April 11, 2017- April 18-2017
We decided on Ireland for our Honeymoon in 2017. This was going to be both Cam and I’s first time out of the country so we wanted a place that spoke English. We also wanted a place that we could easily spend 2 weeks at. Our 2 week trip started in Dublin and took us to Wicklow, Galway, Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Day 1: Dublin
- We got to Dublin around 0700 after an overnight flight. We got an Uber to our hotel to see if we could check in early to drop our bags off and catch a couple hours of sleep. We stayed at Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge and loved it. They had our room ready and we even got a complimentary breakfast and our first taste of Irish food. We did try the black and white pudding which was the first and last time we had it during the trip.
- We decided to make the walk into Dublin from Ballsbridge which was a nice 45 minute walk. In Dublin we stopped at Merrion Green, Stevens Green, Trinity College, Grafton St and St Patricks Cathedral.
- We went to Foley’s for dinner where I got the lamb stew with soda bread and cam got a burger. We also tried some duck eggrolls. After dinner we made the long walk back to our hotel to get some rest and plan out our time in Dublin.
Day 2: Dublin/Wicklow/Glendologh
- This was one of our favorite days of the entire trip. We decided to take a bus tour to see Wicklow and Glendologh and and being still a little jet lagged a bus tour was perfect so we could sit back and relax while taking in the beautiful sites. We did the tour through Wild Wicklow Tour. Our first stop of the tour was in Dalkey which is known to many where BONO lives. Very pretty town right on the coast.
- We learned that weather changes very quickly in Ireland. They have a saying there that if you can see the mountain it is about to rain and if you can’t see the mountain its raining. We got off on our way up the wicklow mountains and the weather was completely fine and within a couple minutes the wind and rain are incredibly strong.
- We then headed to Guinness Lake. Wicklow is home to many famous movie sets which we passed on our way up to the lake. This includes some scenes from Braveheart, P.S. I Love you and the show Vikings. We had a taste of Jameson Whiskey overlooking Guinness Lake and then headed to lunch.
- Lunch was at Jakes Bar at Lynhams of Laragh. Cam and I split a Beef and Guinness stew. After lunch we were able to explore Laragh for a bit before continuing on.
- Next up on the tour was Glendologh. We were able to explore the monastery first which had a lot of old buildings/towers and a cemetery. Glendologh has an upper and lower lake. Both beautiful and full of “Gorse” which is hated by locals but is the most beautiful weed I have ever seen. Its hated because it grows very fast and all over. It has yellow petals and smells like coconut.
- That concluded our tour. We loved this area of Ireland and definitely recommend it! Our bus dropped us off at our hotel. We were very tired upon getting back and decided to get a pizza delivered and relax for the rest of the night.
Day 3: Dublin to Galway
- Today we headed to Galway. We got up early and grabbed one last breakfast from the hotel. We used Hailo (like Uber) to take us to the Dublin Heuston train station. I grabbed a hazelnut mocha from the train station and believe it or not Ireland has great coffee in the train stations! On the train we sat with a wonderful mother and son from Athlone. We love speaking with locals when we go on trips. We talked about how beautiful and green everything is in Ireland. They told us they don’t even recognize it. It’s so normal to them. Its funny because toward the end of the trip we began to not notice the greenery like we first had.
- Once we arrived in Galway we headed to Victoria Hotel to check in. It was a really tiny room with 2 twin beds but when we decided to go to Galway we didn’t realize it was Easter weekend and we booked very late. So we were happy to get anything! The hotel was right in downtown Galway and within walking distance to everything.
- Lunch was at Anton’s Cafe. Great spot for lunch and coffee. We got a couple sandwiches with homemade bread, mocha and a fresh pineapple/orange/mint juice. Really good food!
- After lunch we headed out to explore Galway. We went down Quay and Shops Street. This town was so lively and fun and we fell in love with it. There were street singers and performers on every block, lots of shops, bakeries, pubs and cobblestone streets which are my favorite.
- For dinner we wanted to go to Pie Maker but it was packed. We then tried a place called The Front Door which was recommended to us; however, it was packed too. We ended up going to Kumar’s for some indian food. It wasn’t busy but it should have been! Some of the best indian food we have had. We were glad it worked out the way it did. It was an awesome first day in Galway.
