Stamps And Letters: Carrick-a-Rede mailart

Carrick-a-Rede mailart

New Carrick-a-Rede mailart in from Dewi in Canada.

Carrick-a-Rede mailart from:

Ali Warner, journalist, mum and occasional philatelist.

My A-Z stamp – Carrick-a-rede rope bridge.

My Mail-art title: What I’d say to my 15 year old self.

I remember my first visit to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge very well. The date is imprinted in my subconscious forever – 13 July 1985 – the day of Bob Geldof’s Live Aid – the day that my poor parents decided to take their 15 year old daughter and her two buddies on a trip around the Antrim coast when really all they wanted to do was watch the TV and see Saint Bob utter his request to ‘give us your fxxxing money’.

With the car windows down and Radio1 blaring we headed to Northern Ireland’s infamous rope bridge, once used by fishermen to check their salmon nets.

In 1985 Carrick-a-Rede was a wobbly rope bridge with exposed sides and wooden planks. There are times when I thank God for modern health and safety – the modern version is sturdier though still a daunting prospect.

Not the best with heights normally I took off my shoes and decided to pad across in bare feet – in front of me a teenage boy was jumping up and down on it trying to make it sway and wobble. Suffice to say I was terrified. And once there I still had to get back…

Fast forward to 2011. My 41-year-old self was holidaying in Northern Ireland with hubby and twin boys in tow. Driving round the Antrim Coast the opportunity arose to visit Carrick-a-rede again. Did I do it dear readers? – A Frayed Knot!

For more on Carrick-a-rede visit: http://www.causewaycoastalroute.com/index.php/carrick-a-rede