I am so excited to share a few photos and highlights from our trip to Ireland with y'all. The Emerald Isle lived up to and exceeded my lofty expectations. From the bustling city of Dublin to the small country towns, we found the people were kind, the food was hearty, the landscape was breathtaking and the pubs never disappointed.
In Dublin, we stayed at The Morrison, a DoubleTree hotel, in the heart of the city. The hotel was walking distance to everything we wanted to see during our stay in Dublin. I loved the hip, modern design that gave a subtle rock-n-roll vibe! While in Dublin, we visited the Guinness Storehouse. That place was really something! You are educated on the meticulous brewing process of the perfect pint of Guinness, given the history of the brewery, taught how to taste Guinness properly and even how to pour the famous and beloved stout. At Trinity College, we viewed The Book of Kells, a 9th century Gospel manuscript. Simply amazing. My husband, an avid reader, really enjoyed and appreciated the Dublin Writers Museum. We strolled down to the shops at Grafton Street. I had to step into my favorite whimsical British store, Cath Kidston. I bought my son, Conor, a precious backpack and I fell in love with this dress! Brown Thomas, Ireland's most beautiful department store, is a new favorite! We made sure to check out Ireland's oldest pub, dating back to 1198, The Brazen Head for some Irish stew and a couple pints. Dublin restaurant recommendations: Chapter One Restaurant and Bang Restaurant.
We decided to rent a car to tour the Irish countryside on our own time. Let it be know that I DID NOT DRIVE! My brave husband mastered driving on the right side of the car on the left side of the street. We left Dublin and headed to Cork in the southwest region of Ireland. Along the way, we stopped at the Rock of Cashel (12th century) in County Tipperary. It's always so humbling and inspiring to me to see ancient churches. We had the BEST lamb burgers at Cafe Hans in Cashel and continued our journey south. Blarney Castle and Gardens was our next stop. What an amazing experience! Walking through a 600 year old castle was mind-blowing and terrifying all at once. The gardens were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, even the bone-chilling Poison Garden. This place was really magical.
The Ring of Kerry is a scenic 179km tour through County Kerry, along the Atlantic coast. We stopped dozens of times along the route to soak up the absolutely breathtaking scenery. Making our base in Killarney, we started our route clockwise, the opposite way of the tour buses to avoid traffic. The roads are very narrow and are often shared with lost sheep. (Check out my personal Facebook to see photos of these daring livestock.) In Killarney, we wanted an authentic Irish experience and searched AirBnB for a charming Irish cottage. We found Olive! She was the perfect host. Although we were 4,600 miles from home, Michael and I immediately felt at home here. She made a fabulous dinner recommendation at La Rambla for Spanish tapas! I fell in love with Olive's Yorkie Bichon mix named Putu. I hope to see Olive and Putu again in my future travels to Ireland!
After Killarney, we headed North to the small ocean town of Doonbeg to the Trump International Golf Link and Hotel Ireland for some relaxation from the rain and gale force winds. I spent some time at the spa while Michael read by the fire in the members lounge sipping his Irish Whiskey. The old-world luxury was a welcome break after 3 days of driving! Before heading to Dublin to catch our flight home, we visited the Cliffs of Moher along the Atlantic Coast in County Clare. This should be the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. Absolutely breathtaking!
We had one last night in Dublin before our flight home. We took an evening stroll through the city to O'Donoghue's Bar for some live, traditional Irish music and a final pint of Guinness. Michael and I had a wonderful trip, we are blessed.
Ireland, the Johnson's will be back!
In Dublin, we stayed at The Morrison, a DoubleTree hotel, in the heart of the city. The hotel was walking distance to everything we wanted to see during our stay in Dublin. I loved the hip, modern design that gave a subtle rock-n-roll vibe! While in Dublin, we visited the Guinness Storehouse. That place was really something! You are educated on the meticulous brewing process of the perfect pint of Guinness, given the history of the brewery, taught how to taste Guinness properly and even how to pour the famous and beloved stout. At Trinity College, we viewed The Book of Kells, a 9th century Gospel manuscript. Simply amazing. My husband, an avid reader, really enjoyed and appreciated the Dublin Writers Museum. We strolled down to the shops at Grafton Street. I had to step into my favorite whimsical British store, Cath Kidston. I bought my son, Conor, a precious backpack and I fell in love with this dress! Brown Thomas, Ireland's most beautiful department store, is a new favorite! We made sure to check out Ireland's oldest pub, dating back to 1198, The Brazen Head for some Irish stew and a couple pints. Dublin restaurant recommendations: Chapter One Restaurant and Bang Restaurant.
We decided to rent a car to tour the Irish countryside on our own time. Let it be know that I DID NOT DRIVE! My brave husband mastered driving on the right side of the car on the left side of the street. We left Dublin and headed to Cork in the southwest region of Ireland. Along the way, we stopped at the Rock of Cashel (12th century) in County Tipperary. It's always so humbling and inspiring to me to see ancient churches. We had the BEST lamb burgers at Cafe Hans in Cashel and continued our journey south. Blarney Castle and Gardens was our next stop. What an amazing experience! Walking through a 600 year old castle was mind-blowing and terrifying all at once. The gardens were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, even the bone-chilling Poison Garden. This place was really magical.
The Ring of Kerry is a scenic 179km tour through County Kerry, along the Atlantic coast. We stopped dozens of times along the route to soak up the absolutely breathtaking scenery. Making our base in Killarney, we started our route clockwise, the opposite way of the tour buses to avoid traffic. The roads are very narrow and are often shared with lost sheep. (Check out my personal Facebook to see photos of these daring livestock.) In Killarney, we wanted an authentic Irish experience and searched AirBnB for a charming Irish cottage. We found Olive! She was the perfect host. Although we were 4,600 miles from home, Michael and I immediately felt at home here. She made a fabulous dinner recommendation at La Rambla for Spanish tapas! I fell in love with Olive's Yorkie Bichon mix named Putu. I hope to see Olive and Putu again in my future travels to Ireland!
