Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Lamb Stew

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I love lamb, but it’s pretty expensive in the USA, so my kids get very excited when I find it on sale.

We often make the lamb stew with leftover roast lamb from Easter dinner or “on sale” fresh chopped lamb.

This stew can be made two ways and both are rich and full.

My kids prefer the stew with Guinness instead of red wine. It makes the gravy less sweet.

It’s like most stews – onions, carrots, and potatoes. You can add celery root, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, or other savory veg.

I dredge the lamb in raw sugar, seasonings like rosemary, and flour. Then I sear it in fat.

I add the beer or wine and beef stock, some Worcestershire, and bring to a boil to make gravy. Then I slow cook for about six hours.

I love my slow cooker so I can fix it and forget it, but the house smells so amazing all day long!

I often add some peas at the very end or as a side dish.

We like to serve this with fresh bread machine soda bread.

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Lamb Stew

Course Main Course

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lamb, cubed
  • 1-2 T sugar
  • 2-3 T flour
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T butter
  • 1 bottle dark beer or 1 cup dry red wine
  • 1 box beef stock or about 3 cups
  • 1 T Worcestershire sauce
  • 1-2 t salt
  • 1-2 t dried thyme
  • 1/2 t coarse black pepper
  • 1 small onion diced, chopped, sliced – however you like it
  • 2-3 carrots peeled and sliced
  • 1 lb small red potatoes
  • 1 T parsley chopped, fresh for garnish

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle lamb with sugar and dredge in flour.

  2. Sear lamb in olive oil. Remove to a plate to make roux.

  3. Add butter to remaining oil and more flour if needed to make a roux.

  4. Add beer or wine and scrape pot. Add beef stock and bring to boil.

  5. Return lamb, spices, and vegetables to pot.

  6. Simmer on low for about two hours or set slow cooker to low 4-6 hours.

  7. If gravy is too thin, add some water thickened with cornstarch. Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

  8. Serve hot stew with soda bread and salad.

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I’ve never liked corned beef and it’s not traditionally served on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. It’s more of a New England immigrant food.

Some other fun traditional Irish recipes:

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Soda Bread

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Sometimes, I just want a very simple bread that doesn’t take all day to make.

Soda bread is versatile, delicious, and quick in the bread machine.

The sides and bottom of the loaf are crispy and firm. The top steamed a bit. The middle is soft and crumbly.

We prefer our soda bread without fruit, seeds, or nuts. It’s delicious either way, I’m sure.

We serve this with soups, for snacks, for breakfasts. It goes great with our lamb stew!

My bread machine completes this quick bread cycle in about 1.5 hours.

Soda bread isn’t just for Saint Patrick’s Day!

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Soda Bread

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c water
  • 1 c buttermilk +2T
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 2 T unsalted butter
  • 2 T molasses
  • 1 c whole wheat flour
  • 2 c bread or cake flour
  • 1/2 t baking soda
  • 1 1/2 t kosher or sea salt
  • 2 t yeast
  • 2 t caraway seeds optional
  • 1 c currants and/or raisins optional

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in the bread machine in order – liquid ingredients at the bottom and dry ingredients on top. I like to put the yeast in last, making a little divet in the center of the flour.

  2. Set bread machine to "Quick" cycle. Go live your life for a couple hours.

  3. When the bread machine beeps, you can add seeds and fruit to the cycle if using.

  4. Allow bread to set for 10 minutes before removing it from the bread machine. It'll steam a bit and be softer.

  5. Serve sliced warm with salted Irish butter and/or jam.

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Some other fun traditional Irish recipes:

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Celebrating St. Patrick

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We really like the story of St. Patrick.

It’s a fun holiday. It’s been popular in the USA for many years.

I love the prayer Breastplate. In part:

Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Legend of St. Patrick:

Patrick’s birth name was Maewyn Succat. He was born a Roman citizen in Roman Britain, in the town of Banna Venta Berniae, sometime in the late 300s AD. He was kidnapped into slavery and brought to Ireland. He escaped and became a priest, went back to Ireland, where he had a lot of luck converting the Druids into Christians.

He changed his name to Patricius (or Patrick), which derives from the Latin term for “father figure,” after he became a priest. 

It became a popular feast day or holiday in the 17th century.

Since the holiday falls during Lent, it provides Christians a day off from the prescriptions of abstinence leading up to Easter.

The first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737. In 1762, the first New York City parade took place.

It wasn’t until 1798, the year of the Irish Rebellion, that the color green became officially associated with the day. (It used to be blue.)

Thanks to a marketing push from Budweiser in the 1980s, downing (green) beer has become a common way to celebrate.

How We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day:

St. Patrick Resources:

Learn about the other patron saint of Ireland: St. Brigid.

How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

St Patrick’s Day Notebooking Pages (FREE)
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Celebrating Saint Brigid’s Day

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Candlemas…Imbolc, the feast day of the Celtic goddess Brigid marks the beginning of spring, celebrates the arrival of longer, warmer days and the early nature signs of spring on February 1.

