Reflection and Reconnection During the Winter Solstice in Ireland
In Celtic Ireland, the winter solstice was a highly important event marking the turning point of the year and the coming rebirth of the land.
Jerpoint Park ~ Visiting the Lost Town of Newtown Jerpoint
When my family visited Jerpoint Abbey in 2008, the legends and tales of the abbey and surrounding area stayed with us. As we explored the unique cloister carvings, one stood out and caught our attention. The carving seemed to be a bishop of some import . Local legend said that a nearby church, the Church…
Modern Comfort for Families at the Hotel Kilkenny
An easy drive from Dublin, Kilkenny is a terrific base for touring Ireland’s southeast counties. Located just off the city’s ‘Ring Road’ – the road that circles the town- the Hotel Kilkenny offers modern comfort and amenities for an Ireland family vacation. Staying at Hotel Kilkenny The Hotel Kilkenny was booked as part of our…
Visiting Kilkenny Castle
Our tour with IrishTourism.com began in Kilkenny and we couldn’t leave without revisiting the castle , where quite a bit has changed since our first visit to Kilkenny Castle in 2008. The biggest change is that my children are older. While they still loved the play area on the grounds, they also enjoyed walking the…
Getting Up to Shenanigans in Kilkenny
Known as the medieval capital of Ireland, Kilkenny offers visitors a unique blend of ancient stories, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. As you wander through the narrow alleyways, you can’t help but feel transported to another time, where each street corner holds a door to a new tale waiting to be discovered. This article is…
Round Towers – Amazing Ireland Experiences
Round towers are an -almost- uniquely Irish structure. (Only 3 ancient round towers exist outside of Ireland.) In Irish they are called cloitheach (cloy- cach), meaning bell house, and were probably built between the 9th and 12th centuries. This article is also available as a podcast. To listen please scroll to the player at the…
Hawkeye School of Falconry and Lyrath Estate
We’ve spent two days at Lyrath Estate in County Kilkenny. I’ll be sharing more about our experience, but first, a wee chat with John Dugan, owner of Hawkeye School of Falconry , which you will find at Lyrath. This article is also available as a podcast. To listen please scroll to the player at the…
Hurling in Kilkenny
Hello again from Ireland! I missed podcasting the past couple of days. On Thursday I had absolutely no connectivity and Friday night half of my hotel room had no electricity – so I was in the dark. The very sweet maintenance man came from home to try to fix it, but left his industrial flashlight…
Kilkenny Saturday Market
While visiting the Kilkenny Saturday Market on The Parade outside Kilkenny Castle I met a charming artist and sat down to have a wee chat. Deirdre McCarthy is inspired by the coutryside that surrounds her house on the hill in Inistioge, just south of Kilkenny City. I love the whimiscal feel of her paintings and…
Learn Hurling in Kilkenny
Learn Ireland’s ancient sport of hurling in Kilkenny, the ‘home of hurling’. Ireland’s oldest sport & the ‘fastest sport on grass’.
Day Trips from Dublin
Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, and home to the country’s busiest airport, is an obvious place to begin or end your Ireland vacation. You can even base yourself in the capital city and take some amazing day trips from Dublin! No car required! This article is also available as a podcast. To…
A Visit to Kells Priory, County Kilkenny
Mention Kells to anyone visiting Ireland and their thoughts move immediately to the Book of Kells , now housed at Trinity College in Dublin. The famous book is associated with Kells, a heritage town in County Meath, not the beautiful medieval priory we visited in County Kilkenny. We first ‘discovered’ Kells in 2005, having gotten…
Visiting Jerpoint Abbey in County Kilkenny
Our first stop as we explored County Kilkenny was Jerpoint Abbey . Located near Thomastown, just south of Kilkenny, you really can’t miss it as it nestles up to a curve of the N9 (a major roadway). We received a great lesson on the history of Jerpoint Abbey from Sheila in the interpretive center- be sure…
Any Time is a Good Time to Stop and Swing
Our number one rule of traveling with kids: never skip the swings. This photo was taken when we visited Kilkenny Castle. The extensive park grounds had a magnificent playground. For more travel images visit Photo Friday hosted by Delicious Baby .
Visiting Kilkenny Castle
Note: Be sure to read the updates about visiting Kilkenny Castle! Kilkenny Castle is the type of castle you picture in your mind. Imposing from the outside, opening to a great park at the rear and a garden with fountains at the front. Kilkenny Castle is almost like a fairy tale. Kilkenny Castle belonged to…
Peeking Through the Arches at Jerpoint Abbey
I love this shot of Doug as he was carrying Caelan through the cloister at Jerpoint Abbey. They were wandering through looking at carvings when Doug caught me taking pictures as they appeared in an archway. Irish historians say a very famous saint is buried near Jerpoint Abbey. See who it is in my visiting…
Learning to Walk in Ireland
Brenna learned to walk just before we left for Ireland. She spent much of our vacation practicing her steps, learning to run away from Mommy and Daddy and getting used to hard soled shoes. It seemed like she spent as much time down as she did up. I love this photo of her in the…