Journalist . Travel Writer . Photographer . Bike Gallivanter

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Tracey

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Journalist. Travel writer. Roughty-toughty adventurer. Mountain Bike Gallivanter. Also known as "The Trail Tart"

Posts by Tracey:

The Joy of the New Jordan Bike Trail
The Magic of Macedonia
Mountain Biking Tuscany
Mountain Biking in the Alps
Mountain Biking Through One of Europe’s Oldest National Parks
How My Little Bike Movie Hit the Big Screen – Filmed By Bike Festival

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In the name of the grandfather: Out there in the

In the name of the grandfather:

Out there in the deep waters of Cork Harbour, lies a small 103-acre island, which tells a salient tale of Ireland’s long struggle for freedom … and it also holds a personal story for the Croke family.

Spike island (Inis Pic in Irish) is known as Ireland’s Alcatraz. This ex British military fort was once the worlds largest prison.

During Ireland’s two-year War of Independence (1919 to 1921) over one third of Ireland’s political prisoners were held in a huge interment camp there.

The majority of the suspected republicans - civilians aged between 16 and 66 - were simply lifted off the streets and imprisoned (some executed) under martial law without fair trial. The British judiciary later found these trials were illegal.

One of the internees was my grandfather-in-law, Edward (Ned) Croke. He was held at Spike before being transferred to Bere - another prisoner island off the coast of County Cork on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way touring route (More to come on that).

Grandfather Ned was freed shortly after the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed just over 100 years ago on 6th December 1921. It brought an end to 700 years of British occupation, under which, millions died or were forced to leave for other shores. The population of Ireland never fully recovered and continued to decline until the late 20th century.

Today, the whole of Spike island is an award-winning tourist attraction dedicated to telling this globally important story.

Seventy million people around the world claim Irish heritage or ancestry, according to the Irish Government. If you think you have a family connection to the island you can leave your details and a historian will contact you.

Dismal weather added to the experience during our visit to honour grandfather Ned’s memory. As we left the island, the skies brightened and the sun cracked through the clouds.

It was a nod from Ned to his freedom and the freedom of Ireland, we’d like to think.

#SpikeIsland #Ireland #cobh #cork #bantrybay #wildatlanticway #irishhistory #irishheritage #irishpride #irishancestry #irishstories #familystories #warofindependence #irishrebellion #prisonislands #freedom #ireland

Gotta be done! #kittys #tickybox #Kinsale #ireland

Gotta be done! #kittys #tickybox #Kinsale #ireland #goodtimes #mygoodness #myguinness

The Comeragh Mountains seen from Slievenamon, wher

The Comeragh Mountains seen from Slievenamon, where the remains of ancient burial cairns are, according to Gaelic myth, portals to the “Otherworld” - a parallel universe of everlasting youth and joy. I didn’t get the full outlander-ish experience, but the abrupt climb up to the top put some colour in my cheeks. #slievenamon #ireland #hike #climb #discoverireland #natureplay #travwriters

During the 90s I had a dream job working in sponso

Rise and shine in the mystical reflections of Irel

Rise and shine in the mystical reflections of Ireland.

#whatisawonmyrun #riseandshine #kildare #ireland #reflections #riverliffey #loveireland #discoverireland #ireland

My top reason for loving bike travel is literally

My top reason for loving bike travel is literally stumbling across stuff I didn’t have the foggiest idea about. Many years after riding though Ikara - Flinders Ranges National Park on the epic 900km Mawson Trail, I get to tell the geological story I’ve always wanted to for @bbc_travel

As it turns out, the region tells an unparalleled tale about the dawn of life and the rise of animals. Nowhere else is this evolutionary story so complete and so accessible, according to world-leading palaeontologists. I might be biased, but there are so many extraordinary and yet under-sung places like this in Australia. Link in bio ☝️

#adventuretravel #geology #mountainbiking #australia #fossils #ikara #ikaraflindersrangesnationalpark #southaustralia #travwriters #thetrailtart

Take a big fat breath of a misty crispy Irish morn

Take a big fat breath of a misty crispy Irish morning. Tá fáilte romhat.

#JetlagRecoveryMode

#ireland #discoverireland #irelandtravel #visitireland #loveireland #instaireland

See you in a couple of months Sidders. #ManlyMorni

See you in a couple of months Sidders. #ManlyMornings #sydneylife #LoveManly #MyBackyard #BikeRides #BeachRuns

Gears and Beers weekend wrap complete with cheesy

Gears and Beers weekend wrap complete with cheesy music. 170 kms through beautiful Wiradjuri Country. See ya next time Wagga Wagga!

Some 📷 by @tom_marsh @sezzaanneevans and @bechoschke

🎶 licensed from Audio Jungle.

#gravelride #dirty130 #ohmybotty #gearsandbeers #goodvibes #waggawagga #thetrailtart #travwriters

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Want some bike adventure inspiration? Check out The Trail Tart: A video diary series of two-wheeled galavants around the globe

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