Musings on the motor car or Why I love Ireland

I am writing this in England at an M4 motorway service station (yes Fianna Foil, such things do exist) on my way to Swansea to catch the sailing of the MV Julia for the first time.  My journey has taken me on the A21 (a lot of traffic), the M25 (heavy traffic followed by congestion), and then the M4 (heavy traffic again).

All this has prompted me to think about a few things.Firstly, our love of the motor car.  Now don’t get me wrong – I plead guilty as charged on this count, though living in Cork city has reduced my usage considerably. There is no doubt that motorised transport has transformed our lives over the past 45 years (the time I have held a full licence).  Yet, driving through these congested motorways I am forced to ask the question – where are all these people going and is it REALLY necessary that they go by car?

Now I have a good excuse. I am exporting my 10 year old Toyota Avensis to Ireland as it is younger by a few years and has done half the mileage of our existing car.  As it has outlived it’s usefulness in England it can now live out it’s days usefully in Ireland. This inevitably involves the journey from Tunbridge Wells to Swansea to catch the ferry.

What of all these other cars? Alright, it is Sunday and many people will be visiting relatives and in these days of the widely distributed family such relatives may live far away. This accounts for a few. More may be family outings.  But the majority of cars contain only the driver. So I remain in ignorance. In my experience, this day is no different to any other day.

Secondly, I appreciate all the more the uncongested Irish motorways. Now, living, as I said, in Cork city, I am painfully aware of the nightmare of having to negotiate the city centre by car at any time between 8am and 7pm – and the impossibility during rush hour – and please don’t get me started on the Mums delivering their darlings to school in their 4 x 4′s, that is the subject of a rant all in it’s own.  But anywhere outside the major conurbations and unbypassed towns, our motorways are deserted by comparison and driving is so much less stressful than here in England.

Of course there are many other reasons why I love living in Ireland – or rather, in Cork – being 2 hours from some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, West Cork & Kerry, to name but one.  It would take some time to list all the reasons. Rather sadly, given the main subject of this missive, the reason just stated involves the use of a motor vehicle and the fact that the vehicle most used for these journeys is my camper van is no excuse.

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