“You do not need saving.
Only reminding of who you are.”
At age 7, I traveled to Ireland by myself for the first time. The emerald isle quickly become a second home to me, and each summer I would return to live with my extended family for weeks on end. It was a tradition started by my father, a first generation American who left the rush of New York to work on his uncle's farm in the quiet fishing village of Courtmacsherry, Eire until school started again. Like my Dad, some of my favorite memories are from those summers.
This trip was the first time I had been back in the summertime in 5 years. I was an emotional wreck who was constantly crying of happiness and confessing my love to everyone. Being there again, I realized how much Ireland means to me, how significantly my time and the people there have shaped who I am.
Thank you to my Dad for enabling Rob and I to go, we had an unforgettable trip with you. Thank you to Rose and my cousin Neil for inviting us to your beautiful wedding, it was absolutely incredible. Thank you to Aunt Kathleen and Aunt Margaret for the advice and wisdom you shared with me on the trip, I am so grateful we bonded the way we did. Thank you to Robby for coming with me, meeting (literally) 100s of my family members and making them fall just as deeply in love with you as I am. Thank you to Deirdre and Siob for being future bridesmaids and forever my sisters from another mama. Thank you to Marie for always making me feel so welcome and being down to stay out way after we should be in bed. I could give a million thank yous. This trip was truly the time of my life, I could not have had a better time, and I could not feel more blessed than I do coming away from it. This trip solidified that my wedding (far in the future) will be happening in Ireland.
We were in County Kerry at the Park Hotel/Samas Spa and then in County Cork in Courtmacsherry, Kinsale, Clonakilty, and Cork City.
Trip highlights include:
- Brunch with 25 of my Dad's cousins the moment we stepped off the plane.
- Park Hotel desserts outside at 10:30 pm before the sunset.
- The 7 mile hike through Killarney National Park.
- Taking a horse and carriage through the Gap of Dunlop.
- Treatments and spending time at the pool at the Samas Spa.
- A boat tour of the Lakes of Killarney.
- Aunt Margaret dropping her phone in the river and our guide retrieving it.
- 5 hour dinners with my parents, Grandma, and Aunt Kathleen and Margaret in Kenmare.
- Dad and Neilus singing at the pub the night before the wedding.
- Grandma eating 3 ice cream cones after the reception at Rose and Neil’s wedding.
- Watching my Dad's face as Nelius spoke at the wedding (he looked like a kid on Christmas).
- Everyone and their mom stealing Robby away from me on the wedding dance floor.
- Having a 99 at the Clon Street Fair.
- The madness at the Courtmac Hotel the night after the wedding.
- Robby and I staying out til 4 am on our last night, forcing us to go directly to the airport for a 18 hour travel day.
And so much more. Here are some photos taken in the 10 days. All iPhone.