After Killarney, we headed North to the small ocean town of Doonbeg to the Trump International Golf Link and Hotel Ireland for some relaxation from the rain and gale force winds. I spent some time at the spa while Michael read by the fire in the members lounge sipping his Irish Whiskey. The old-world luxury was a welcome break after 3 days of driving! Before heading to Dublin to catch our flight home, we visited the Cliffs of Moher along the Atlantic Coast in County Clare. This should be the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. Absolutely breathtaking!
We had one last night in Dublin before our flight home. We took an evening stroll through the city to O'Donoghue's Bar for some live, traditional Irish music and a final pint of Guinness. Michael and I had a wonderful trip, we are blessed.
Ireland, the Johnson's will be back!
The Morrison, our Dublin hotel.
First day crossing the Liffey to Temple Bar in Dublin.
The Brazen Head Pub in Dublin. The oldest pub in the city!
Shopping at Brown Thomas in Dublin.
Dinner at Chapter One in Dublin.
The Rock of Cashel. 12th Century!
Blarney Castle!
Blarney House.
More Blarney Castle
Killarney National Park
Along the Ring of Kerry.
Stunning views along the Ring of Kerry.
With Olive, our AirBnb host in Killarney!
Trump Ireland.
Trump 'Member's Lounge'. *my husband the bookworm!
Trump, a view from the beach.
The Cliffs of Moher, breathtaking! The view and the wind!
Cliffs of Moher
Our Pink room at The Morrison!
Dublin at night.
Here are a few of my favorite items I packed for our trip! Since the weather is in the mid 50's, layering is your best option. I always had my Zara blanket scarf with me to shield me from the wind, cover me if it started to rain, or wrap around my shoulders for extra warmth. Don't miss out on these scarves in the fall!
This JCrew striped boatneck tee was so comfortable. I wore it twice (pink)! (*insert silly emoji here)
You can never go wrong with Converse. They go with anything! Casual closet staple. I prefer white!
Jeans are so tough for me to find. I LOVE these Joe's 'Flawless-Icon' ankle skinnies! Blaire wash.
Have you had a hard time finding that perfect hat?! This Rag and Bone fedora is THE BEST. (I don't own it YET, but I have tried it on many times. At $195 it's tough to pull the trigger, but it's quality and the fit is perfect!) In my picture, I am wearing one from Banana Republic Fall 2014.
Sperry 'Bahama' Boat Shoe. I have the navy, but there are a bunch of fabulous colors. These were perfect, especially with all the rain we experienced!
My favorite summer sunnies, the Ray Ban 'original aviator.' I have the green/gold combo, which I thought was the best color combo with my blonde hair! They are 25% off at Nordstrom right now (click the link!) (Oh, and if you didn't know, I get commission when you click my links and make a purchase!)
When traveling, especially abroad, a small cross body to hold your essentials is ideal. I brought my Tory Burch 'Kerrington' bag. It doubles as a wallet too!
If you haven't checked our Goodnight Macaroon, do it! This A-line blue floral print skirt is a new favorite of mine. It runs small. Size up! The clothing ships from Hong Kong, so keep in mind it will take a little longer to receive your items!
Relaxed Navy Trench from Loft. I cannot wait to wear this trench in the fall. I wore it everyday in Ireland! It's on sale for $79.99 and an additional 40% off right now!
Burberry Brit quilted jacket. A Classic.
Hunter Rain boots. Another classic. I prefer this matte black or red!
Do you see people with these silly neck pillows and think, is that thing really that great?!? YES IT IS! Seriously, how have I flown long flight without one until now?! Do yourself a favor for $10!
This JCrew striped boatneck tee was so comfortable. I wore it twice (pink)! (*insert silly emoji here)
You can never go wrong with Converse. They go with anything! Casual closet staple. I prefer white!
Jeans are so tough for me to find. I LOVE these Joe's 'Flawless-Icon' ankle skinnies! Blaire wash.
Have you had a hard time finding that perfect hat?! This Rag and Bone fedora is THE BEST. (I don't own it YET, but I have tried it on many times. At $195 it's tough to pull the trigger, but it's quality and the fit is perfect!) In my picture, I am wearing one from Banana Republic Fall 2014.
Sperry 'Bahama' Boat Shoe. I have the navy, but there are a bunch of fabulous colors. These were perfect, especially with all the rain we experienced!
My favorite summer sunnies, the Ray Ban 'original aviator.' I have the green/gold combo, which I thought was the best color combo with my blonde hair! They are 25% off at Nordstrom right now (click the link!) (Oh, and if you didn't know, I get commission when you click my links and make a purchase!)
When traveling, especially abroad, a small cross body to hold your essentials is ideal. I brought my Tory Burch 'Kerrington' bag. It doubles as a wallet too!
If you haven't checked our Goodnight Macaroon, do it! This A-line blue floral print skirt is a new favorite of mine. It runs small. Size up! The clothing ships from Hong Kong, so keep in mind it will take a little longer to receive your items!
Relaxed Navy Trench from Loft. I cannot wait to wear this trench in the fall. I wore it everyday in Ireland! It's on sale for $79.99 and an additional 40% off right now!
Burberry Brit quilted jacket. A Classic.
Hunter Rain boots. Another classic. I prefer this matte black or red!
Do you see people with these silly neck pillows and think, is that thing really that great?!? YES IT IS! Seriously, how have I flown long flight without one until now?! Do yourself a favor for $10!