the fact that everyone is broke these days (laughs). It's common enough at the weekend. It's the best craic.   

Question: You say Lahinch is the surfing capital of Ireland; do you surf a bit yourself?

Answer: : I used to surf but not anymore. I suppose I wasn't as much surfing as I was drowning. My brother is an avid surfer; he's out there almost every day.

Question: Wasn't the acclaimed sitcom, Father Ted all filmed in Clare?

Answer: It was surely. The house from Father Ted is just up the road from Ennistymon and if you remember the episode with Graham Norton, well that was the Allwee caves. And you remember the Christmas special where they get lost in the lingerie department; well that was Dunnes Stores in Ennis. The crew would drink in Eugene's pub in Ennistymon - one of my old haunts.

Question: You can't mention Clare and not talk about the Burren. What do you like most about the Burren?

Answer: Well you can't talk about the Burren and not mention the cliffs of Moher (laughs). They're on the shortlist for nomination for the seven natural wonders of the world. Also, there's a very peaceful life in those towns in the Burren and because of their isolation, they've built a strong sense of community.