one of a kind
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| Day at the beach |
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| Beautiful bluebells |
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| Didn't find a pot of gold! |
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| This used to be the view from my front door! |
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| Snowfall from 2009 |
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| Sunrise |
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| This was taken on the island seen in distance of previous picture! |
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| What are you lookin at?! |
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| St, Patrick's Day 2015 |
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| Beautiful October day |
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| Another gorgeous sunset |
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| Not the west coast but this was from landing in Shannon, I love this view welcoming me home! |
II originally started writing this post when I saw this video from a Canadian couple who spent 3 weeks in Ireland and then put together 19 minute video of their recordings and pictures. It’s beautiful and if I’m completely honest it made me cry a little. It reminded of how wonderful Ireland is, all the different things to do and places to see. This week, Failte Ireland released their #IrelandInspires video and it reminded me of this post.
These videos brought back the idea local tourism, how I, along with my boyfriend, friends and family, have tried experiencing local attractions, things we wouldn’t normally visit because it’s too close to us, and other places around Ireland. I thought I’d link to some of the posts I’ve made so far about this.
Staycation Post. First time I posted about places I’d visited in Ireland, this one dealing with a weekend away to the sunny South East. Dungarven, Mahon Falls, Cahir Castle and Rock of Cashel all got visited that weekend.
Local Tourist Part 1. In this post I talk about my boat tour along the bottom of The Cliffs of Moher.
Miss Courtney’s Tearooms, Killarney. A whole post on the beautiful Miss Courtney’s Tearooms in Killarney.
Guinness Store House in Dublin on a glorious sunny day
Surfing in Lahinch with Lahinch Surf Experience
Aran Islands on another glorious day (see, we do get good weather in Ireland at times!)
Just showing these posts makes me realise I have so many more experiences to share! So hopefully I’ll finally get around to making those blog posts in the future, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t have already!
Some other pictures I have that aren’t in any other posts
Sunset in Lahinch, Co.Clare; Bluebells in my uncle’s garden
Giant’s Causeway, Co.Antrim; Costa Del Clahane Summer 2013 Heatwave
Donkey at Falls Hotel, Ennistymon; Clare win All-Ireland Hurling Championships
Finally, I leave you with a post I made back in 2011 for St. Patrick’s Day and Why It’s Great to be Irish.
Have a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day everyone. I’m looking to going home for a visit in a few days. Taytos, here I come!
So almost exactly 2 weeks ago, I boarded a plane and moved to the North West of England. My boyfriend had started work in August and it was time for me to join him. It wasn’t an easy decision to make. Well, I suppose it was, because living with him is a no brainer and a fresh start will do me good in terms of getting a job. It was hard to leave my family and friends behind though. This year has been tough. This time last year I wrote a post about my Dad’s cancer returning (you can read it here) and then at the beginning of February, my Mom became sick too after she had a heart attack. So I’ve become very attached to helping my family but it really was time to leave.
I’ve put off writing a blog post for so long, mainly because I was busy packing after my last post and since moving I’ve either had no internet or just too heavy hearted to write something. But it’ll do me good and then I can concentrate on some good points too!
Here’s what I miss so far:
- Having this as the view from my front door
-My family. Sure, they drive me NUTS at times. But I miss joking with my youngest brother and how he’s a prawn (rhymes with his name), talking about nail varnish and baking with my youngest sister, my aunt and her dog Lucy, my Dad’s laugh, my Mum’s wisdom, laughing and joking with my other siblings. Not to even mention my extended family and boyfriend’s family too!
-Actually having friends close by. I know I’ll make friends here but I’ll miss being able to meet up for a coffee, going out at night, or maybe just staying in instead, playing board games and having a few drinks. I miss all the history, stories and in jokes I have with my friends and how mentioning just something that seems small or silly can have us cracking up. Like Business 101, Peter’s Journey or the adventures of Chrissy, things like this that only mean something to friends. I stayed at a friend’s house a few weeks before I moved and we spent most the night listening to old Britney tracks and laughing.
-Having people know my name when I walk into a shop and know who I am. It can be a pain living in a small town where everyone knows your name but at the same time I love it.
-Animals and green fields
-The library and chatting to my librarian. She even said before I left that she’ll miss seeing the random things I order.
-Driving. I’m not sure when I’ll get a car over here or if I will get one, but I do miss zipping around with Betty, my Polo.
-Shit like this happening
-Sitting next to an open fire. No fireplace in the house I’m in now and they are so cozy for winter.
-Hearing Irish accents and Irish slang
-Tatyo
Ya look, I know it’s a bit of a cliché for us Irish expats but for real. I have had a big craving for some Tayto and while it’s great that I’ve found a Tesco close by that sells some Irish essentials, the Tayto that they stock is the Northern Irish Tayto!
Look, I could go on but I won’t. There will be a post in a few days about the things I’ve enjoying about being in UK in the interest of fairness!
I’m not the biggest Guinness fan. I went to the Guinness Store House last year, tasted Guinness for the first time and this was my impression of it
However, it being almost St. Paddy’s Day, I keep seeing lovely looking recipes (sweet and savoury) which include Guinness as an ingredient. And I must admit I was curious about trying some. So I decided to go with a savoury bread and some chocolate brownies, which I will post later today (sneak peek here).
I got the idea for this recipe from theKitchn, where they posted a Cheddar and Chive Guinness Bread. Not having any chives on hand, I substituted in some rosemary and decided to amp it up a bit by adding in some ham (bacon would do too or you could omit it if you want). This is a very simple bread, easily prepared in 5 minutes!
