Knappogue Castle, owned and managed by Shannon Heritage, was once open for public tours. Though the walled garden is still available to visitors, there are only two ways into the castle: the nightly Medieval Banquet from April – October or via castle rental, for an event or lodging. During our 3 night stay at Knappogue…
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…
Ireland is a land where magic shimmers over each hill, just ahead – if you could only catch it. It pulls you forward, off the quick motorways and onto the slower, narrower roads lined with stone walls and hedgerows. It’s an unhurried pace Ireland draws you to, and you’re well to heed it, as rushing only leads…
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…
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…
Summer in Ireland won’t offer you and your family huge commercial theme parks or even guarantee you sunshine but you can be sure that you’ll experience nature like you’ve never seen it, discover history that you never dreamed of and find yourself immersed in a culture that can only leave you wanting more. Check out…
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…
The Christmas period offers us many great opportunities to get out and about with the family, with so many things to do, people to see and places to visit. This week, we thought we would take a look at one of Ireland’s most popular travel destinations; the stunning and friendly county of Galway. Often called…
Ireland has an amazingly vast history for such a small island. Celts, Picts, Vikings, Normans, and the English all called Ireland theirs at one time or another. A stroll through Ireland’s history at Craggaunowen takes you from the late Bronze age (1200-500 BC) through the Elizabethan Period (1558-1603) in an interactive history lesson that is…
Bunratty Castle is familiar to visitors to western Ireland. Located just south of the Shannon Airport, you pass the majestic castle walls on your way to Limerick and destinations south. Famous for their Medieval Banquets, which are fabulous but not a great option with young children, Bunratty Castle also offers a less expensive and livelier…
There is just something other-worldly about seeing megalithic tombs up close. Poulnabrone Dolmon, in the Burren, predates the Egyptian pyramids. The top stone is about 6 feet off the ground and just over 30 feet long- it’s big! Around this area of the Burren you will find approximately 70 other tombs. The Burren has more…
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…
Every time I see this sign it makes me smile. We had just left the Cliffs of Moher, heading for our B&B in Doolin. Not a quarter mile before this sign the speed limit had increased. It may have been the irony that made it so funny at the time, but I think there…
I took this photo on our second day in Ireland at the Cliffs of Moher. It was my daughter’s first trip to the Emerald Isle- she had just turned 1- as well as my husband’s. Much about the Cliffs of Moher has changed since that trip- when we returned in 2008 a new visitor’s center…