I FINALLY got there, Newtownstewart

Set off for Newtownstewart on the coldest day ever. Bus dropped us off at wrong place, so we ended up walking in the countryside for ages, until we found signs. Size of Waipawa, Monday pm and everything closed except Conways Bar. This was well worthwhile (tiny bar), they all remembered the Doak name. Had photos of Doak´s Hole, which was a fishing hole that is evidently well known through Europe. It is still called this. Also a photo of ´Doaks farm´ which is now a fish farm. It was quite a way out of town but one of the guys bought it up on google maps. They also produced their visitors book, which had an entry of a cousin of ours, Peter Doak Oct 1994 (the photos I had came from him). There is a photo of his entry which states ´my great great grandfather born here´. Also found the house where our great great grandfather lived, No 8 Upper Street. That was a thrill. There is also a ruined castle there (1619 originally 4 stories high), it was damaged during the Irish Rebellion in 1641.With reluctance we had to leave this snug warm place and make our way back to the motorway to flag down the right bus. In the meantime we were starving. Were told to go cafe, that I don´t think was open. They made us a sandwich and cuppa. Newtonstewart has great history, it is fascinating. Can view on google.

Outskirts of town

War memorial

Dam it cold, bit of a crappy street

The main street

Blue house is where my grt grt grandfather lived

Conways Bar where they have all the fun

As i said, where they have all fun!

Conways, smaller than my lounge

Neat people, they will miss us

Entry in visitors book Oct 1994

19th century, photo in pub

Same

No 8 Upper Street, so rapt to find it

Castle 1614, big story about this google

This could be Doaks hole!

OMG so cold