Off the plane, hop in a car and Ireland is exactly what you think it would be. Rolling green hills of amazingness. Beautiful, plush, green, abundant, and alive...did I mention GREEN? Everything was green!
Starting our trek from Dublin to Limericks, we stopped for a delicious breakfast at the Horse & Hound (a pub). Now, we're not in the practice of mixing Guiness with our eggs for breakfast but this place was divine.
From dining delights to impromptu jam sessions, Ireland was full of surprises. The sights were more beautiful than words...
Starting our trek from Dublin to Limericks, we stopped for a delicious breakfast at the Horse & Hound (a pub). Now, we're not in the practice of mixing Guiness with our eggs for breakfast but this place was divine.
From dining delights to impromptu jam sessions, Ireland was full of surprises. The sights were more beautiful than words...
true story.
We made Adare Village (just outside of Limerick) our home base, taking day trips to explore the Emerald Island. On our first full day, we travelled to West County Clare, starting in the seaside town of Kilkee then headed north to see the Cliffs of Mohr. From there we drove a bit further north to Doolin for some unbelievable seafood chowder and mussels at O'Connors then a night cap in the lively little cobblestone town of Ennis.
The next day, in search of the Blarney, we headed south to County Cork. We kissed the Blarney Stone, explored the woolen mills and then headed to find a farmers market in the city of Cork. While it is the second largest city in Ireland, Cork was a vibrant but comfortable place with a delicious market filled with local cheeses, chocolates, meats and veggies. Topping off our visit with an unbelievably tasty dinner at Quay Coop. We couldn't believe how clean and easy to navigate Cork was as a city, such charm and ease!
The next day, in search of the Blarney, we headed south to County Cork. We kissed the Blarney Stone, explored the woolen mills and then headed to find a farmers market in the city of Cork. While it is the second largest city in Ireland, Cork was a vibrant but comfortable place with a delicious market filled with local cheeses, chocolates, meats and veggies. Topping off our visit with an unbelievably tasty dinner at Quay Coop. We couldn't believe how clean and easy to navigate Cork was as a city, such charm and ease!
While most of our experiences were day trips, when headed out to explore the Ring of Kerry, we brought our toothbrushes. The natural topography and beauty Ring of Kerry met and exceeded it's reputation. Half-way through the trip, over a lunch of fresh caught salmon in Killorglin, we decided that this trip was going to be an overnighter. From the breath-taking seaside cliff drive to the castle ruins, our sights were truly only something seen in the movies. Crashing for the night at Landowne Arms Hotel in Kenmare and finally rest from the road trip for dinner at Tom Craen's (who was an Irish explorer who survived the North Pole--google him!)
Our Ring of Kerry tour took us by Stangue Fort which was erected long before christianity came to Ireland. The picture below is from our trip around the Ring of Kerry, taken after we had to push one of the cars out of the mud, haha!
Our Ring of Kerry tour took us by Stangue Fort which was erected long before christianity came to Ireland. The picture below is from our trip around the Ring of Kerry, taken after we had to push one of the cars out of the mud, haha!
We finished off our tour driving northeast through the lakes of Kilarney, stopping for a bit of lunch then back to Adare for a night of pub fun singing Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel with a few locals at Aunty Lenas.
Our last full day in Ireland was New Years Eve, after several full days of adventure, it was a great day to kick back and relax in town. We visited the opulent Adare Manor, for which the town was named, and did a bit of shopping in the cultural center of downtown Adare. Since Limerick was named the European City of Culture for 2014, we decide to ring in the New Year with a live band, a couple of crazy hats and dancing with locals at an indoor/outdoor pub called Office Bar.
Our last full day in Ireland was New Years Eve, after several full days of adventure, it was a great day to kick back and relax in town. We visited the opulent Adare Manor, for which the town was named, and did a bit of shopping in the cultural center of downtown Adare. Since Limerick was named the European City of Culture for 2014, we decide to ring in the New Year with a live band, a couple of crazy hats and dancing with locals at an indoor/outdoor pub called Office Bar.
For this european adventure, we were lucky to be joined by this cast of characters...Our family!
Ireland was a wonderful adventure filled with pub-singing, salmon-eating, guinness-drinking, blarney-kissing fun!
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