Ministry of Mothering

  Our Ireland Adventure: Newgrange, the National Museum, and Our Last Full Day in Ireland Every trip has a last full day, and after all our adventures around Ireland, ours was another day packed with history, learning, and a few things we wished we'd had time to do! We spent the day exploring Newgrange and the National Museum of Ireland before returning to Dublin, dropping off our rental cars, and settling in for our final night at the Hilton Dublin Airport. By this point, we had seen so much of Ireland, but there was still plenty to learn. One of the things I loved most about this trip was how many opportunities we had to connect what we were seeing with what we had been studying at home. Stepping Back in Time at Newgrange Newgrange was one of our final big historical stops, and it was a fitting place to spend part of our last full day. A heads-up for parents planning a visit: set aside about three hours for the guided tour. This isn't a quick stop where you pop out, take a f...

  Our Ireland Adventure: Titanic Belfast, Belfast’s Troubled History, and a Few Travel Lessons After exploring so much of Ireland’s history and beautiful countryside, our family continued north to Belfast, Northern Ireland. We had a full day planned, starting with Titanic Belfast and followed by a bus tour around the city. It was a day filled with history, learning, and a few practical travel lessons that are worth sharing! Exploring Titanic Belfast We planned almost a full day at Titanic Belfast, and we came pretty close to getting our timing just right! The museum had something for everyone in our group, which can be a challenge when you’re traveling with children of such different ages. One of the best surprises for our younger girls, ages five and seven, was the children’s guide. Instead of simply listening to information, they got to participate in a scavenger hunt, searching throughout the museum for different items. It gave them something specific to look for and helped keep...

  Our Ireland Adventure: The Giant’s Causeway, a Legendary Giant, and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge Our Ireland adventure continued as we made our way to Northern Ireland for two unforgettable stops: the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge! These were two very different experiences, but both offered incredible views and memories we won't soon forget. We explored a coastline filled with unusual rock formations, learned about the legend of an Irish giant, and watched much of our group take on a real rope bridge suspended over the ocean. And, naturally, traveling with children meant we also had a little adventure of our own involving a very urgent bathroom trip! A Practical Note: Entry Requirements for Northern Ireland Before I get into our adventures, here's an important travel tip if you're planning to visit Northern Ireland! Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, which has different entry requirements from the Republic of Ireland. As U.S. citizens, we need...

  Our Ireland Adventure: Bunratty Castle and Folk Park — A Slower Day in Ireland Our original plan for this day was to visit Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. However, when we started looking at the costs, the excursion seemed prohibitively expensive for some of our family members. Since we were traveling as a group of 15, we wanted to find an alternative that would let everyone enjoy the day without stretching their budget too far. So, instead, we opted for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park! It turned out to be a lovely, slower-paced day. After several big adventures, it was nice to explore another Irish castle, stroll through the exhibits, enjoy some delicious food, and discover a few unexpected treasures along the way. Another Irish Castle to Explore One of the things I loved about our Ireland trip was getting to see so many castles. Each one had its own history and character, and Bunratty was another opportunity to step back in time. We enjoyed wandering through the castl...

  Our Ireland Adventure: The Cliffs of Moher, Sheepdogs, and an Ancient Irish Tomb Some places live up to the hype, and the Cliffs of Moher absolutely did for us! After a quieter day of travel and rest, we were ready to get out and explore again. We ended up having a full day of incredible scenery, adorable animals, ancient history, a little Irish rain, and a delicious dinner in Galway. It was one of those days that reminded me why Ireland is such a special place to visit. There was so much variety, and every stop gave us something different to remember. The Cliffs of Moher: Worth the Hype! Our first major stop was the Cliffs of Moher, and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. The sun was shining, visibility was excellent, and we could see the cliffs stretching dramatically along the Atlantic coastline. The views were incredible! We took a long walk so we could admire the cliffs from several different angles. I loved having time to explore rather than rushing to one view...

  Our Ireland Adventure: Skellig Michael — The Star Wars Island and an Unforgettable Boat Tour Some days on a family trip are packed with several attractions, and other days are all about one incredible experience. Our day visiting Skellig Michael was definitely the latter! Skellig Michael, off the southwest coast of Ireland, was one of the places I was most excited to see. Known for its ancient monastery and its role as a filming location for Star Wars , this remote island is full of history, beauty, and adventure. Our group split up for the day. My husband and our oldest daughter got to land on the island as part of a landing party, while I took our three youngest on a separate boat tour that circled the island without landing. Both experiences were memorable, and we were blessed with a day that turned out even better than we could have hoped! Skellig Michael: The Star Wars Island Skellig Michael, also known by its Irish name Sceilg Mhichíl, is a rocky island in the Atlantic Ocea...