Ireland

November 2019
November 2019 Read more
  • 13footprints
  • 4countries
  • 16days
  • 67photos
  • 0videos
  • 16.8kkilometers
  • 14.9kkilometers
  • Day 16

    Bye Ireland

    November 22, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    We wrapped up our last night in Ireland at the Shelburne Marriott hotel and got upgraded to a swanky suite overlooking the St. Stephen's Green. After hanging around the hotel and checking out the spa and bar we headed to dinner!

    We grabbed a tasty pre dinner cocktail at the Peruke & Periwig and then headed to our 2 star Michelin dinner at the greenhouse 🙌

    We went for the 6 course + cheese plate and it did not disappoint. Very high quality snacks and awesome presentation - some were quite creative, one looked like a petri dish. Seriously very unique. Also lots of truffle which was fantastic.

    We relaxed the rest of the night and are now enjoying the lounge waiting for our first flight of 3 home! (DUB > AMS > DTW > MSN)

    Ireland is truly a beautiful place and 2 weeks felt like the perfect amount of time. Feeling relaxed and ready to get home to the pup.
    Read more

  • Day 13

    Cork and Kilkenny - tail end

    November 19, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    Spent a lovely one nighter in Cork, checking out a cool brewery and getting some McD's in the evening before walking home through the University. Today, stopped at Waterford on the way to Kilkenny and did a tour of the Waterford crystal plant there - very cool stuff. The level of detail and craftsmanship is not to be understated.

    We checked into our Kilkenny hotel at a good time and went to find an early dinner - very cute Italian place. On the docket is being lazy tomorrow and checking out the Smithwick's brewery tomorrow. Thursday morning, we head to Dublin for our final night - excited because we have a reservation at the Greenhouse, a 2 Michelin starred restaurant, on Thursday evening!
    Read more

  • Day 11

    Christmas in Killarney

    November 17, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    We spent the second half of the weekend exploring Killarney and the whole time this song was playing in my head: https://youtu.be/_KgoUNH2f8c

    Very cute town with lots of shops and pubs, we found a great cocktail bar with a huge beer selection and spent most of our first night there! Sunday we explored the town and did a bit of shopping and of course more eating, it was sunny and quite nice out.

    On our way to Cork we got to stop at the first national park in Ireland and walk about a bit! Exploring the Ross castle and lake and Torc waterfall. We even got to see some wildlife! Big swans and a lot of adorable red deer!
    Read more

  • Day 9

    Dingle is Dope

    November 15, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Spent the afternoon in Dingle town, located on a peninsula of the same name, jutting out into the Atlantic. It was obviously quiet, given that it was the off-season - but it was likely more charming/relaxing than it would've been in July/August. We snacked it up, with 3 meals in the lunch/dinner period, but did try to walk a good amount of that off. Ended the night at our lovely hotel with some chess and a minor spill of wine before watching the new Grey's Anatomy; yeah, we're wild.Read more

  • Day 8

    Adare Manor ♥️

    November 14, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    We spent the last two nights living it up at Adare Manor, complete with way too much food, estate walks, chess, clay pigeon shooting, and a lot of relaxation. This place is stunning and we lucked out and had two beautifully sunny days to explore the grounds (840 acres!).

    Adare Manor was built in 1832 by the Dunraven family (Earl of Dunraven that is) and over the more recent years turned into a luxury hotel and golf course (planned home for the Ryder cup 2026!). It is full of charm and cute nooks and crannies to hang out in, such as the cute cozy cocktail bar in the basement, or the drawing room complete with chess and shelves of books. And each room had a fire going!

    We spent our time lounging in the room, complete with fancy automated blinds and Avenger movies :) we were also lucky enough to get to go clay pigeon shooting! Which believe or not, we were pretty good at! Our instructor was fantastic and we spent the hour learning the best way to hold the double barrel shotgun and the different types of sport shooting events (and trying them out ourselves!) A lot of fun!

    Also along the grounds we got to check out the walled gardens, the river along the golf course, faerie Forest, and the sweetest pet resting place ♥️

    We capped off our second night with a dinner at the oak room! Oh my so much food, so good. It just received a Michelin star and it did not disappoint! Here was our many many courses:
    1. Welcome champagne
    2. Canapies: oyster with a zingy sauce, truffle goat cheese puffs (there is a fancy name for this but I don't remember!), and ??
    3. Beet salad with horseradish ice cream
    4. Raviolo with some tasty cream sauce
    5. Scallop
    6. Monk fish with caviar
    7. Duck with lentils and potatoes (main course at #7?!)
    8. Cheese plate - hand selected from 14 different cheeses, with truffle infused honey 😭
    9. Plum ice cream
    10. More dessert: macaroon, Adare chocolates, and frozen lollipop
    11. Seriously even more dessert - anniversary chocolate cake
    12. Food coma forever, good night 💤
    Read more

  • Day 7

    Bye Derry, hello MACKEREL

    November 13, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Took a morning stroll on the walls of Derry, which were super cool and offered some great views - along with a history lesson or two. Left Derry shortly after, dropped in on the Grianan of Aileach - also very very cool but a bit more burr.

    After a bit of a drive, stopped in Donegal Town for lunch (beautiful and delicious) and moved on to the Slieve League - very very burr, but way neat. Ended at the Rusty Mackerel, an old pub nearby. Tomorrow, off to Adare Manor and the Cliffs of Moher.
    Read more

  • Day 7

    Looking good, feeling brrr

    November 13, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 5 °C

    Today is the longest stretch of our road trip! Driving from The Mackeral (up past Donegal) to Adare Manor (south of Limerick), about 4.5 hours of driving straight through.

    We got up nice and early.. 8am (we are on vacation ya know!) and hit the open road. Stopping in a little seaside town of Bundoran and getting breakfast, a full Irish for Igor and an avocado and black pudding salad for me!

    From there we were onward to the cliffs of moher! One of the most recommended stops on our trip and they did not disappoint! And as the friendly Canadian walking by us said "ya know deh don't call it the wild Atlantic way for no reason".

    After getting sufficiently lashed by the wind we are off to Adare Manor for 2 nights to enjoy some Ireland luxury 🙌
    Read more

  • Day 5

    Northern Ireland drives

    November 11, 2019 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    Yesterday we hit the open road! Driving out of Dublin up to Belfast. Igor did great driving stick on the other side of the road and car (so weird!). We got some snacks on the way - a classic northern Ireland delight, a Whopper... :)

    When we got to Belfast we took it easy, enjoying the Hilton Lounge and played cards and chess.

    Today we started our adventure visiting the building site of the Titanic!

    Now we're about to see the Giants causeway, we're sitting in a little cafe at the causeway hotel waiting out the storm (so that it's only slightly raining and not hailing!)

    On our way here we got to drive by a filming location of game of thrones - the dark hedges, pretty awesome trees, I get why so many things are filmed in Ireland! Very picturesque and unique.

    Alright wish us luck venturing out into the rain!
    Read more

  • Day 3

    Guinness and lots of walking

    November 9, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 7 °C

    Slept in a bit, which was nice. Delightful crepes at the Goose on the Loose, followed by a trip to the Guinness store house - also excellent. The food was wonderful and the tour was kind of a self-guide type of deal, so easy and fun. Having eaten too much, we wandered over to the Jameson distillery, but the tours were a long wait - we opted for a drink instead. Stopover at a bar called The Oak followed, where we got to catch some of the Leicester - Arsenal match. Ended the night on a very high note, at the Vintage Cocktail Club and some truly exquisite cocktails and great atmosphere.

    Sunday, we are off to Belfast - but first, to the airport to pick up our car.
    Read more