Scairbh

Na

gCaorach

EMYVALE

On the Way to Poland

We hope to get regular updates on Ireland’s progress or lack of it from the Euros through Monaghan personality, Frank Murphy. It was a bit of a surprise when Frank decided not to cycle there but instead travel in comfort in a well-kitted out Camper. His first check-in came this evening (Wednesday):

I am on the road to Poland to Support the Boyes in Green. Travelling with me are: Bernadette Murphy(wife),her sister Maura McGurk,and Seamus(Jass) Soraghan(brother).

We departed this Morning from the Big Town of Keady at 05:30am,caught the Stena ferry from dublin at 08:00am to Holyhead,arrived to Holyhead at 11:30am. We drove direct to Folkestone and got the Shuttle to Calais at 20:50, arrived to Calais at 21:30, Parking in Calais for the Night.

Thursday::07-06-12:Calais to Berlin
After a slow start,we got away from Calais around 10am,,Drove up a Motorway which is Known Locally as the Corridor which connects France With Belguim,then on in the Direction of Dunkirk,Oostende.,Brugge,Gent,Antwerpen,Turnhout,then crossed the Border out of Belguim into Holland and drove in the direction of Eindhoven and crossed the Border between Holland and Germany at a Town of Venlo we are now into Germany time now is 1400hr

Crossed the great Rhein River into the Rhur Valley,Passing the Big Industrial Citys of,Duisburg,Essen,Dortmund,Hamm,were we stopped at an Autohof,which Caters for Long Distance Truck Drivers
These Autohof are Strategically placed troughout the Autoban Network in Germany,

Driving on Autoban A2 in the direction of Hannover,then passing Braunschweig, on this A2 you pass by the old Border Crossing at Marieborn which Divided West and East Germany in the Old Cold War Days.

I have(Fond) Memories of Standing at this Border Crossing in the Early Eighties doing Customs Clearance into The DDR of the old East Germany with a truck loaded with Meat going to Dresden,wondering if I would every See
Killylough again,now it all gone no more Guards with Dogs and Guns,no more Customs,now you just drive straigh on Democracy has prevailed is this Part of Europe all for the good, Germany is a very well Oied Machine,anyway onwards to the Big City of Magdeburg,brandenburg,and finally arriving in BERLIN at 1am this Morning were we parked once aagan at an Autohof on the East side of Berlin on route to the Polish Border at Frankfurt-Oder.A Marathon Journey of 900Km
Yesterday we drove through four Countries,France,Belgium,Holland and Germany
Further updates to Follow

Day:3:08-06-12:
Got on the road from the East side of Berlin at 10am
Drove East on Autoban A12,in the Direction Frankfurt Oder the Germany Polish Border,after 45km we crossed the great Odra River that Creates the Border between Germany and Poland,From Passed "Experiences" at this Border Crossing I was expecting some delays,but we were pleasantly surprised that it was only a routine check of our Passports, after some Pleasantries were Exchange the Polish Borders Guards,the Commandant informed me that I was no longer on there most wanted list of Defaulted Speeding Fines in there Country,we were wave through,and we done a short interview for Germany T.V at no Fee
We then got onto the Brand New E30 Highway to Poznan,after 180km we touch down in Poznan,we then found the Carlsberg Irish Fan Zone and after some Confusion we eventually got checked in
We were directed to a Hay-Field which was only recently topped and may I add that it was not even raked it is in the centre of the City,this Field is a Sea of Green White and Gold,from Cork to Donegal,from Mayo to Dublin,from Australia to Greenland they Irish are all here,if Ireland progress in this competition Poznan will Rock and Roll.
Tonight we are all heading down town Poznan to the Dubliner Bar and restaurant..
Further update tomorrow Ladies&Gents and it is great to be Irish in Poland.

On left are: Seamus, Maura, Bernadette and P.J. Morgan with the great Jimmy Mee in downtown Poznan this morning Saturday. Picture taken by Frank

Two unhappy Turkish guys with Frank. They were unhappy because they were knocked out by Croatia

