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Ireland (East-West)
  • Diane Desmarais
  • Diane Desmarais

Ireland (East-West)

A 13-day adventure by Diane Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 30, 2026
  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
    Read the building!First Guiness for J-P. Quite a good non-alcoholic selection for me11

    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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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    Day 6: Galway City

    May 6 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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
    Kilmacduagh monastic site
    BallyportryFarmland in County ClareLahinch BeachCliffs of MoherDoolin cottageDoonagore CastleGus O'Brien's PubPoulnabronePoulnabroneDungaire CastleTrad session at the local pub

    Day 7: County Clare

    May 7 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

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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    Day 8: Athenry to Bunratty

    May 8–9 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Before leaving town, we explored the history of the medieval walled city of Athenry, visiting Athenry Castle and the Athenry Heritage Center. We were able to go inside the tower house and learn about medieval life. The mail is heavy, the swords are not.

    Then off to Bunratty where we are staying in a B&B and saw the Original Dirty Nellie's    Read more

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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    Day 9: Part 1 Limerick to Mullingar

    May 9 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    We popped over to Limerick for a visit to King John's castle. The visitor centre was amazing and helped me solidify the history from 800 AD onwards. JP met Gus in a pub. It turns out he's from Canada. Now Dad is angling to bring Quinn next time.

    Drove to Mullingar to attend the Bealtine festival in the evening. Visited our first "carvery", a mixture of pub and "full Sunday dinner", while watching some footie.    Read more

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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    Day 9 Part 2: Hill of Uisneach

    May 9–10 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Visited the Hill Of Uisneach the site of the old kings at the center of Ireland where the four kingdoms meet (Ulster, Munster, Connacht & Leinster). This is also the ancient site where the Druid Mur lit the Great Fire and where the Catstone stands (entrance to the fairy realm, I think)

    The Bealtaine Fire Festival was underway and we witnessed ancient arts, animals, storytelling, music and spiritual practices. I got to hold an owl (see pics). The evening was cold, but we bundled up and stayed for the Druid and priestess procession and the lighting of the Bealtaine fires for peace throughout Ireland and celebrating the start of summer. Such a cool experience.    Read more

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
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    Day 10: Dublin Take 2

    May 10–12 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We returned to Dublin and toured EPIC, the Irish Emigration museum. It was the perfect way to solidify all our learning on Irish history. I was able to look up my Irish ancestors who emigrated to Canada from the port at Cork. We saw one of the "Famine Ships" that brought people to America in that time.

    We were thrilled to meet up with Maggie-Mae's Auntie Tina who met us for a cuppa in the afternoon.

    We are staying for two nights in a B&B on the north side of Dublin.    Read more

  • Diane DesmaraisIreland (East-West)Traveler
    Timeline
    KnowthHieroglyphics, May be a lunar calendar.NewgrangeHill of TaraBaby donkey!

    Day 11: Archeology Day

    May 11 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Today we drove NE of Dublin to the Bru na Boinne Heritage Site. "Brú na Bóinne is famous for the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth which were built circa 3200BC. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world and contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe."

    Knowth had dozens of buried passage tombs. At Newgrange we were taken right into the inner chamber. It was way bigger than expected, and we saw a demonstration of the winter solstice solar alignment.

    Next we visited The Hill of Tara. "The Hill of Tara has been important since the late Stone Age, when a passage tomb was built there. However, the site became truly significant in the Iron Age (600 BC to 400 AD) and into the Early Christian Period when it rose to supreme prominence – as the seat of the high kings of Ireland. All old Irish roads lead to this critical site...the great coronation stone and one of the four legendary treasures of the Tuatha Dé Danann (Fairies)– which stands proudly on the monument known as An Forradh." Source: Heritage Ireland. Also...BABY DONKEY!

    We finished our trip with one last pub dinner, complete with a farewell Guiness and a pint of non-alcoholic lager.    Read more

  • Trip end
    May 12, 2026