My Top Irish Coastal Drives
There’s really nothing better than taking to the road, the ocean stretching out before you, with no plan, except to stop when something takes your fancy. Coastal drives tend to be a journey of discovery, special moments where you find hidden sandy coves, cosy pubs, deserted cliff-side trails and idyllic seaside villages. This is what I love about coastal drives. Read more 
Miss Potter’s World – The Lake District, Cumbria Part II
Spring slept in this year, allowing winter to rule the roost for way too long. Mid-April and the unseasonable cold and frost refused to budge. I watched the forecast daily, in the week running up to our visit to Cumbria, willing the sun to shine and the temperature to rise above 3 degrees. Read more
Miss Potter’s World – The Lake District, Cumbria
Graywaite Estate
It was a documentary I’d seen, some years ago, that made me want to visit the Lake District. I remember being captivated by images of sweeping views from a mountain top, across a landscape of lush green fields and forest, interspersed with a myriad of sparkling lakes. I watched wistfully as they passed through lakeside villages lined with stone cottages and quaint tea-shops, overshadowed by some towering, heather-clad mountain. Read more
The Land of Oz
Photo Credit – Tourism Australia
Like many Irish, I spent a year living in Australia and it was one of the best years of my life. We started off safe and lived in the suburbs of Sydney, working amongst the countless Irish and English who had come for the year. After four months, I did a 3 week trip up the east coast and it was then that I decided I had to get out of Sydney and experience the real Australia.
Travelling With Lesley Carter
Photo Credit: Bucket List Publications
US travel writer and founder of Bucketlist Publications, Lesley Carter, believes in living life to the full. Jumping out of planes and off waterfalls is everyday life to her.I shudder when I think of jumping out of a plane. My memory of my parachute jump was flying in a tin can, jumping from a floating step, 5 seconds of exhilaration, screams from a loud speaker begging me to steer my parachute, an electric fence, being pulled through a field, a hospital and then 2 months on crutches. Read more
Egg Hunts & Food Festivals in Ireland this Easter
Photo Credit: Failte Ireland
It’s not long until the Easter Bunny arrives, clocks go forward and children are off for their Easter break. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for longer days and sunshine. Read more
Easter Breaks at Home & Abroad
Photo Credit: Failte Ireland
While it may not feel like Spring, what with snow showers, below zero temperatures and heavy grey clouds, the days, at least, are getting longer. The Easter bunny is busy packing his bag with chocolate eggs and other chocolatey treats, while parents are scouring the internet for things to do with the little ones during the holidays. Read more
The Rugged West – Co. Mayo
The west coast of Ireland has drawn artists from around the world for years. They come in hope of capturing the mystical beauty of the rugged coast and wild interior on their white canvas. While Kerry and Galway may be more widely visited, Mayo has a unique and seemingly quiet beauty. A relatively lightly populated county, it has wide, untouched expanses of fields in the south and barren mountainous land in the north. Read more
Love Is In The Air
I don’t subscribe to Valentine’s Day. Not because I don’t believe in romance, on the contrary, I believe in spontaneous romance. Read more
The Sunny South-East – Co. Wexford
Having spent much of my childhood summers in a caravan near Gorey, Co. Wexford, my memories are of long stretches of sandy beaches, bustling towns and BBQ’s. While I know the coastline from Wicklow down as far as Rosslare pretty well, when I was writing the Time Out Guide I had to explore the southern part of the county. During my trip I fell in love with the weather crafted Hook Peninsula and the area around it. Read more
