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…
Tourism Ireland is hosting an incredible contest on their Facebook page right now: Unwrap Ireland. Just answer three really easy trivia questions and input your info to enter. It’s worth your time- the prize is quite nice: The Prize consists of a trip for two to Ireland for a seven days/six night tour, which includes: …
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…
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…
If you’ve watched any movie taking place in Ireland it can seem like a magical and romantic place. And it is! This shot, taken in Killarney National Park, is “the full Irish”. A myriad of green, a thatched roof cottage, jaunting cart and friendly horse. I’m even wearing a lovely tweed. This was the first…
We love Ireland… It’s magical just by being, well, Ireland. No cartoon creatures necessary. In Ireland you can: Climb to the tops of castles Search for faeries See where giants walked Visit St. Nicholas See dogs taller than your dad and so much more! See all 26 tips for a family vacation in Ireland- from…
Sometimes you just need a break from history. Castles can get a bit boring after you’ve seen a dozen of them… One more megalithic ruin you can’t climb on is one too many… You just want to play, climb, explore and maybe cuddle a puppy. Kids- and adults- can do all these things just outside…
There is no better way to see and learn about Killarney than from the driver of a jaunting cart. See more handy tips for visiting Killarney.
We are huge fans of Irish Bed & Breakfasts. From the warm welcomes with hot tea and scones to the filling Irish breakfast, Ireland’s B&Bs have never left us wishing we had stayed in a hotel. 5 Reasons to Choose a Bed & Breakfast in Ireland Your host is your best local resource. Looking for…
Killarney may well be the most tourist-ed area of Ireland- and for good reason. Since before Queen Victoria visited in 1861 people have visited Killarney to tour its famous lakes, begin a tour of the Ring of Kerry, or to walk through the Gap of Dunloe. In Killarney you’ll find vast quantities of shops, restaurants…
On even the grayest day in Ireland you’re sure to find a sunny display of colors inside the English Market in Cork. I took this photo of a vegetable stall in the central court from the Farmgate Cafe above. Curious about what you might find in an Irish Market? You’ll want to read about our…
The day we visited Cork City we had many plans for outdoor adventures. Unfortunately the weather had other plans and surprised us with snow. While the weather deterred us from a walking tour of Cork City it did allow us more time to explore the market and have lunch. Here in the states we call…
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.
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…
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…
Staying at Glendine Country House We spent two nights at Glendine Country House during our last trip to Ireland. If you are traveling from Dublin the trip will take approximately 3 hours. If you are coming from Waterford City Glendine House is only 10k via car ferry (a great adventure for little ones!) We arrived…
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…
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…
I don’t know about you, but when I think of Ireland beautiful high crosses come to mind. And the Moone High Cross in County Kildare is one of the most spectacular I have seen… We happened across it on our way to Dublin from Kells Priory. Posted signs led us to the cross which sits…
My friends at Bitesize Irish Gaelic have been so helpful in my pursuit of learning to speak Irish. Their online classes are easy to use – my daughters do them with me – and understand. The lessons are so well done that my local Irish language class uses them. If you’re interested in learning Irish Gaelic and…