If you love a good stew this is one of the best I’ve ever made. While it can be made, start to finish, in about an hour and a half I prefer to make mine in the late morning and let it simmer on low for hours to really enhance the flavors. And it makes…
You’ll usually find a potato served at every meal in Ireland. They could be boxty (a traditional potato pancake) at breakfast, a side of fat chips at lunch, and mashed or roasted for dinner. Colcannon is a dish traditionally associated with the feast of Samhain (Halloween). During the feast to celebrate the end of the…
I adore Irish food. I think I’ve probably said that many (many) times over the years both on this website and in my podcast. And if I had to choose the one item I eat daily- multiple times if I can- it’s the Brown Bread. This quick, hearty bread is perfect with eggs and black…
Yes! Family travel in Ireland is possible! No land is more filled with magic than Ireland. Even if you’re past the age of believing in fairies (though I don’t think you should ever stop believing in fairies) the moment your flight touches down on Irish soil a feeling of possibility washes over you. You just don’t…
My husband Doug is annoyingly difficult to buy gifts for. He never ‘wants’ anything, doesn’t ‘need’ anything that he hasn’t purchased himself, and, most frustratingly, guesses what a gift is before he opens it. I hate buying gifts for him! But last year I found a gift that was perfect! It has long been our…
My husband and I have a running joke about titles. British titles, to be exact. Once upon a time, in Merry Olde England, the name of Halstead had a title before it. Now, my husband comes from the line of a 3rd or 4th son, so that withered branch of the family moved to The…
It’s fair to say I do quite a bit of packing for travel. And, while I tend toward over-packing (especially when we are driving to destinations), I do try to keep my packing for Ireland a bit lighter. Our most recent trip, however, had a mix of activities – from outdoor pursuits which required warm gear,…
We didn’t set out to find the best hot chocolate in Ireland. In fact, the first couple days it entirely slipped my notice that my youngest daughter, Caelan, was ordering hot chocolate every time we sat down to a meal – be it breakfast, tea, or dinner, her request was always the same, “Do you…
To wrap up 2012, I wanted to share my 10 most popular posts of the year. The 3rd most popular post came about after a conference with my daughter’s teacher last year. Originally published November 17, 2011, I take on the topic of children missing school to travel and how traveling helps your child’s education….
I haven’t yet enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. One day I will. To give us an idea of how the Irish celebrate their St. Patrick’s Day, I asked Eoin Ó Conchúir to share his thoughts and images. Eoin is a native Irishman who lives in Luimneach (Limerick) Ireland where, among other things, he teaches…
We are big fans of taking our girls to pubs both in Ireland and the US. Thanks to Irish Central for this great article about pub etiquette. Love the bit about children! Especially in rural areas, where there are music sessions on, the pub is a place that all the family enjoy. So dont bother…
It’s pretty much a given that a 18 month old and a 3 year old don’t care a bit about nature or history and even castles get dull after you’ve explored a few. I found an easy way to keep the girls occupied when they were getting a bit bored. Ireland is filled with faeries,…