Explore Irish heritage, genealogy, castles, landscapes, culture, ancestral places, and practical travel planning for meaningful trips across Ireland.
Roots in Penicuik and Marriage in Fife My grandmother, Isabella Fraser Donlan, was born on 19 November 1880 in Penicuik, Scotland – a hardworking town surrounded by coal mines and paper mills. In 1903, she married my grandfather, John Donlan,…
Irish road bowling is a bare-knuckle kind of poetry. A 28-ounce iron ball rockets along a country lane while the crowd threads hedgerows and ditches, holding its breath between the clack of iron on tarmac and the cheer that follows.…
A 2017 Ireland travel chapter through Kildare and Dublin, featuring St. Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare Village, a return to Dublin, Fagan’s Public House, and the transition from Irish heritage travel to the Scotland leg of the journey.
Chapter 5: Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny (Sep 4 and 5, 2017) Leaving Roscommon behind, the Crew aimed south toward two of Ireland’s most famous sites: the Rock of Cashel and the medieval city of Kilkenny. After days of family…
Chapter 4: Knock Shrine and Roscommon (Sep 3, 2017) After three full days of hospitality in Ballina, the Crew turned east towards Knock Shrine and Roscommon. Our route brought us first to Knock, one of Ireland’s most famous pilgrimage sites,…
A 2017 Ballina family visit became a Mayo homecoming through cousin meetings, Lissaniska ancestral homes, Mount Falcon Hotel, cemetery visits, Ballina pubs, the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, and the Jackie Clarke Collection.
Chapter 2 of a 2017 Ireland and Scotland journey follows the Crew from Dublin to Newgrange, Belfast, Titanic Belfast, Troubles murals, and the Giant’s Causeway. This personal travel story blends ancient history, family memories, Northern Ireland heritage, and practical route ideas.
A first-time Dublin travel story featuring Trinity College, the Book of Kells, Kehoe’s Pub, O’Neill’s Pub and Kitchen, and the Guinness Storehouse. This guide blends personal family travel memories with practical ideas for using Dublin as the starting point for an Ireland heritage trip.
Achill Island in County Mayo offers Atlantic scenery, Gaeltacht culture, ancient ruins, beaches, and warm local pub life. This travel story follows a 2019 visit to Achill and Ted’s Pub, connecting island history, casual conversation, and practical reasons to add Achill to an Ireland itinerary.