Day:4/5:Lots has happen Since my last report:
Day:4:Sat:9th June 2012:Explored the old City of Poznan,we ended up in the Stary Rynek Square which was Heaving with Irish and Croatian Fans singing the Anthems. There was Great Camaraderie among all of the Fans,it was indeed a unforgettable sight,we met loads of People from Monaghan in the Main Watering Hole called the Dubliner which was a Crazey place,it took me back to my Days in the Green Shebeen in Park St,,
Sunday: 10th June 2012 (D-Day)
Decided on the Morning of the Match that we would go to the Mjestic Stadium Early were the Match was beign Held to Savour the Build up to the Game.we entered the Stadium Early to get a good View of the inside of the Stadium. The opening Cermemony was indeed very Impressive and the Poles put on a very good Show for the Game  Unfortunately The Irish Weather follow us to the Match and the Skies opened and down came the Rain which left the Pitch very Slippery. The Irish team was the First out onto the Pitch,the 30000 Irish Fans gave
there Heroes a Passionate welcome which took the roof of this Stadium,as did the Croatians fans for there Heroes
The game Started and with in Three Minutes Disaster Struck the Croats had the Ball in the Back of the Irish Net,the Irish Fans then got behind there team and within 20Min the team responded and St Ledger struck with a
Magnificent header inside Box and the Ball Struck the Croats "Onion-Bag and Ireland was back in the Game and the Stadium was Rocking. Then on the 43min Jelavic Struck again and the Ball was in the Irish net, Half time could not come quick enough irish spirits were down and Destined Sink Further
The 2nd half commenced and within 3min the Croats Struck again and,Ireland Chased the Game but got little reward for the effortless Irish should have been awarded a" Penalty" for a foul on Our Gallant Captain Robbie
Keane.Final Score Croatia:3:Ireland:1. Game over back to the Carlsberg Fan Zone were it was a noticeable sense of Disappointment
Day:6:Monday 11th June 2012:
Got packed up early and hit the road for Gdansk which is close to 300km fron Poznan,Crossed the Vistula River into the city of Torun which is inscribed on the world Heritage list of UNESCO,Truly a Beautiful City with Magnificent Medieval Architecture and with stunning views.as I finish this report we are getting on the road for the final Leg to Gdansk,and onwards and upwards, Bring on Shane Long and James McClean and we will Conquer the Spanish. There is still 6 Points out there to Fight For
Further Update to Follow Ladies and Gents
Tke frank

Day:7:Tuesday:12th June 2012
Set Sail Tuesday Morning from Big Town of Torun on Route Gdansk,,, We had a Campervan Meeting,Majority Ruled that our Destination Should be Sopot Headquarters of the Irish Team,Arrived into Sopot at 18:30 Local Time got
parked 300meters from the Sheraton Hotel Base of the Irish team, Sopot is the Rivierea of Baltic Sea, it has remained unspoiled with as far as the Eye can See miles of Golden Sands Beaches backed by a stretch of a Pined Forest,every amenity for the Holiday maker and of course the football Supporters is provided for in this Area.

Day:8:Wednesday:13th June 2012
The Ladies went sight seeing, Myself and Seamus Visited the Team Hotel were we met Trappatonni and his Interpreter Manuela,There we had a Brief Discussion on Team Selection and Tactics,after the Team Meeting the ladies had returned from their Sight Seeing trip of Sopot,we then went for Dinner at a Beach Side Restaurant on the Golden Mile Beach of Sopot we watched the Sun Go Down over the Baltic See truly a sight I never Forget!!,

Day:9:Thursday:14th June 2012
The day Started brightly but soon descended into a Wet,Windy and Cold Day, We caught the 1500hr train from Sopot to Gdansk Central Station,on arrival in Gdansk Central it was heaving with Irish Supporters and Tickets Tout's who were hell bent on Fleecing the Irish Lads of their hard earned Euros,Class A tickets with a face Vaule of €120.were Rapidly changing hands for €500 to €600,needless to say Murphy or Soraghan were not caught up in
this inflated Price War for Tickets, We caught the train from Central station to the P.G.E Arena Gdansk,were the
Atmosphere was Electric,Irish and Spanish Supporters Mingled Freely outside the Stadium singing their anthems,we entered the Stadium Early,the Noise was deafing,from the kick off the Irish team were chassing the game, the Spanish cut trough the irish Defence like a Hot Knife trough Butter,Torres struck on the 4th Minute and the rest is History,The Irish Team emptied theirs Tank's on the Shore of the Baltic Sea on that a wet and windy night in the City of Gdansk,but the Irish Faithful Just Keep on Singing"The-Table-is Up Side Down" we are going to win the cup,
Result: Ireland:0-Spain:4

Day:10 Friday:15th June 2012
We awoke Early and the Sun was Shining,the post motem had already started on the previous Night Performance,in the words of the Late Jimmy Soraghan "Class will Shine Through" and how true those word are,we were beaten by a more Superior Team,who could possible progress to final stages of this tournament and Possible win the Tournament outright, I and my companions went sight seeing in Gdansk which is a most interesting City,it is called the city of freedom in it role in over coming communism In poland and central europe,I would highly recommend a visit to this great city Gdansk to everybody,We have had this Sat Morning another Campervan Meeting,Majority Ruel that we will travwl South to Poznan to catch the Italy V Ireland Game on Monday Evening,now going to the Pub,,More to follow!!!!!!
Tks frank

On left is Hotel Wejsscie, which is on the campsite while on right is the unspoilt beach in Sopto. Are those Frank’s footprints??

