This picture of me and Daniel was taken on Friday 27th January 2017 at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Donegal. We were there for a ball held by my friends Christina and Ali.
It was a weird time for us as I still hadn’t been diagnosed with anything other than arthritis. Still I knew I couldn’t wear high heels and let me tell you, I was devastated!
We rang the hotel ourselves to ensure there were no accessibility issues. Daniel rang Ryanair in advance to let them know my travelling needs. Both the airline and hotel staff took care of us and helped me to have the best time. This is a good thing to do every time you travel. Things and circumstances change so often. A couple of calls can really help you to avoid disappointment, pain and frustration.
Now onto my attitude with a bit of background. A lot of my mindset when I started developing my condition was to look at the things I couldn’t do. My favourite person and travel companion Daniel is from Ireland. In fact I met him at the same time I met Christina and Ali. I small-mindedly viewed it as a sort of homecoming for Daniel even though he is from Cork in the very south, Christina is from Donegal ROI and Ali is from Ballymena (NI). All the scenarios in my head played out with his friends feeling sorry for him that he was stuck with me now. “I can’t wear heels! Is there any point in going if I’m going I can only dance for one or two songs! I am embarrassed to have a walking stick! You didn’t marry to be my carer! I’ll get tired! I’ll look stupid!”
I have always been known for my crazy heels. Not being able to wear them for that party was like losing another part of my identity. I think I myself was only seeing my disability and projecting that to others. Daniel doesn’t let me wallow. I can be sad, everyone gets that way but everyone needs that person in their life who reminds them how to be happy and confident.
“I’m assuming there are crazy flat shoes right? Find some of those”. Long story short! I did! They are the glowy ones in the pictures. (Disclaimer: Glowy is not the brand, it is a word I made up)
I had good food. Nay great food! The IG has an amazing breakfast! It has lifts to these delights! I had great company! I had the best date to accompany me! (I’m biased).
And my shoes were a talking point. It didn’t matter that I had a walking stick. I danced to my 2 and a half (Win! WIn!) songs. When the first person I hadn’t seen in a while came up, I felt myself shrink back. “Oh no here we go. They only know the BEFORE me, they’re going to look at me differently. They won’t see ME anymore.” I felt Dan grip my hand in support as he had seen the shrinkage. They told me that I looked great, asked how I was doing and then where I got my shoes from and how did they work. (You charge them btw).
I learned that night that you can still feel fabulous even if your circumstances change for the worse. That night was the beginning of getting my groove back when I thought it was impossible. Now I wear heels when I am on my Scootie
So when I look at pictures of that night, I remember the scared, apprehensive, angry little person and think of the fun she had, the confidence she regrew and the good time had by all!
Don’t forget that It’s important to look at the things we CAN do. I’m probably preaching to the choir here and I’m 75% sure that you figured it out before I did! So I hope you use it to have an adventure.
Inishowen Gateway Fact Sheet
The Gateway has Disabled parking spaces at the front of the hotel and accessible entrances.
There are Disabled access rooms available but as there are not many it is best to call the hotel to book and check availability
There are lifts to access the second floor
There is an accessible toilet in the lobby
I give this hotel 4 out 5 on accessibility. The only reason for 4 is because the pool facilities did not seem accessible to me*
Links
https://m.inishowengateway.com/
Glowy shoes from https://www.simplybe.co.uk/
Dress: https://www.little-mistress.com/
Hair done at https://www.facebook.com/glamourbuncrana/
*I have contacted the hotel to see if their pool now has disabled access, however as of this date, I have not received a response possibly due to the current Lockdown
Access to All Areas 