Aoife O’Connell chronicles the adventure in the diary below:

Day 008 > Monday 09 September

Place: Belfast

Modes of transport:
1. Specially modified wheelchair bus that can load 13 wheelchairs -
    the only one of its kind in Ireland.
2. Yellow Moderna Ferrari
3. Miniature steam engine

Our latest claim to fame is that we have visited every Safeway store in Northern Ireland. Who else amongst us can lay claim to that except the Around the World in Eighty Ways team! A true sense of what it feels like to be a politician was experienced by all team members yesterday as we shook countless hands and downed at least a gallon of tea each.

It all represented the warmest of welcomes from the staff at each Safeway store who have been fundraising all year for our Northern Irish beneficiary PHAB (Physically Handicapped Able Bodied).

Forms of transport today included a miniature steam engine, a yellow Ferrari and a wheelchair bus, the only one in Ireland that can carry 13 wheelchairs! Heather Lyons from Safeway, Rainer Pagel from PHAB and Dermot Hannah from Hewlett Packard were on hand to officially welcome the team to Northern Ireland.

Best moment:
The team met first Minister David Trimble and deputy First Minister Mark Durcan at Stormont. Caroline took the opportunity to state that we "should all focus on the ability of the individual and not on what the label says". Mike and Miles also joined in and all three made sure the Government visit was a worthwhile chance to alert another minister to a positive disability issue and what can be achieved.

Least favourite moment:
'Danny Boy' on repeat in the bus

Bear Hugs for:
Driver Eric from Quickie steam haulage, who built the 10 ft by 5ft green steam engine all by himself! Well done Eric.

Cheers Hillard for the ride in the giant Safeway truck!
MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF FROM SAFEWAY NI - the cakes/buns/sambo's etc were delish!

Mr. Trimble and Mr. Durcan for taking time out of their busy schedule to meet lil' ole us!

Makes You Think…
The team was guests of the Harbour Commissioners for their second sparkly event in connection with PHAB and Safeway with dinner on the evening of Day 8 served on no ordinary table. The 'Titanic Table' which now resides in the Harbour Commissioners in Belfast, was originally destined for the ill-fated Titanic. The table was not however finished in time to be on the ship for its first sailing, which turned out to be its last.

Days 009 to 014 > Aiofe's Diary reflection on the Irish phase of the trip:

Terra Incognita is fine for a while; I mean who doesn't enjoy a little adventure. Hell! If we didn't enjoy a little adventure we wouldn't be on this journey! However it must be said that it felt mighty good to be back on home turf, or terra firma, in Ireland. The nature of this trip being the unpredictable both myself and Caroline were delighted to see the Irish contingent pull out all the stops, they really did us proud.

Unfortunately my wisdom tooth decided to virtually explode in my mouth by the time we had reached Galway and I never got to meet the 'Jack and Jill' children. I do feel however from speaking to the team that this was a part they were really looking forward to. Endless interviews and photo calls can tire a body out, and I think getting back to the core issues really reminded the team why they are doing this.

This phase was very special for Caroline. Caroline nominated the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation as the Irish beneficiary of Around the World in Eighty Ways. Since becoming involved with the charity, she has shown great interest in it, she has been there to meet all the children at the charities annual zoo day in July, and has spoken at length to the trustees of the foundation. Caroline really does have an amazing way with kids, they completely adore her. Initially they are fascinated by this tall blonde girl and when the shyness passes they climb on top of her and its 'giddy up horsey' all the way.

"It really reminded me of the strength of the human character, how parents are coping and how all children are special no matter what they have so much to offer you" commented Caroline on the time spent with the children in Galway.

The story of Jack Irwin has really touched Miles. He spoke about baby Jack at the Gala Ball in Dublin Castle last Saturday night. When Jack died, his parents Jonathon and Maryanne decided to set up a foundation that would provide financial support to the parents of children like Jack, born with severe mental and physical disabilities.

Miles spoke about how this little tiny person had influenced the life of everyone present that night: "Whilst baby Jack had not been able to articulate any words during his short lifetime he spoke very powerfully to us tonight" said Miles, "His life was not in vain; he has impacted on us all and will continue to enrich the lives of many others". Miles' speech was so powerful that many of the people at the various tables were reduced to tears, a very poignant occasion, it was obvious people were very moved by Miles' words including Jack's parents, Maryanne and Jonathon.