Cheddar, Ham and Rosemary Guinness Bread
Adapted from theKitchn
Ingredients
370g (2 3/4 cups) plain flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
355ml (12 oz) Guinness
115g (4oz/1 cup) Cheddar cheese, grated
2 slices of ham, torn into pieces
Small handful of fresh rosemary, chopped finely
57g (1/4 cup) butter, melted
Method
1. Preheat oven to 190° C(375° F). Line loaf pan with parchment paper or grease with butter.
2. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a bowl and mix. Pour Guinness into bowl and mix until evenly distributed. Fold in 3/4 of the cheese, the rosemary and the ham.
3. Transfer into the pan. Pour the melted butter over the top evenly. Bake for 30 mins, then scatter the rest of the cheese on top and bake for a further 10-15 mins, until a knife inserted into the centre comes out clean. Also to cool in pan for 5 mins before removing.
Next time I might leave out the rosemary and add in some caramelized onions. Needless to say, I am obsessed with this right now, it’s amazing!
Close up for that melty cheese and ham goodness!
So ideally, this would have gone down something like this: boyfriend and I would decide to go somewhere to stay overnight without booking before hand, fill up on petrol and hit the road with no destination in sight. Though as I approach the deadline for this I realise it’s not going to happen (neither is visit a country I’ve never been to before unless I win the lotto or someone wants to pay for me to go abroad! *cough*).
So Saturday morning I had to drop my aunt off to the bus station early and I bought along my friend K who was staying with me for the weekend. We decided instead of heading straight back home we’d go on a drive, deciding where to stop along the way. Which lead to a mini tour of South and West Clare.
The first place we hit was Lissycasey, where we drove past this pub and then promptly turned around for some photo opportunities.
Next main place we hit was Kilrush, where we decided to visit the Vandeleur Gardens. Unfortunately, seeing as we were up so early, we were 2 hours too early to enter. Instead we went for a quick stroll in the woods.
And then off went again! Next we hit Kilkee so we decided to stop at the West Clare Railway at Moyasta. And would you believe it, it was also closed! (are you beginning to see a theme here?!). So I took this quick snapshot of the office and cafe.
From there we decided to head onto Loop Head Lighthouse. We looked up on K’s iPhone that it was open until early September. We weren’t sure if they would be open or not seeing as it is now mid-September! But we decided to take the gamble. And luckily it was open!
After we went for a quick walk around the cliff edges.
After our lovely walk, we continued on, deciding on a whim to stop in Doolin in the Tea Rooms. Unfortunately it was closed! Moving onto Quily we stopped at Seafield beach to look at Mutton Island.
We were then going to play some arcade games at Sugar Island Cafe but it wasn’t open yet! We figured that was the final sign to head on home and put our feet up!
Another 25 Before 25 post! I’m enjoying seeing things crossed off the list. But I should really get a move on and complete some more!
The trip to the Aran Islands was the day after surfing and boy did we pick a good day to go! It was so sunny and warm, just lovely! We chose to go to Inis Mór mainly because, if I’m honest, I wanted to go to the Supermacs there! Come on, who doesn’t want to go to Supermacs on the Aran Islands!
We left from Doolin on the Doolin2Aran Ferries. First we passed Inis OÃrr and got to see the shipwreck from the opening credits of Father Ted!
When we arrived on Inis Mór, we decided to rent some bikes. Unfortunately this dinosaur helmet did not fit me!
We cycled around the island until I got too tired and whined that I didn’t want to cycle up any more hills! So we went to the seal beach but unfortunately there was no seals around then. Boo!
And I was thoroughly amused at the Bank Of Ireland they have there.
And finally we got to go to Supermacs! YAY!
And had a drink in the American Bar.
Horsey outside the bar.
And of course, me being the amadáin that I am, I forgot to put on sun cream and got scalded. For shame really, as I’m ALWAYS hassling people to put on sun cream. I usually always put it in but in my sleepiness that morning (and the fact that it was cloudy when we left the house), it completely slipped my mind. Needless to say I will not let that happen again!
I’ve spoken before about being a tourist in my own country (here and here). So when I heard a friend of mine was going to the Guinness Store House I thought it would be a great opportunity to try out something ‘touristy’ that I had never done before. It was a beautiful day too and it was great to get out and enjoy the weather.
Lovely brick buildings.
Once you’ve gone through and paid, you come to a tour guide who gives a brief speech about Arthur Guinness and the lease that was signed. And that’s the end of tour guides then. You get to see the lease in a glass display in the ground.
Loads of different Guinness bottles from the years gone by.
For there you progress through different parts of the building which deal with things such as how Guinness is made and the ingredients, how it’s stored and transported, different advertising and memorabilia, various things Guinness sponsors, interactive computers with test your knowledge of alcohol, cafes, bars etc.
Indoor waterfall
Entry to the Store House also includes one free pint of Guinness. This can be redeemed either at the Pour Your Own Pint bar or else at the Gravity Bar (where they pour it for you). However, if you want to do both, you can buy an extra ticket for the Pour Your Own Pint for a fiver and your original entry ticket for the Gravity Bar. I decided to use mine at the Pour a Pint bar. Here you are taught the main steps in pouring a perfect pint of Guinness. Very interesting!
From there, we went to the Gravity Bar. What a beautiful day for a beautiful view!
The Spire looking massive!
I had a great day at the Guinness Store House, it was very interesting and well worth it. I’d recommend it to tourists and locals!
