Vacation Dreams

Dreams really do come true. 15 years ago I had my first date with my husband of 11 years. On that first date we talked endlessly about our hopes, our dreams, and our goals! We talked about jobs we wanted to have, where we wanted to live, and the vacations we would love to take! 15 years later; to the date we boarded a plane to our dream location Ireland! We had hoped that someday after student loans, babies, and house payments we would wash up on the shores of the Irish coast, but because of this crazy expat assignment it was actually happening!

We arrived in Ireland with preconceived notions of golf courses, endless ocean views, an almost Hamptons like impression! We were pleased to be greeted with the real Ireland, a beautiful mixer of old and new, of funk and class, of peace and tranquility, and the small under tones of the rebellion! Yes, Ireland!  I can now clearly say that Ireland is an amazing country made so by its rich past and its friendly citizens!

We choose to spend the majority of our time in Ireland at a remote cottage just north west of Kilmore Quay. The perfect location to unplug and relax. I say unplug because we actually went a whole week with no internet, only 60% of Irish households have internet.  We had everything there we could possibly need if we just wanted to hang out, however we wanted to explore! When we left we had goals of endless exploration in Ireland but simply put the car rides were killer! Not only were we driving on the other side (wrong side of the road), the roads were filled with tight twist and turns, with farm equipment, and people every so often. Driving was much more of an experience than we plan! So we quickly changed the plan, no drives beyond 2 hours!

Even with that new rule, we still had tons to see and do! Day one we ventured to Kilmore Quay, marketed as a scenic fishing village, is right on! This town had amazing views, old ships, and traditional built houses!

Day Two was a crazy day first we headed to the Rock of Cashel, built in 1100 has the original seat for the kings of Munster; this is site is breath taking. Even though for the last 30 years it has been under continuous refurbishment it is worth the trip! Than as we worked our way back we stopped off in Waterford (home of the famous Waterford crystal). We loved the quaint city streets, and the children friendly Viking museum; however I think my kids would tell you that they loved the Papa John’s Pizza (a taste of America)!

Day Three it rained, and of course this was the day reserved for horseback riding on the beach! As the young Irish lady said to me...”If we didn’t go out in the rain we would never go out!” So we went horseback riding! I loved the small farm that we went to and would highly recommend the The Liosín Centre in Rosslare. We had a blast getting wet and taking the children on their first ride! After that we blasted the heat in the car to dry off and headed to the city of Wexford! A great sea side town with tons of little shops to poke into on a raining day! After a couple hours we were just too cold, we stopped at the store and headed to the cottage for Taco Night in Ireland! We curled up, dried off, played board games, and watched Johnny English! Our cabin was home for those 7 hours!

Day 4 the sun was brilliant! Outside day! All day! We loaded up snacks and drinks and were off to Hook Head light house! The oldest lighthouse in the world! This is Irelands gem, it wasn’t filled with tourist, the tour was awesome, and the views were lovely! After seeing the water we were all ready to play in it, beach time! Duncannon beach was great, not as busy as others closer to the Hotels and we came at low tide so the beach was vast! The kids played, and explored, they even braved the cold water for a sand dune 50 meters out! Than lunch and the heritage ship (great for kids) in New Ross and then more exploring at the JFK arboretum (pack a picnic if you ever go)! Finally a tasty dinner at the Ferrycarrige Hotel!

Day 5 was Kilkenny! A large city outside Dublin and yet such a warm friendly city! The castle is the center point of Kilkenny, as it should be! Here you are able to walk/run the grounds for free, but stay off the grass! The Castle is open for exploration, and is worth the fee! My kids loved the library, and all the books are real, we asked! We also visited Jerpoint Abbey (a great spot for kids with their own treasure hunt to occupy kids), Black Abbey, and the Rothe House (here my kids got to collect duck eggs)! We loved Kilkenny and felt that the city and surrounding area were well worth the trip!

On Day 6 we explored Bray and the small sea life center, before we headed to lunch and tour at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin! This is the number 1 tourist attraction in Ireland, dubbed the Disney for beer lovers! We enjoyed our visit, it was fun, it was tasty, and it even kept the kids attention! I am still not a fan of the beer, but did love my husband’s smile! Exhausted we made the drive to Powerscourt Garden and waterfall! One last stop! This was a very expensive detour, albeit beautiful but costly! The waterfall is the tallest on Ireland and the UK, and is stunning to watch! Finally, a stop at the Avoca fresh market for dinner fixings, and back to the cottage for our last night!

Day 7, we said good bye to Scar Bridge Cottage in tears and headed to Dublin for one last adventure! When we got there the girls jumped out to see Trinity College and shop while the boys head off to Kilmainhan jail! We met up after lunch to shop more, visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral (they also had a hunt for kids, we learned a ton) and enjoyed dinner at the Hard Rock (an expat must)!

15 years ago Ireland was just a dream of a small town girl! Today Ireland is a memory that my family will have forever! If you have ever thought about visiting Ireland I encourage you to grab your raincoat and boots and go! Soak in all the warmth the region has to offer!