A 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…
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We 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 CommentAfter a nice Irish breakfast at the hotel, it was time to start our new adventure. We headed south towards the town of Cobh. This cute, seaside town is located on an island in Cork City’s Harbor. The colorful buildings made it so charming. What makes this town so famous is this was the last port that the Titanic stopped at in 1912. They have a wonderful museum that is dedicated to the Titanic. We took a walk around the town. There are some pretty steep hills so make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes. Our walk brought us to…
Leave a CommentIf you want to have a traditional Irish pub experience, then visit Geary’s Pub. As soon as we walked through the doors, we felt welcomed. The locals where were at the bar smiled at our group as we walked to a table by the fireplace. We wanted to warm up so Irish coffees were ordered all around. They were made with such care. The whipped cream used on top was freshly made. And it was accented with a shamrock on top. A little biscotti cookie was served on the side, which was a nice treat. It was the perfect ratio…
Leave a CommentInside the Charleville Park Hotel is the Park Bar & Grill. The bistro style menu offered a little bit of everything. Since I had just visited Smithwick’s, I got a pint of their Red Ale to enjoy while I looked at the menu. I was not extremely hungry, so I ordered their soup of the day. It was a Root Vegetable soup. It came out pureed, so it was creamy. I noticed that this is a common thing for soups in Ireland. I was expecting this to be a chunky soup with pieces of potato, carrot, and parsnips. But it…
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