Travel Log
- Mazie goes for a short run. Tammy a walk for last morning treats.
- Breakfast at hotel.
- Taxi pickup at 9:00 AM. John, our taxi driver shares many stories from his life. Highlights include patio project gone awry by Mick, his wife Pam, his cute grandson that lives with him, and much more.
- Check-in and check bags. Compared to day 1: Tammy 23.9kg — 0.1 kg under limit (52.7 lbs ⬆️ 4.7 lbs), Jamie 19.9kg (43.9 lbs ⬆️ 1.9 lbs), Mazie 18.2kg (40.1 lbs ⬆️ 5.1 lbs), and Tyler 16.9kg (37.3 lbs ⬆️ 6.3 lbs). Total of 174 lbs luggage.
- Stop at Butler’s Chocolates and get Caramel Squares that Tammy tried to get that morning but they didn’t have.
- Cleared US Customs.
- DL115 from DUB to MSP. ✈️
- Land in MSP. Bumpy ride and landing.
- Lyft home!
- Tammy and Mazie go for their runs in Dublin. Jamie does blog posts.
- Breakfast at hotel.
- Walk to Tara Street Station and take Greystones Dart train to Dalkey.
- Get off in Dalkey and walk to Dalkey Castle. Stop in The Gutter Bookshop on the way. Cappuccino at Thyme Out.
- Dalkey Castle tour.
- Explore stores in Dalkey: Hark, Papermint Store.
- Shared lunch at Finnegans of Dalkey.
- Walk to pier.
- Have Ken the Ferryman take us to Dalkey Island.
- Explore Dalkey Island.
- Return back with Ken.
- Afternoon treats at Thyme Out: Salted Caramel Bar, Carrot Cake.
- Afternoon gelato for Jamie.
- Explore downtown Dalkey.
- Return to Hark for Mouni and Gutter Bookshop for “Duffy and Son”.
- Take Howth Dart train from Dalkey back to Tara Street Station.
- Walk back to Hard Rock Dublin to change for evening.
- Went to Bunsen for delicious burgers after trying them on day 15.
- Walked into Temple Bar for one song and then proceeded to O’Donoghues.
- Listened to traditional music set at O’Donoghues.
- Walked back to Temple Bar for one final set of music.
- Walk back to Hard Rock Dublin for the night.
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Figured out Dublin bus logistics.
- Took C2 bus from Wellington Quay (stop 312) to South Circular Road.
- Guided tour of Kilmainhham Gaol Museum.
- Walked to Guinness Storehouse experience at St. James Gate.
- Lunch at 1837 Bar & Braserie.
- Took cab to Windmill Lane Studios for very cool tour.
- Walked to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.
- Walked back toward hotel and explored Grafton Street and got some truffles at Butler’s Chocolates.
- Got to hotel and cleaned up for dinner.
- Special Father’s Day dinner at F. X. Buckley on Crow Street. Delicious steaks.
- Return to Cloud Nine for Tyler to get a crêpe and Tammy and Mazie an ice cream.
- Stop quickly at the hotel to change clothes.
- Walk to Darkey Kelly’s for some traditional music.
- Four piece band playing with a lot of issues with their microphones.
- Return to the hotel. Everyone tired.
- Depart Tubbrid Castle at 8:44 AM.
- Drive to Dublin.
- Pastries at Bua Coffee trailer.
- Took class at Experience Gaelic Games and learn Handball, Hurling, and Gaelic Football.
- Scup Ice Cream.
- Fill up rental car with gas.
- Return rental car in great shape — no scratches and no damage.
- Get taxi to Hard Rock Hotel Dublin. Luggage barely fits in the taxi.
- Delicious pizza at Pi PIzza.
- Experience EPIC: Irish Emigration Museum.
- Walk back to Temple Bar district.
- Tyler and Jamie get crêpes at Cloud Nine Temple Bar.
- Jamie gets a pint of Guinness at Norseman Temple Bar.
- Jamie, Tammy, and Tyler share a double cheeseburger from Bunsen and are floored at how good it is.
- Tammy and Mazie go for a walk.
- Depart Tubbrid Castle at 8:30 AM for Kilkenny, about 30 minute drive.
- Arrive in Kilkenny early so Mazie can go on a birthday run. Tammy goes on a walk. Tyler and Jamie go to breakfast spot early.
- Cafe La Coco for a delicious breakfast.
- Brief shopping — Tyler gets soccer cleats at Intersport.
- Medieval Mile Museum walk to learn so much about Kilkenny.
- Visit Kilkenny Castle and take self-guided tour.
- Some more wandering around exploring various shops.
- Smithwick’s Experience to learn about Smithwick beer and have a glass of Smithwick Red Ale and Kilkenny Cream Ale.
- Go to Cakeface Pastries to get treats for Mazie’s birthday!
- Wander around Kilkenny visiting various stores.
- Visited the Rothe House and spent most of our time exploring the magnificent walled garden.
- More shopping and exploring for Tammy, Mazie, and Tyler — Jamie stops at The Field pub to get a Guinness and listen to live music.
- Everyone meets at The Field and we walk down to the Nore Valley Path.
- Walk Nore Valley Path to bridge and back.
- Had nice dinner at Ristorante Rinuccini including dessert that came with a candle and rendition of Happy Birthday for Mazie.
