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🇮🇪 Ballysteen ED, Ireland
Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Day 7: County Clare
Today in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Fabulous day exploring County Clare from our base in Athenry. We drove southwest on the Burren Discovery Trail to Lahinch Beach and Cliffs of Moyer. Then back home via the Wild Atlantic Way and the western loop of the BDT. Very interesting geologic landscapes (ask JP). We saw castles, abbies, towers, a donkey, a beach with surfers, CLIFFS and a cairn (prehistoric burial memorial). Now back to J.F. Murphy's Pub (our local 🍺)Read more
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Day 6: Galway City
Yesterday in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
We spent the day in Galway city
We started with a guided tour to get the history overview and our bearings. I think the rough power timeline is Celts-Gaels-Anglo Normans(Spanish influence through trade)-Cromwell (Anglo Norman's now called Tribes of Galway or Irish)-English/Irish- Republican Irish. Not sure this is 100% correct, but this country has a complicated history, and Galway is different from Dublin, which has Viking rule as well.

Also saw the monument to JFK and shopped for an Arin sweater and took in the buskers on Quay Street. Big day!Read more
Traveler Some of the Anglo Norman families who ran Galway
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Traveler Browne Door
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Traveler Location where JFK became a Freeman of the City of Galway
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Nights 5-7: Athenry
May 5–8 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
We arrived for a three night stay at our guesthouse in Athenry, county Galway. Te Lodges at the Old Barracks is a cute inn twenty minutes and two train stations east of Galway city. It has a great breakfast included at their restaurant across the street and access to both the city and the Cliffs of Mother. The only issue is the restaurants all close between 6:00 and 8:00 during the week. You gotta plan ahead.Read more
Breda BrosnanI'm sure you heard the song "The Fields of Athenry" played many times - it's the Irish Rugby anthem
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Day 5: Aran Islands - Inis Mor
May 5 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
The weather looked okay, so we decided to brave the ferry to Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. Sunny turned to overcast, then to rain, but we were dressed for the weather and rented bikes to traverse the island. JP pedalled old-school while I got an ebike.

What a beautiful but barren island. I can only imagine how hard it would have been to survive here on the edge of the ocean. We ride west on the beach road and saw the local seal colony enroute to our pilgrimage.

We hiked uphill to Dun Aonghasa, our second Irish Heritage site. This prehistoric site sits atop the cliffs and has views of the whole coast. Talk about having the high ground!

We biked back through town and visited the Aran Wool Market. I resisted buying anything. I'll spend the $ in wool and lessons to learn how to cable knit😉

Off to our lodgings in Galway for three nights. We will do day trips from there.Read more
TravelerWhat a bike ride!!
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Breda BrosnanSo happy you made it to the Aran Islands. A special place.
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Traveler Seals!
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Day 4 Part 2: Kylemore Abbey & Clifden
May 4–5 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Next Stop Kylemore Abbey. Originally built as a castle between cliff and lake in 1868, it features walled gardens with heated conservatories for growing exotic foods and species of plants. In the 1920'a it became the home of Benedictine nuns, who restored the estate, ran a school and opened it to tourism.
Also home to an Irish wishing rock...I took a turn!

Arrived in Clifden and enjoyed an amazing meal of lamb stew and goat cheese salad, before heading out to the Sky Trail to catch the views before sunset. We encountered our first "pull over" Irish road (see video)Read more
TravelerWow, busy day!
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Day 4: Pirates, Sheep & Wool Arts
May 4 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
We started our day at Westport House in county Mayo, a grand home on the site of the Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley's old castle. We've wanted to visit here since J-P saw Grace's story on National Geographic. The home was built by and owed by descendants of Grace until 2017. The dungeons are still intact.

From Westport we drove into county Connemara, admiring the countryside and numerous sheep. We stopped in Leeanun at the Connemara Sheep and Wool centre for a private tour and lessons from Seamus on carding and spinning wool and weaving. Trickier than it looks! The town is also the site of Killary Fjord, Ireland only true fjord.Read more
TravelerVery cool!!
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Day 3: Dublin to Westport
May 3–4 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
We set out to drive east to west across the country in the rain. Luckily the rain stopped in time for a visit at our first Heritage site, Boyle Abbey. We learned how this 12th century Cistercian abbey was built and weathered the centuries.

We made our way to Westport in county Sligo, a charming seaside town with little pubs, inns and shopping.

We enjoyed an afternoon drive along the coast to see Croagh Patrick (Mount Patrick) and Bertra Beach. JP was missing Quinn at the beach where other dogs were chasing balls.

We returned to Westport for pubbing, dinner and traditional music at Porters Pub and Cobbler's Bar. A great day!Read more
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Day 2 pm: Book of Kells & Long Room
May 2 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
We travelled back to Trinity College , which was established by Queen Elizabeth 1 in the 1600s. It makes Queen's feel young!

We did the Book of Kells Experience learning about and viewing the 9th century monastic book of the gospels with gorgeous illustrations and imagery (no pictures allowed).

Final stop was the Long Room of the Trinity College library which houses many important works of literature, from William Shakespeare to Mary Shelley as well as items significant to the formation of the Republic of Ireland. The art installation "Gaia" makes the library feel like it holds all the knowledge in the world. Amazing!

After way too much walking, we stayed close to the AirB&B and ate at a pub that opened in 1524 "The Big Tree". Early night tonight.Read more
TravelerAn iconic library!!
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Traveler Lives up to its name :)
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Day 2: Guiness Storehouse
May 2 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Well, J-P has been heard saying that he came in this trip because "He was lured by the Guiness". Today was his day! We took to bus out to St. James Gate and spent 3.5 hrs at The Storehouse. It was amazing! We learned all about brewing, pulling a pint and the history of the Guiness family. They sure do know how to entertain you...Irish dancing, drumming, bagpipes and traditional music. A great time 🍺🪉Read more
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Evening 1: Temple Bar District
May 1 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
We ventured downtown to find a paper map (IYKYK) and plan our Saturday. First Irish pub , first Guiness, first Aran Sweater Market and first traditional music session. Visited the Palace Bar which is gorgeous and over 200 years old. Met some nice Irish and American people tonight listening to music at Piper's Corner.Read more
Traveler Oh, these pictures of Dublin are sure bringing back memories for me. Have a great time exploring the Irish pubs. Mom.
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Traveler Pls tell me you bought a hat!!
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Day 1: The Royal Lodge Arrival
May 1 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
We arrived in Ireland at 9:35 local time. Navigating the airport and car rental went smoothly and J-P adjusted well to driving on the left side of the road. We made a quick stop for breakfast and checked into our VRBO, The Royal Lodge. It is a beautiful guest house with classic detailing, about 15 min from Old Dublin by transit. It took us some time to figure out the street parking and payments, but we settled in for a short nap before heading out for the evening.Read more
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Ireland (East-West)Traveler
Departure night
April 30 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
All packed and ready to go visit the Emerald Isle. So excited 🍀☘️🍀
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Trip start
April 30, 2026