London to Iceland – 11 Days on the CMV Columbus. Summertime where we live—Henderson, Nevada, to be specific, with July temperatures over 100 degrees F. for weeks on end—is a good time for travel to cooler climes. This … Continue reading →
A Red Carnation On The Greens. Ashford Castle is a Red Carnation Collection Hotel. Visit www.redcarnationhotels.com The regal Ashford Castle core was begun by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family in 1228, but the ancient Celtics had lived in the area for over … Continue reading →
The craggy Burren is filled with ring forts. Sometime between 1175 and 1195 a group of Cistercian monks settled in the valley on the southwestern side of Ireland’s Burren. With a perceptive genius they called their new church, … Continue reading →
Stay in Irish Castle Hotels, Manors, and Great Houses. Crown an Irish vacation with a stay in one of the island’s magnificent castles or stately homes where you can relax in accommodation fit for a king and queen. Luxury … Continue reading →
Go Where Few Tourists Have Gone Before. I knew I was going to have adventurous good luck with Vagabond Ireland because I just kissed the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in the village of Blarney, just outside of … Continue reading →
Remote and serene – The Skelligs. Skellig Michael and Small Skellig stand like Irish Bali Hai sentinels about 12 km off the coast from Portmagee. From the highlands of The Ring of Kerry the islands are seen … Continue reading →
A Traditional Feast In a Norman Castle. The Earl of Thomond greets me and my two accompanying wenches — Carol and Mary — at the gate of Bunratty Castle. He points overhead: “If you misbehave hot oil will … Continue reading →
Hey, It’s Ireland. When the pavement sizzles in Vegas it is time to visit the green vales of Ireland — to test out some of the latest cool outdoors and sports equipment and apparel for summer, and then … Continue reading →
Romance in stone. Dromoland Castle’s Main Gallery. When touring Ireland you can stay in a farmhouse, guesthouse, villa, secret hunting lodge, abbey, palace, or country manor house. But for romance you must stay in a traditional … Continue reading →
Luxury on a Connemara Horse Farm. Standing at the head of island studded Cashel Bay the only thing separating Connemara’s Cashel House in Ireland and North America is the North Atlantic. The hotel is a Relais and Chateaux … Continue reading →
It has been said that in the early 1980s Irish cuisine started to change for the better. Always blessed with naturally wonderful ingredients, chefs started a revolution incorporating nouvelle cuisine, flavors and techniques of the world, and then … Continue reading →
Lahinch – Ireland’s Surf City. The shores of western Ireland’s County Clare claim some of the best surfing in Europe, and some of the best Atlantic Ocean beachcombing. Lahinch Golf Club, parallels Lahinch’s beach. … Continue reading →