Day 4: Galway/Connemara/Kylemore Abbey
- We got up early for a Bus tour out of Galway to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. We used Lalley tours. Connemara is a beautiful place full of lakes, sandy beaches, mountains and valleys all within close range to each other. Our first stop was to Leenaun to grab some pictures, coffee and scones. Weather wasn’t the best and pretty wet so we snapped a quick picture and ran inside. In this part of Connemara we saw a lot of Bog farms. Bog is what the Irish use to burn in their fires which is decayed material from over hundreds of thousands of years. The smell though when it is burning is incredible and is simply put the smell of Ireland. We recognized this scent on the entire trip and loved it.
- We then headed to Kylemore Abbey which is about an hour long bus ride. Kylemore Abbey was a private home built by Mitchell Henry. After his wife died 4 years after the homes completion he moved back to England. AFter his death he was brought back to Kylemore Abbey and buried alongside his wife in the mausoleum on the property. It was a beautiful trip and the estate included walking paths/trails, a beautiful garden and a church. Since 1920 the grounds have been used for the Benedictine nuns.
- After Kylemore Abbey we got back on the bus to Spiddal which is a Gaeltacht (irish-speaking) town along the Wild Atlantic Way. We stopped to look at a thatched roof home and to go to some shops/cafe. We were then headed back to Galway.
- When we returned to a Galway that night we headed out early to make sure we could secure a spot for dinner at The Pie Maker. We had seen it the night before and it was packed. It was delicious and so worth going! Cam got sausage and black pudding pie and I got the beef and 8 degree stout pie. We headed back to the hotel since there really wasn’t anything going on since it was Good Friday. After just a few days in Ireland we began to understand how much the Irish enjoy their whiskey and beer and life revolves around a beer and a good pub. The hotel had live music so we decided to grab a drink and listen to the music.
Day 5: Galway/Cliffs of Moher, The Burren
- This was the day I could not wait for when we decided on Ireland for our honeymoon! The Cliffs of Moher had been at the top of my bucket list for some time. We headed out to our bus tour after our Irish breakfast at the hotel. Our first stop was the Burren region. This is an amazing part of Ireland that is covered in limestone rock and terrain that is sided by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a protected terrain.
- One of the stops while in the Burren was Ailwee Cave. We went through the underground caverns, crossed bridges within the cave and saw a waterfall. Really cool stop on the trip.
- Next up was the Cliffs! We spent a good bit of time at the cliffs and they are well worth the hype. No picture will ever do it justice standing atop the cliffs looking over the edge. Truly amazing and breath taking. One of my favorite places I have ever been too. We walked along the edge and just took in this beautiful place. The weather was also perfect.
- Back on the bus our next stop was Doolin for lunch. Our first choice for fish and chips was sold out of everything so we decided to hit the Stonewall Cafe right next door. We stopped at a couple shops in Doolin before heading to our last stop along the tour: Dunguaire Castle. When we got back to Galway I stopped in at Esquires Coffee and enjoyed a toffee coffee frappe. Delicious. We grabbed a quick dinner at McDonalds and just walked around the city. We were hoping to find some live music but the pubs were pretty packed due to a rugby match on.
Day 6: Galway/Limerick/Adare
- Today was a travel day. We caught our train from Galway to Limerick at 11:55. We planned on taking a bus from Limerick to Adare. Thankfully the bus strike that was occurring while we were there had ended a few days before. It was only a 30 minute bus ride to Adare which is a beautiful town that dates back to the 1200’s. We walked to our B&B, Adare Country House. We loved this B&B and the hospitality there was top notch. Wonderful place to stay. We unpacked a little and then headed down to The Good Room Bistro for lunch. Everything was wonderful.
- After lunch we walked around for a bit. A lot of shops were closed for Easter so we just headed back to the B&B to rest. For dinner we went to Aunty Lena’s for a Guinness and fish and chips. We were also in luck because they had some live music. It was really awesome and such a fun way to end the night.
Day 7: Adare
- We had breakfast at the B&B. We had requested our breakfast the day before and we sat down and our meals were brought right to our table. Cam got a full Irish breakfast and I go sausage, beans, scrambled eggs and a plum. We got to speak with Eileen who runs the place for a bit while eating. Super sweet lady and even offered to do our laundry! We went back to plan for the next day in Killarney. We headed back out around noon. For lunch we went back to The Good Room Bistro. After lunch we walked around.
- First we stopped at Adare Desmond Castle and also walked around at St. Nicholas Church of Ireland. We visited Trinitarian Monastery and walked through Adare Park. We got some ice cream near by and sat at the park for a bit before walking back to our B&B.
- Around dinner time we headed back out to Aunty Lena’s.
- Today was a great relaxing day in a beautiful small town. Much needed. We hadn’t planned on visiting Adare but we were glad that we did.