Parents of another brave little boy, Adam Dooley Byrne were present with two and a half year old Adam at the Carlow Jack and Jill Event in the Delta Centre. Adam has a very unusual condition, he cannot metabolise fat. As a result of this Adam has had some serious medical difficulties and cannot walk or talk, but he can still laugh and smile. Adam did plenty of this when he came to the Delta Centre and was enchanted by the various sights, sounds and textures that the multi-sensory unit at the centre provided. This was Adams first time at the Delta Centre despite living only 10 minutes away and founder of the centre, Eileen Brophy was so impressed with this brave little boy that she has offered him sessions at the multi sensory unit every week.

When Mike makes a speech he always makes a point of saying; "If we change one person's life - then it's worth it". I think the team achieved that this week in Carlow.

Extracts from Caroline's Diary reflections on the Adventurer's time in Ireland.

Carolines full diary entries can be found at www.theaislingfoundation.org

Monday 9th September

Transports of the day
Single Decker Bus - Ballyclare to Belfast
Miniature Steam Wagon - shores Road
Ferrari Modenra 360 - Belfast

Thought of the Day
Back in Ireland - the land of the tea drinkers.

We could have only been in Ireland - for two reasons. Number 1 - the theory that in Ireland we are only separated by six degrees and Number 2 tea drinking! Regarding the theory of six degrees of separation - tonight we were at a black tie fundraising dinner for PHAB at the beautiful Harbour Commissioners building, when, out of the blue appeared Denis and Maria Maloney who are two individuals I have been longing to meet, as they are both friends of my father and husband. It still amazes me, but that wherever you go in Ireland you are bound to meet someone you know, or at least someone who knows someone you know. Even after only being a week away, it was wonderfully comforting! And on to the tea drinking! How many cups of tea do you reckon an individual can put away in a day - well on counting just now - I think that the team managed over 11 cups of tea today - no wonder we had so many pit stops! The reason for the marathon tea drinking session was that we were travelling to 6 Safeway Stores around Belfast in unusual modes of transport to support the fundraising that Safeway is carrying out for their chosen charity of the year - PHAB. After each leg of our bizarre sojourn through supermarkets, on miniature steam wagons, Ferraris, vintage cars and Safeway disabled trolleys - there was always a cup of tea waiting and of course a sticky bun! I fear I will yet again return from my travels like the incredible Michelin man!

Magic Moment of the day
Ok, so it was canary yellow, but hey it costs £120,000 Sterling, has a waiting list of 5 years,, is so low to the ground that it barley reaches your shoulders and goes from 20mph to 100mph in seconds - it is the fantastic Ferrari Moderna that drove me to Storemont today to meet the 1st Minister and the Deputy First Minister. Now, that is what I call style.

Hiccup of the day
However the day did not start off so glamorously. Our first official mode of transport this morning was provided by Eric, the steam fanatic, who transported us along Shore Road in his beautiful, but tiny miniature steam wagon, which was no bigger than a toy tonka truck. What was even more amazing than its sheer tinyness was that it went at 30mph along the M2. That is the M2 motorway! I hardly dared look behind me as I felt articulated trucks hurtle their way alongside us as Eric, oblivious to danger and armed with the appropriate license, tooted and hooted his way with childish glee! This is all very well until your little steam wagon runs out of steam and you find yourself at the edge of the highway lumping the much required coal into the furnace!

Tuesday 10th

Transports of the day
Helicopter - Augusta
Hino Tipper Truck

Thought of the Day
Our whistle top tour of Safeway stores came to an end and we departed Northern Ireland in style - via a beautiful executive twin jet helicopter that picked us up from a field outside Kilkeel whisking us to Dundalk Institute of Technology where we did a video conference link to UCD's conference on disability. It is great to be home - the sound of the accents, the colourful language, familiar faces and the real Irish sense of humour and of course good Guinness - you just can't beat it!

Magic moment of the day
We departed Dundalk not half as flash as we had arrived - in a Hino Tipper truck and made our way south via Mulingar to Roscommon. Mike's stature of 4 ft 7 was considered to be very fortunate as he laid back in the cabin bunk to rest his weary laurels while Miles interrogated our fine driver Matty Earley on the horse power, miles to the gallon and other anorak engine conversations. I, on the other hand, was relieved that Mike could not feel the remainder of his legs as I consistently sat on them fighting for space on the cabin bunk as we were bounced like rubber balls within the cabin - God help the surface of Irish roads! We stopped in Mulingar for a baggage handover and of course a Guinness for Miles, Mike and Jon. While Mike was served his pint in the private comfort of the Hino bunk, Paddy and Bridget took it upon themselves to shake a hat around the bar which resulted in a collection of 130 Euro - not bad at all when you consider there were only 9 people in the bar. The boys were astonished at the kindness and genuine hospitality and welcome shown to them and I have to say, both myself and Aofie glowed with a real sense of Irish pride. It really is wonderful to be back home and as always when you are away and you come back home, even if it was for a short while, you are reminded of some of the wonderful and unique characteristics of Irish people!

