Northern Ireland in July

[FionnulaTheCooler]

We were thinking of going to Northern Ireland in the summer, I've looked at a nice holiday cottage near Cushendall. The availability though would mean us travelling home by ferry on the 12th of July, is this a bad idea in terms of the marches taking place, would the roads be an absolute nightmare with closures for parade routes for us getting back to the ferry port?

Belfast born and bred here - I (and most other sane people!) either go on holiday or stay strictly at home for the 12th. Genuinely it’s the worst week of summer you could possibly choose to come here.

I spend a lot of time in NI, and I’d avoid it.

Thanks, that's what I suspected but didn't really want to be the case. Might have to rethink some plans then.

I think it really depends. If you're coming from Cushendall straight up to Belfast then you're probably going to be on the M2 and it'll be a clear run. If you stick to the coastal route then there'll be loads of tourists about and the drive can be slow. It's fairly easy to avoid marches!

Oh I live in NI not far from Cushendall so I've roughly 50 years of experience of avoiding the 12th!

Cushendall is absolutely fine on 12th July, as would the drive to Larne Ferry port.