Ministry of Mothering

  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: Waterfalls, Blarney Castle, and the Beauty of County Kerry After exploring Dublin, Kilkenny, and some of Ireland’s fascinating history, we continued our adventure into the beautiful southwest of Ireland. This part of our trip brought us lush green scenery, a waterfall walk, a castle adventure, and one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip! We based ourselves in Killorglin, County Kerry, where we stayed in a renovated pub that gave our group of 15 a place to stay together. From there, we explored some of the surrounding area, including Killarney National Park and Blarney Castle and Gardens. Of course, not everything went according to plan. We also had to miss a historic site I had really wanted to visit. But that’s part of traveling with a big family: you make the most of the time you have, enjoy the experiences you can fit in, and sometimes leave a few things for another trip. Staying in a Renovated Pub in Killorglin One of the unique parts of our t...

  Our Ireland Adventure: Exploring Kilmainham Gaol and Kilkenny Castle As we continued our Ireland adventure, we had the opportunity to explore two very different historic sites: Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin and Kilkenny Castle in the charming city of Kilkenny. One gave us a moving look into Ireland’s struggle for independence, while the other let us enjoy a beautiful castle and its grounds—even when things didn’t go quite as planned! Kilmainham Gaol: A Tour We Won’t Forget Kilmainham Gaol was one of our favorite historical experiences in Ireland. We took a guided tour, and our tour guide was absolutely wonderful. He brought the history of the prison to life in a way that made the stories feel personal rather than just facts from a history book. Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 and held everyone from ordinary men, women, and children to some of the most important figures in Ireland’s fight for independence. Many leaders of Irish rebellions were imprisoned there, and fourteen leaders of...

  Our First Adventures in Ireland: Sleeping in a Castle and Beating Jet Lag After an 8.5-hour overnight flight, our family of six arrived in Ireland ready for adventure. Our first night was spent in a castle, our first full morning included a traditional Irish breakfast, and our first days taught us that traveling doesn't always go according to plan! Our First Night in a Castle! After months of planning, the day had finally arrived: we were in Ireland! For our family, this trip was especially meaningful. My mother-in-law had gifted our family plane tickets after my father-in-law passed away in 2025. He loved to travel, and we were so grateful for the opportunity to make new memories together as a family. Our flight was about 8.5 hours overnight, so by the time we arrived, we had already been traveling for quite a while. But we weren't heading straight to an ordinary hotel. Our first night's accommodation was Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin! How fun is it to begin your Iris...