Hiccup of the day
Well there was more than one - but all in good taste. Firstly our helicopter was not able to find us as he circled the skies above us in Kilkeel which resulted in us whipping both the sheet and table cloths out of the PHAB adventure centre to act as flags!

Secondly, 4 minutes from our pick up point with Matty Earley and his Hino truck , Matty had the true road nightmare - a puncture!

Thirdly, within 1 mile of departing Dundalk, we were lost! And unfortunatley that was only the first time- no wonder we didn't reach Roscommon before midnight! And of course that has nothing to do with the one hour Guinness stop over!

Sincere thanks to Paddy Moran & Bridget Moran, Clohan Inn, Delvin Road, Mulingar, Co West Meath - 044 43678

Wednesday 11th September

Roscommon to Galway
Garda Jeep
Fire Engine
Fire Snorkel

Thought of the day
There is nothing like Irish hospitality! Thanks to the incredibly hospitable Catherine Campbell the team were treated to a first class Irish breakfast, and there was even a veggie option. After a wonderful night's rest, in possibly one of the most comfortable beds, with a duvet that literally hugs you to blissful sleep, the type of bed that you entirely resent detaching yourself from. Full bellied and oblivious to the grey drizzle, we met the Roscommon Gardai for our first mode of transport for the day. To Miles total delight, our driver Ollie Dempsey hit the Siren as we passed through Roscommon town so that Miles could record it on his audio diary - mind you how could you refuse the charming request of a man who says he takes photographs with his ears!

We transferred to the snorkel and fire engine at the town of Clare Galway to pay respect to those fire men who died on September 11th in New York a year ago. We wanted to pay tribute to the heroes of New York. For many people in the USA, today will be a sad one of remembrance, but one year on it's timely to know that life does go on and we want people, able and disabled alike, to live life to the full

We arrived into Galway and were met by the officers of Galway Fire Station! Though only midday, food was once again in order - I am so aghast how much we manage to consume on an hourly basis - and then a general snooze!

In the afternoon we met some of the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation families from the Galway area. Each of the Jack and Jill babies melted our hearts. When meeting these children you are reminded how valuable each of their lives are, how much they have to offer and how much they can give, regardless of the level of their disability! You are also reminded though, how much the Irish State is letting both the children and the families of the children down by having no support or care for the child and family before the age of four. What struck me most about the afternoon is the positive energy and strength that the parents consistently demonstrate. I just wish that our State would recognise how difficult it is for those families to survive and live normal lives. What changes when the baby becomes four years old? That is if the baby lives to be four at all! It is a disgrace to think that considering that on average there is about only 250 of these babies born a year, that nothing is being done to acknowledge the incomprehensible difficulties faced by these families. But what is inspirational is that the human spirit does not rely on the State but find enough spirit to succeed.

Magic moment of the day
Meeting and playing with the Jack and Jill babies. Despite their varying disabilities, these children, like any other children made us laugh, held our attention, stopped conversation and were, as all children are, fascinating and adorable!

Hiccup of the day
Haphazardly walking in on the residents of room 136 thinking it was my room. Apologies all around

Thursday 12th September

Sesna 172
Helicopter
Steam Engine
Ford 1952
Carlow Hunt
Horse and Trap

Thought of the day
Sleep where you can and Side saddle is the way to go. Whoever thought that in one day I could find myself in a light aircraft, stranded and imprisoned in Shannon Airport, missing a Waterford runway, banking and doing flybys in a souped up helicopter, dressing up in period costume and riding side saddle through the streets of Carlow, falling off my horse side saddle included, racing pony and traps and being pulled by a steam engine all in one day. But there you have it - that was Galway to Carlow in a day!

Our final mode of transport took us to the Delta centre in Carlow where we had a wonderful meal and got to meet the inspirational Eileen Brophy who set up the centre and established the only full sensory centre for children who have severe mental disabilities. The whole day seemed to blur by in a haze. I even found myself asleep in our second attempt to Waterford as we crawled through the air at a ground speed of 60 knots when we were in fact doing 110 knots in the air - no wonder it took us an hour and a half to do a half hour flight! We were all so exhausted that regardless of the turbulence of a bucking bull, myself and Miles just about slept through the whole thing.This airborne lark is getting to be second nature!