- Get car out of car park.
- Drive back to Tubbrid Castle for the night, about 10:15 PM.
- Tammy and Mazie go for a run in Belfast.
- Continental breakfast in Titanic Hotel.
- Check-out of hotel.
- Visit Titanic Museum.
- Afternoon tea at Titanic Hotel.
- Visit the S.S. Nomadic, a tender for the Titanic.
- Departed Belfast for Kilkenny.
- Crossed into Ireland between Killeen and Dromad.
- Experienced rush hour traffic around Dublin.
- Fastest driving of the day — nearly all divided highways and 120 km/h speed limit.
- Dinner at Brewery Corner in Kilkenny.
- Get Tyler crêpe at Scrumdiddlys.
- Walk around Kilkenny briefly, everything closed for the night.
- Drive to Tubbrid Castle and check-in for our stay.
- Explore all the various areas of the castle.
- Up early to depart Airbnb at 7:00 AM.
- Drive to Giants Causeway.
- Cross into Northern Ireland at Lifford.
- Arrive at Giants Causeway Hotel to park.
- Hike Red Path to rocks.
- Hang out on rocks for an hour.
- Walk Blue Path back to car.
- Drive to Belfast.
- Arrive at Titanic Hotel.
- Lunch in Drawing Room Two.
- Jamie leaves lunch to join remote board meeting.
- Tammy, Mazie, Tyler explore shipyard section of Belfast.
- Tammy and kids check into hotel.
- Tammy and kids go to Central Belfast to walk around and shop.
- Jamie finishes meeting and walks to meet family.
- Dinner at Little Wing Pizzeria.
- Walk to Timescape and do the “Titanic: The Final Hour” escape room.
- Walk back to hotel.
- Have today’s Guinness in the hotel bar.
- Relaxed morning recharging. Tammy and Mazie go for run. Jamie tends to photos and blog. Tyler sleeps in.
- Drive to Donegal.
- Brunch at The Old Stone.
- Shopping and exploring around The Donegal Diamond including Elvery Sports and Magee of Donegal.
- Drove to Rossnowlagh Beach.
- After two failed attempts to have Tyler and Mazie do a surf class, serendipity struck and we were able to get them learning to surf!
- Pick up breakfast items for tomorrow at the Bakery Shack.
- Drive to Cria Lodge so kids could get warm and dry.
- Drive back to Donegal for dinner at La Bella Donna.
- Drive back to Cria Lodge and walk a kilometer down the road (precisely the middle of nowhere) for a pint at Whoriskey’s Pub.
- Walk back to Cria Lodge to get packed and ready for early morning departure tomorrow. Alarm set to 6:30 AM.
- Picked up to go baked goods and breakfast items at the Bakery Shack in Rossnowlagh.
- Drove to Teelin Pier.
- Took Sliabh League Boat Trips and got a tour of Sliabh Liag Cliffs from the water with Paddy.
- Lunch at The Rusty Mackerel.
- Coffee stop at Brew In Thru in Teelin.
- Drove to upper car park for Sliabh Liag Cliffs and hiked up to viewing location. Mazie hiked up beyond to a further point.
- Drove to Silver Strand Beach.
- Delightful time on this incredibly secluded beach.
- Started drive back to Airbnb.
- Stopped in Donnegal for food. Ended up having crêpes at Little Mamma’s as most dining options were closed.
- Fed the Alpacas at the Airbnb.
- Evening hot tub at Airbnb. Tammy gets an evening walk in.
- Left Doolin at 8 AM.
- Drove to Galway.
- Breakfast at Dela.
- Shopping and exploring in Galway: Port West (Tyler Jacket), Butler’s Chocolates (Truffles), Aran Sweater Shop, Weavers of Ireland, Intersport, Life Style Sports (Tyler Jersey), EuroGiant (Tyler Fan), Coffeewerk + Press (Jamie Mug), Wooden Heart (Mazie Maileg Mice), Le Petite Delice (Jamie Scone), Harper (Tammy clothes), The Sheep, and Murphy’s Ice Cream.
- Checked out the Galway Market.
- Drive to Ashford Castle.
- Go on a Hawk Walk!
- Drive to Bundoran.
- Dinner at Blue Leaf.
- Continue to Cria Lodge to check-in.
- Try out hot tub for our first night.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 18
Weather: Very nice, cool morning. Super humid in Minneapolis.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 17
Weather: Another beautiful day. No jackets needed. No rain. Periods of sunshine.
Our last full day in Ireland.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 16
Weather: Great weather. Maybe the best day we’ve had.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 15
Weather: Excellent day. Warmer day today.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 14
Weather: Very good, periods of warmth, periods of cold. Was sunny for good portions. Scattered rain shower.
Happy Birthday Mazie! 🎉
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 13
Weather: Rain. Wind. Crappy. Better as we got further South.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 12
Weather: Cool and nice. Not much wind. Warmer in Belfast.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 11
Weather: Reasonably pleasant. A little less windy. Cool temperatures.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 10
Weather: Overall good. Some sun. Kind of windy. Chilly but not too bad.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 9
Weather: Cool with gentle but steady rain much of the day.
Today was a longer transit day starting in Doolin and making our way to Ballyshannon for the next stop.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.