Day:13:June 18th 2012
We decided early that morning to go and visit the Renowned Lake Malta were many international Sporting Events take place,,Lake Malta is a man made construction buit by the Germanys in the Early 1940,it is situated just
outside the City of Poznan.Finlly game time has arrived Ireland V Italy,we drove to the Stadium were we
managed to get parked about a mile from the Stadium,Once again the Irish are out in Force still singing and in high spirits,Estimated 30000 in and around the Stadium The opening ceremony was once again spectacular,the Teams arrive out onto the pitch to a rapturous reception from their fans.The game started Ireland played well.Midway trough the first half Italy had  the Ball in the Irish net,the irish fans still roared their team on,first half Ireland :0 Italy:1 The second half commenced with the irish attacking down the flanks and trough the middle,gettings shouts off on the italian Goals but to no avail..I saw the Italians Sigh go up for a substitution and on Pranced like a race
horse the Inimitable Mario Balotelli,with. Andrea Pirlo supply the 0bullets like crosses it was only a matter of time before Balotelli struck with a Superb Scissor like Strike giving Shay Given no chance and the ball struck the Irish Net,the Referee blew the Final Whistle the game was over: Italy:2 Ireland:0, The Italians progress to the Second Round, Ireland Go Home

The Moving Scenes by the Italians Players after the Game towards the Irish Players and the Irish Fans,was quite Memorable were Balotelli Embraced Shay Given and exchanged Shirts,Then all of the Italian players done a lap of the Stadium Applauding the Irish Fans The Fields Of Athenry Rang out around this Magnificent Stadium,Streaks of
Lightning Flashed across the Night Sky of Poznan, The Irish was still Singing not a Glass in the House was Broke, were Irish and Italian Fans Embraced, we headed back to the Campervan were we headed out onto the A2
Highway Direction Frankfurt Oder, and onwards to Berlin.we parked up just outside the City of Berlinn around 2am Tuesday Morning.
Day:14:June 19th 2012
We visited the Great City of Berlin,we Toured the City on a open deck Bus taking in all of the Fantastic Sights that this great City has to offer,we then drove in the Direction of Hannover were we parked for the Night, we managed to catch the game between England V Ukraine,,Were England progress to the second round to Meet Italy,
Day;15 June 20th 2012
Back on the road again driving in the direction of Arnheim Holland, were we stopped to Visited the WW2 Museum, in the City,This City was the Place were the Allies Forces tried to Push Back the Germany Advance. There is a lot of
History attached to this City,the Inspiration for the Film"A Bridge too Far" was based on the Events that took place there all those years ago, We then drove to the Hook Van Holland were we caught the overnight Stena Ferry to Harwich.
Day:16:21st June 2012
We landed to a very Wet and Windy Harwich at 05:30am on Thursday Morning,we decided to go and visit the Olympic Village in Stratford East London,we managed to Navigate the Campervan with a Struggle through the Blackwall Tunnell Four timesa before we got a Parking Spot in a Irish Pup Car Park,There is a Security Cordon of a mile Radius in and around the Olympic Village,it is impossible to get to the Site,Not to be out done we Manage to
Breach the Security Cordon from on a high from the Fourth Floor of John Lewis Store in West fields Shoppong Mall were we got a Birds Eye View through Binoculars and Telescopic Lens, it is amazing Sight of the Arena and
the tracks.We then went onto Bedford were we stayed the Night with Carol Soraghan
Day:17th June 22nd 2012
We drove North Bound on M1 towards Leicester,Stopping in the Pretty Village of Barrow-On -Soar with Amanda Soraghan,we went for Dinner in the Lodge were we saw the Germany V Greece enough Said,The Germanys are on the March once again (whatch out you Brits) accompanied by Angela Merkel the Pay-Master
Day:18th 23th June 2012
The Last Leg,we departed from Barrow and drove north bound M1 then M6 onto Holyhead,were we caught the 13:50 ferry to Dublin
We all agree that this trip has been an Once in a lifetime Experience.There has been some Hairy Moments along the Way but we all Survived and lived to tell the Tale..
Roll on the Road to Rio (There is a song in them words) with the Boys in Green (wee Hope),were the Field's of Athenry will resound once More.
As I type this last Report I am Standing on the Top Deck of the Stena Adventurer Ferry,,longing for the Irish Shore
Tks
Frank

Day:11:June 16th 2012
We spent Saturday Sight Seeing in Sopot and Chilling out. We went for Dinner on the Sat Night in one of the many Beach Side Restaurants,,we returned to the camp site were we met a old from Clonmel Mr Joe Power of St Davnets Fame and related many and old story into the small hours,

Day:12:June 17th 2012
We Departed from the campsite in Sopot around lunch time on the Sunday,Driving South to Poznan,Five hours later Touch Down Poznan,We managed to get parked by accident close to the City Hotel were the Irish Team were Based,we managed to catch the Germany V Denmark game that night while have a cool Beer in the Hotel Sports Bar,