Clash of the ash to reach Congress

I HAD planned to leave Brussels on Thursday and head for Newcastle, after a few meetings around Dublin, for the great gathering of GAA administrators, aka Annual Congress, in the lovely Slieve Donard Hotel in Down.

Alas, with the volcanic ash crisis, it turned a simple journey into a travelling ordeal.

In fact only after three taxis, three other cars, eight trains, two ferries and one hotel room in London did I finally make it to the Mourne County on Friday night.