I got a bit of a scare today. My camera strap came unattached [this should not have happened] from the camera which dropped to within an inch of the concrete footpath. Because I had an emergency tether attached the camera was not damaged.

Later in the year I got a new camera and a new strap and in 2018 a metal part broke but fortunately I was in my hotel room and the camera fell on the floor so it was not damaged.

In 2019 during a visit to Belfast I had a very bad fall and damaged three ribs but both the lens and the camera survived.

I had booked hotel rooms for three days in June and about a week before my visit I discovered that the train service to the city had been suspended for the month of June.

2019 UPDATE:

At the last minute in 2018 I got a room at the George in Limerick for two nights at a very good price but when I asked to extend my stay by one night the asked for Euro 240 which was more than I had paid for two nights so I refused and returned home on schedule.

In 2019 I could not afford to stay at the George in June but much to my surprise I got a very good deal from Pery's Hotel. The price was so good that i was a bit worried but on arrival I discovered that the room was huge and well maintained and based on my three days there I had decided that i would base myself there in future. However, a few hours ago I got an amazing offer from the George [late June 2020] … three nights for about Euro 200 … so I booked as I can cancel at anytime. Usually if I book I do not cancel.

In the case of Belfast I managed to get a good price at the Bullitt in 2018 and I really liked the hotel and the location. However, the price in 2019 was almost double at the same hotel. I decided to investigate if I could get better prices by visiting in March and struck it lucky as I got an excellent deal from the Ramada during the week when the UK was supposed to exit the EU. My main concern was that the weather could be a problem but there was no rain during the week of my visit and that really surprised me. I have already booked three nights at the Ramada in May 2020 and the price is even lower than what I paid this year [2019].

Cork is proving to be the major problem as the hotels there are charging much more than I am willing to pay. In 2018 I had to reduce my stay to two nights and that did not go very well. This year I stayed in a B&B near the railway station and to be honest it worked out much better than I had expected and I would consider staying there again but unfortunately it is difficult to book in advance. A few minutes ago I good an unexpected offer from the Maldron for three nights in June 2020 and while the price is slightly more than I would normally be willing to pay I decided to accept the deal as it was within my overall budget.

I am planning to spend the rest of the week in Limerick and I will be staying in the George Boutique hotel in the city centre. The George is an excellent hotel but I cannot afford to stay there in 2018 because of price increases. I have actually booked the Clayton Hotel on Steamboat Quay at a better price for my 2018 visit. Because of cost I will be dropping Kilkenny from next year’s schedule.

This year I got my rooms in Limerick at a good price but not as good as last year or the year before. According to local newspapers hotel prices are increasing at the rate of 15% per year but based on my experience it is closer to 30% and the quality of service has reduced. Having to wait until 3pm to check in and the requirement to check out by 11am has become universal despite the price increases.

The “Streets Of Ireland” project requires me to visit the major cities and towns in Ireland at least once per year but as the cost of accommodation is increasing at an amazing rate it will be necessary to reconsider the program unless I can get sponsorship. Until now I have funded the programme from my own pocket but I am running out of funds.

“The Clayton Hotel is Ireland's tallest hotel and it offers stylish rooms with views of the River Shannon. Guests have free use of the luxury health club”.

Many hotels are no longer offering the opportunity to cancel a booking even if you make a booking a year in advance. I keep getting amazing offers only to discover that they expect to be paid in advance with no possibility of a refund if a change in schedule is required. This has become a major problem in the case of Cork and Belfast.

Why have prices in Belfast increased so much when Sterling has reduced by about 15%?

As a result of increasing prices here in Ireland I may consider the possibility of visiting cities outside Ireland.