Beyond being a chocolate shop and cafe, the Chocolate Garden of Ireland can take you ‘behind the scenes’ of chocolate making. Participate in a Chocolate Workshop and learn where this tasty treat comes from, why really good chocolate costs more and even make your own souvenir chocolate to take home! The Best Hot Chocolate in…
When you close your eyes and picture Ireland, what do you see? If the answer includes round towers and high crosses, then you’ll want to be sure Clonmacnoise in County Offaly is part of your Ireland itinerary. Located in the heart of Ireland at what once was a major crossroads where the north/south route of the…
It is said that you haven’t truly visited Connemara until you have touched the hand of the Connemara Giant. Perched atop his pedestal in Recess, halfway between Galway city and Clifden , Conn is my first welcome to Connemara. Read More: Clifden- The Capital of Connemara The Legend of the Connemara Giant We were woefully…
The Irish are natural storytellers, and often their tales are best told through song. Such is the ballad of Dan O’Hara. For refusing to pay increased rent (due to increasing the windows size in his cottage), Dan and his family were evicted and forced to emigrate to New York. Dan’s wife and three of his…
Just the name, Connemara, evokes such wondrous imagery. The “wild west” of Ireland, where roads may or may not drop you into the Atlantic Ocean as it crashes against the shore. The place where famed Connemara Marble is cut from The Tweleve Bens mountain range. Where romance tumbles with sadness and ends in hope at Kylemore Abbey. Yes, Connemara…
It was the penguins that drew us to Oceanworld Aquarium in Dingle . And by us, I mean my daughters- especially my eldest, who is just crazy about them. While I had fond memories of the staggering beauty of Slea Head Drive and my first view of town from Connor Pass, all Brenna had to…
It’s one of Ireland’s top destinations, visited by nearly one million people annually. No one can deny the Cliffs of Moher are simply stunning. Standing high above the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean, you can see for miles along the coast and even across the water as far as the Aran Islands on a…
It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a short city break, or a full week or two away. Dublin glitters in all its glory this time of year and you will not be disappointed. The capital city is more alive than ever and there are few cities in Ireland which seem to capture the…
One of the most common questions I receive when helping people plan their Ireland family vacations is, “We want to visit Dingle. Can we do it in a day trip from Killarney/ Adare/ Cork?” I answer honestly – yes, you can. But you will likely feel rushed, and you may have to cut short or…
As if 2020 didn’t bring about enough disaster, late in the year Dingle’s famous dolphin, Fungi, disappeared, never to be seen again. While many hope he just left the waters of Dingle to join a pod of dolphin, it is much more likely that Fungi raced beside his favorite boats as a final goodbye, then…
I’ve had the great fortune to drive the Dingle Peninsula twice; the first time in 2002 when I made my first trip- solo- to Ireland, and more recently with my daughters. Each time the breathtaking scenery has left me entranced. Photo after photo of rugged shorelines, crashing waves, and sites so ancient the time elapsed…
The Dingle Peninsula stretches into the the Atlantic Ocean, windswept and dramatic, as if it were trying to escape County Kerry. There Are Only Two Roads into Dingle As you can see by the map above, only two roads will lead you onto the Dingle Peninsula: the N86 and the R561. The N86 The N86…
Kylemore Abbey is one of the most recognized buildings in all of Ireland. This romantic castle, nestled at the base of a mountain on the edge of a glistening lake in the wilds of Connemara, brings to mind fairy tales, stories of everlasting devotion, and, as with all good stories, tragedy. The story of Kylemore…
Imagine stepping on board a plane and instead of seeing row upon row of seats, you see a cabin split into sections, each holding no more than a dozen passengers. In one section sit dining tables, complete with linen cloths, while another section replaces half of the available seating with bunk beds. The ‘first class…
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…
Lower Lough Erne which, on a map, looks like it should be Upper Lough Erne, is a liquid paradise for boaters, fishermen, and escapists searching for tranquility. For those of us on land, a drive around the lough reveals its isolated treasures to those who take the time to search them out. The Treasures of…
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…
Horse racing is the sport of Kings, and the birthline of many winners of races across the world can be traced to the Irish National Stud in County Kildare. Only 30 miles from Dublin, the National Stud is a terrific first stop if you’ve just arrived in Ireland, or a great final day exploration…
Peat bogs have long provided the Irish with the sweet smelling fuel visitors look forward to seeing stacked on hearths across the country. But when the peat has all been cutaway and the land is out of production, what is to be done with it? Ireland’s Lough Boora Discovery Park were once one of the…