Though we packed as much into one day as you would in an adventure week, we had a fantastic time. I was so incredibly proud to be Irish. The welcome and reception we received at Carlow was so superb, I am not sure that I will ever be able to get the boys to leave - between the Guinness, the women (Wherever my two merry adventurers go they have women flocking and the boys just love the Irish accent) and the hospitality and welcome. It has been agreed that the team will return en-masse to Carlow on the 13th of December for a fancy dress. As long as I can have my period costume again, I am there!

Magic moment of the day
Once I had initially slid off and regained composure, riding side saddle through the streets of Carlow to arrive at the court house to a large double brandy in the evening September sun. Well that along with doing Helicopter acrobatics!

Hiccup of the day
Arriving four hours late in Loughlin bridge partly due to getting lost on the Apron of Shannon airport and not being able to find our way out of the blessed building once we finally managed to get into it!

Friday 13th September Dublin

Ford 1952
Smurfit Cardboard Boat
RIB boat

Thought of the day
Friday 13th; cardboard boat, the liffey, one completely blind person, one partially sighted person, one man in a wheelchair - life could not get more extraordinary!

After Seamus Kelly deposited us gently along East Wall on Friday morning 11.15am in the uncharacteristically sunny morning we were met with our most unusual and it has to be said , most ambitious mode of transport - two cardboard boxes mounted on a raft made of cardboard rolls. The challenge was to paddle from Juries to O'Connell Bridge without capsizing or sinking. And I would like to report that regardless of Friday the 13th and appalling paddling from the back, we managed to make it to O'Connell Bridge within 20 minutes. There are moments in your life when you ask yourself "What on earth am I doing here, or how on earth did I get here?" Well midday Friday as we paddled our way down the river I had one of those moments! It is amazing how your life can change in a moment or in a decision. It is so strange to imagine that two years ago I was a management consultant and frightened of walking into a pub on my own because of my sight! Now I own an elephant, have driven a car and see better then I ever did - I use my head!

Magic moment of the day
Reaching O'Connell bridge with one two blisters on my hands and seeing Mike's face after he realised that not only had we gone as far as the bridge but he had survived being lifted in and out of a floating cardboard box without calamity. The cherry that topped that cake was an invitation for a manic 50mph speed whistle top tour to Sandymount aboard one of our support RIBs - as you can imagine - there were no refusals!

Sincere thanks to John O'Louglin and Bill Stevens from Smurfit Corrugated Ireland for building the un-buildable and helping us do the impossible.

Hiccup of the day
Thinking that going out to dinner with a guide dog is not a problem. It is appalling to think that we were turned away from a restaurant tonight because we had a guide dog with us! I wouldn't mind but the Larry the dog is an awful lot more attractive than any of us!

Saturday 14th September

Lord Mayor's car
General rest, washing, recuperation and knicker buying before the gala ball in aid of the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation in Dublin Castle hosted by Minister Charlie McCreev and Noleen, his wife. And what a night but God I am sick of my dress already - there will have to be a sacrificial burning of the guna at the end of the three months.

Despite the dress, Dublin Castle was the perfect venue for dinner. As we entered the courtyard we were met by the drums and festival theatre of Macnas under a pinking evening sky. Champagne flowed upstairs and Mike checked out everyone's waistline - it is something I never think about, but being in a wheelchair your vision is reduced to the tummies and backsides of the crowd - something Mike says can be either very good or very bad! Our dinner provided by Dobbins in St. Patrick's Hall, which had been stunningly laid out with candles and giant iced vases of lilies, literally took your breath away. It truly does amaze me but I have to point out that I have noticed that my two male adventurers have found the perfect babe magnets - their wheelchair and white stick! Never have I seen such smooth operators. From the moment we arrived the two suave and debonair Casanovas were surrounded by women. Talking about this later in the night, they both admitted with the aid of a little alcohol, that in fact they found they were far more adept at charming women since acquiring their disabilities! I am not sure if this is true or not, but what I am utterly convinced of is that I can see trouble ahead and many a broken heart. We ended our evening back at the Alexander Hotel with a rowdy sing song of Jazz and blues and an awful lot of chocolate until 5.00am. The boys have refused to leave on Monday!