Established in 1937, Garavan’s Bar is the perfect place to stop for an after dinner drink. It is time for another Irish coffee. I started to get addicted to these while traveling. Every establishment makes them slightly different. This bar was supposed to have a “World Famous” Irish coffee. They served their coffee with a homemade piece of chocolate. There was a generous amount of cream on top. There was a rich flavor to the coffee in this version. Check them out at garavans.ie/ Enjoy! T
Leave a CommentCategory: Ireland
If you are looking for a great place for dinner in Galway, check out The King’s Head. The inside was cool with tapestries all over the walls, huge wooden doors, and seats that looked like thrones. I ordered Smithwick’s Red Ale. I really developed a love for this beer while in Ireland. It was cold and crisp, perfect for enjoying while looking over the menu. We had really worked up an appetite with all the exploring we did, so we started with some appetizers. The homemade triple cooked chips (fries) came out first. They were piping hot. They were crispy…
Leave a CommentWe started our morning with a walking tour of Galway. We started in Eyre Square / John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. It was interesting to learn how important JFK was to the Irish people. Walking along the street in the rain, it was a true Irish experience. We learned all about the history of Galway. The city is beautiful. It was a port city back in history. The Vikings called this place home. The Portuguese and Spanish also settled here when they were fleeing their countries. That is one of the reasons for the name “Latin Corner”. You can see…
Leave a CommentA visit to Ireland needs to include a trip to the Cliffs of Moher (cliffsofmoher.ie/). The views are supposed to be spectacular and awe-inspiring. Unfortunately, on the day of our visit it was raining extremely hard. It was so windy it felt like a hurricane. The rain was not going to hold us back. We walked to the top of the lookout where O’Brien’s Tower was located. It was built in 1835. Though it was very foggy over the water and we could not see far, we were at least able to see part of the cliffs and the water…
Leave a CommentWe started this rainy morning heading to the west of Ireland. We were on our way to Adare. This small town is known for its thatched roof homes that look like something out of Lord of the Rings. Make sure to visit their welcome center. They have great displays explaining the history of the area. It is also a great spot to grab a cup of coffee. For golf fans, Adare is also home to Adare Manor, which will be hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027 (rydercup.com/the-2027-ryder-cup). It will be amazing to see how this small town will explode with…
Leave a CommentWe were not ready to call it a night after we finished dinner. So we headed over to another local pub called J.R. O’Connors Bar. It had been recently renovated but the original establishment has been around since 1863. It was cozy inside, with low ceilings. We grabbed a seat by the fire again to warm up. We enjoyed a pint with the locals before heading back to the hotel. www.facebook.com/p/JR-O-Connors-100064953101715/ Enjoy! T
Leave a CommentWith all of the activities and walking that we did earlier in the day, we really worked up an appetite for dinner. We thought we would check out The Four Winds that was recommended to us. Our waitress was very nice and very patient with our large group. I ordered the Chicken & Mushroom Vol-au-Vent. This was a creamy check and mushroom dish, similar to a pot pie filling, just with a few less ingredients. They served it on top of puff pastry. And like almost all Irish dishes they served thick cut fries on the side (they call them…
Leave a CommentThe Blarney Castle is one of the most famous spots in Ireland. It was built in 1446. I was very excited to get to visit during my trip. Since we were there in the off-season we were able to spend more time wandering the grounds and inside the castle. The flowers were starting to bloom on the walk up to the castle. It was so beautiful. When I entered into the doorway of the castle, I felt like I was transported back in time. As you slowly start going up the narrow staircases, there are small windows that you can…
Leave a CommentWe wanted to check out the food scene in Cork City, so we checked out a little café called Greenwich. This cafe was very small inside. It was packed and they squeezed as many people as they could inside. One of the sandwiches that we heard was famous in Cork was the spiced beef. So we ordered the Spiced Beef Reuban. The beef had melted cheddar cheese, homemade Russian dressing, and sauerkraut on toasted pana white yest bread. The sandwich was large and good for sharing, especially since they gave a large side salad on the side. The sandwich could…
Leave a CommentOur next stop on the tour was Cork City. Cork City has become known as the culinary capital of Ireland. There is a famous food market that is a must to check out called English Market. This market has everything you could want from fresh bread, pastries, meats, cheeses, and even fresh, yummy chocolates. It can be really overwhelming to go in there without a plan of what to look for. There are many places where you can get sandwiches, soups, etc. After grabbing something to eat for lunch, it was time to get back on the bus and head…
Leave a Comment