Important Notice: Vacation Coaching and Itinerary Services will be paused from April 5 - May 15 while I am leading tours in Ireland. If you want guided assistance please book soon.
Reader Question: If you had to choose one side of the island for your first Ireland vacation, which would it be? This is a great question, though it is much like asking a parent which child is their favorite. I love it all! So which ‘side’ is best for your first Ireland vacation? That may be…
This article is based on a podcast episode featuring Biddy, from Westport House, in Westport County Mayo. If you prefer to listen to the podcast, you can find the player at the bottom of the page. Exploring Westport House and County Mayo In the beautiful County Mayo, Ireland, Westport House is a treasure trove of…
Jody’s guest is Gerard Bourke the 6th generation landowner in Uggool, County Mayo’s Lost Valley. He and his family welcome tourists to take a step back into Ireland’s past. This article is based on a podcast episode featuring Gerard Bourke. If you prefer to listen to the podcast, you can find the player at the…
It’s the county that inspired W.B. Yeats, yet Fáilte Ireland figures reveal it is the least visited county along the Wild Atlantic Way; the tourists that do find their way here pass through with quick glances through a window as they travel from Point A to Point B. With miles of inland and ocean water ways,…
The protected peninsula of Rosses Point, reaching from Sligo like a small hand between Sligo Harbour and Drumcliff Bay, is a well known local holiday spot. The sandy beach, ocean-side golf course, and marina, draw families searching for an active, yet relaxing, break. Yeats Country Hotel, the only hotel at the end of the quiet peninsula, is…
Jody is in Ireland at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre chatting with Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience. CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON below to listen. Stream our podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher, Libsyn and Google Play Music. Show Notes: (Click on times below to Expand) 00:00 Intro Jody is on location at the…
It’s true that County Clare lures visitors with a trio of tourist highlights: the towering Cliffs of Moher, the unparalleled surprise of the Burren, and Ireland’s friendliest airport in Shannon. But what else can you expect from this western county in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way? Quite a lot, actually. My most recent…
It was a funny coincidence that had me meeting Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience in 2013. As the girls and I waited for our Cliffs of Moher cruise with Doolin2Aran Ferries, we happened to be standing near a woman who was very knowledgeable about the area. She was happy to…
While I am always on the look out for new attractions and activities to share across Ireland it pays to revisit sites I’ve spent time at in the past. This fall the girls and I returned to the Cliffs of Moher. While we had seen the cliffs from a cruise in 2013, we hadn’t been on top…
Few drives in Ireland are as breath-taking as the Sky Road in Clifden. We experienced this first hand as we made our way to Ocean Villa B&B, our first lodging in Clifden. We were unprepared for the feeling that we could easily drop over the edge of the road- or the thrill that accompanied the views…
Reader Question: If you had to choose one side of the island for your first visit, which would it be? This is a great question, though it is much like asking a parent which child is their favorite. I love it all! So which ‘side’ of Ireland for a first vacation? That may be entirely dependent…
The Burren, famous for its barrenness, is one of the most unique places in Ireland. Its limestone terrain, hardy vegetation, and rugged animals, both wild and domestic, make the Burren a contrast. Barren limestone gives way to open grazing land. The limestone cliffs drop abruptly into the ocean. And beauty appears out of nowhere. Too often…
A falconry experience in Ireland is not to be missed. During our stay at Mount Falcon we had the opportunity to join Jason Deasey, the owner of the Falconry at Mount Falcon, and his adorable Hungarian Vizsla, Chili, on a hawk walk. The mews at Mount Falcon are located in the circle of Woodland Lodges in…
If the owners of Mount Falcon Estate would let me live in one of their Woodland Lodges I would move in tomorrow. My family arrived after a day spent in the tight quarters of our rental car. From Westport we drove Mayo’s untamed portion of the Wild Atlantic Way, wind and rain alternating their battering of us as we drove…
Please note: The original Doolin Hostel is now the Doolin Inn. Read my Doolin Inn review here. The Doolin Hostel is now in the building across the road and while still a very nice hostel which features dorm & private rooms and a complimentary continental breakfast each morning, the information in this article is not…
The Mamore Gap, in the Inishowen Peninsula, offers some of the most stunning views along the most northerly part of the Wild Atlantic Way. It is also home to Donegal’s Magic Road. A ‘Magic Road’ or ‘Gravity Hill’ is actually an optical illusion. A slight downward slope appears to be sloping upward, due to the…
Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny is the perfect hotel for your visit to the north of County Donegal, Glenveagh National Park, and the stunning Inishowen Peninsula. The hotel is easy to find as you enter Letterkenny via the N56 or N13/14 and is just east of the Port Bridge Roundabout and its stunning Polestar sculpture….
Traversing heather-pocked peaks and harmonious forests, the Ring of Kerry is a popular tourist trail situated on Ireland’s mystical and unblemished South-West coast. The 120 mile route covers vast expanses of imposing wilderness, welcoming hamlets and secluded waterways, as well as one of Ireland’s most spectacular storm pillaged coastlines. To find out more about what…
Once upon a time, before the thought of kids or marriage had entered my mind, I took a vacation to Ireland. Just me, self navigating from the “wrong” side of the road, following a map, often getting lost and having the greatest adventure of my life. I was loading the images from that trip into…
The Cliffs of Moher has been one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions for at least 200 years. O’Brien’s Tower was built as a viewing spot in 1835. And though the view from the cliffs doesn’t change, the thrill of visiting has yet to waiver. I’ve visited the Cliffs of Moher three times- and never has…