If you have ever heard tales of Ireland as a magical place, I can assure you, you’ve not been lied to. It is beauty and comfort and history combined.
Around each bend of winding road is a new centuries-old castle, a quaint Irish village, or a tunnel of the greenest trees you have ever seen.
From our home in Co. Clare, we toured the countryside in our altogether too large American-made vehicle. If everything is bigger in Texas, it is smaller in Ireland…in a good way. With the exception of Dublin, the majority of the towns were tiny by American standards. One main road, one grocery store, one school, etc. It’s as if each village tries to outdo the previous one in an effort to win the hearts (and subsequent euros, I’m sure!) of enchanted travelers.
Climbing the dizzying circular staircases to the top of each castle to encounter a breathtaking view of the emerald hills felt exhilarating. Each moment spent in a hometown pub felt comfortable and welcoming. If it weren’t for the sunshine-obsessed, California native within, I may have even considered staying awhile longer.
There were quite a few highlights in Ireland, but my absolute favorite was spending time with Farmer Mike at Fairy Fort Farm (try saying that 5 times fast…LOL). Mike runs a hostel from his farm property in the small village of Borrisoleigh. The accommodations were sparse, but the farm was amazing. Tyler quickly made a lifelong friend when we pulled up and Pippi, Mike’s border collie and welcoming committee, nearly knocked him down and licked his entire face. From there, it was chasing Pippi, holding days old kittens, feeding pigs, horses, chickens and ducks, wandering the farm and fairy fort, and just about everything else a little boy could dream up.
This entry was posted in Gypseekers, Ireland
