With St. Patrick’s Day 2013 upon us, I wanted to share stories of some of my most memorable trips to Ireland! My Mom’s dream was to visit Ireland. So, in 1988 the two of us planned a trip to the Emerald Isle. It was a dream come true for us, and we had such a marvelous time! Visiting Dublin and Cork, kissing the Blarney Stone, touring the Ring of Kerry on an impossibly blue sky day, and our favorite, a trip to Dingle on a misty Irish morning. We loved having soup, brown bread and coffee for lunch in the pubs, still the best I have ever had. She passed away in 1991, so we never got our second trip in, but somehow I know that Ireland is a part of her heaven.
Sean and I were married for a little over two months when the first Irish show was scheduled on QVC and we were asked to go to Ireland. This is the trip where we met Matt Doolan of Boyne Valley Weavers, a friend who is still bringing us beautiful things today! We stayed in Dromoland Castle on the last night and, since it was February, we were about the only people there! But we promised that we would someday return and stay in Dromoland again.
Then, along came a little Irish lass named Cara! When she was two years old we crossed the ocean to visit her Grandparents who retired to Galway. We spent a week there and Cara had the dancing gene already as she loved going to see the traditional Irish dancers and musicians. Her favorite spot was the Cliffs of Moher, were she played Sleeping Beauty around the round tower on the hill. We decided we needed to come back here too someday!
Fast forward about 13 years and now as a family of four, we decided to go back to Ireland, since Deirdre had never been. We went to the Cliffs of Moher, stayed in Dromoland Castle, and on a misty Irish day went to Dingle.
Our tour guide, Tim, loved the story of how my Mom and I adored Dingle, so every few minutes he would say in his Irish brogue, “Oh, your Mother is so happy you’ve come back to Dingle.” I agree, and I know no matter what, I will always want to come back to Ireland.
-Jane