Born at a liminal time in a liminal place, Brigid is said to have been born on the threshold of a door (neither within or without the house) and at the breaking of dawn (neither day or night). There is ample proof that Brigid is most likely a continuation of the earlier goddess Brigid/ Brigantia who was worshipped in ancient Ireland.

The word Imbolc means “in the belly,” in the old Irish language, referring to the pregnancy of ewes.

Imbolc is one of the four major “fire” festivals (referred to in Irish mythology from medieval Irish texts. The other three festivals on the old Irish calendar are Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain/Halloween).

St. Brigid is the patron saint of babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, cattle farmers, children whose parents are not married, children whose mothers are mistreated by the children’s fathers, Clan Douglas, dairymaids, dairy workers, fugitives, Ireland, Leinster, mariners, midwives, milkmaids, nuns, poets, the poor, poultry farmers, poultry raisers, printing presses, sailors, scholars, travelers, and watermen.

Celebrating Saint Brigid's Day

Celebrating Saint Brigid’s Day

  • Nature walk to look for signs of spring
  • Eat customary Irish foods
  • Read books!
  • Donate to charity or serve others
  • Make Brigid crosses out of straw
  • Visit a farm to learn about the cattle and sheep
  • Leave out scarves for blessings! Known as a “Bratog Bride” in Irish folklore, this special garment can then be used as a cure for headaches or sore throats.

Customs

Brigid would be symbolically invited into the house and a bed would often be made for her and corn dollies made as her representatives. Often a family member, representing Brigid, would circle the home three times carrying rushes. They would then knock the door three times, asking to be let in. On the third attempt they are welcomed in, the meal is had, and the rushes are then made into crosses.

Irish children, especially girls, often dress up in rags and go door to door like trick or treating, chanting:

“Here comes poor Brigid both deaf and blind,

Put your hand in your pocket and give her a coin

If you haven’t a penny, a halfpenny will do

If you haven’t a halfpenny, God bless you.”

One of the earliest references to the St. Brigid’s Cross is from a 1735 poem:

“St. Bridget’s cross hung over door

Which did the house from fire secure

O Gillo thought, O powerfull charm

To keep a house from taking harm;

And tho’ the dogs and servants slept,

By Bridget’s care the house was kept.”

Resources:

Books:

Spring is just around the corner!

Linking up: Pinch of Joy, House on Silverado, Eclectic Red Barn, Grammy’s Grid, Random Musings, Suburbia, Mostly Blogging, Pam’s Party, Pieced Pastimes Shelbee on the Edge,, My Life Abundant, InstaEncoouragements, LouLou Girls, Ginger Snap Crafts, Fluster Buster, Ridge Haven Homestead, Jenerally Informed, Stroll Thru Life, My Wee Abode, Penny’s Passion, Bijou Life, Artful Mom, Try it Like it, Soaring with Him, Debbie Kitterman, Anchored Abode, Imparting Grace, Slices of Life, OMHG, Modern Monticello, Cottage Market, Answer is Choco, Momfessionals, Lyli Dunbar, CWJ, Hubbard Home, Lauren Sparks, Moment with Franca, Create with Joy,

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County Meath in Ireland

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We saved the best for last on our Ireland trip.

We drove from Ashford Castle to County Meath to tour all the sites we’ve only read and dreamed about.

County Meath in Ireland

It’s about a 3-hour drive, depending on traffic and weather…and GPS mistakes.

We stopped first at Trim Castle.

My ancestor, Hugh de Lacy, constructed Trim Castle over a thirty-year period with his son, Walter.

Construction of the massive three-storied keep, the central stronghold of the castle, was begun in 1176 on the site of an earlier wooden fortress. Ready for occupancy in 1173, Trim Castle is the largest, best-preserved Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Trim get its name from the Irish áth Truim, meaning “The Ford of the Elder Trees.”

Trim Castle on the River Boyne

The kids were excited to run up to the gate.
Front Gate to Trim Castle

We just opted for the self-guided tour instead of the extra group tour of the keep. It would have taken over an hour and we were a bit pinched for time. I didn’t know if Alex would have found it interesting enough to listen to the guide for that long.

We bought the guide book and that is quite comprehensive.

The keep is a twenty-sided cruciform design with walls 3m thick. It was protected by a ditch, curtain wall, and moat.

Trim Castle Keep

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Trim Castle declined in importance, and it was allowed to deteriorate.

Admission Prices:

Adult €4 | Child/Student €2 | Family €10

Castle Excluding the Keep – Adult €2 | Child/Student €1 | Family €4

Alex enjoyed seeing the stocks outside the castle grounds. He had asked about them and had a hard time understanding.

Experiential learning is always best.

Stocks at Trim Castle

We walked the trail around the castle and across the River Boyne bridge to see the Sheep’s Gate and Yellow Steeple ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey.

The Yellow Steeple St. Mary's Abbey

St. Patrick’s Church is in the background, to the left.

Trim Castle and St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick

St. Patrick's Church

After getting a treat at a shop in town, we got back in the car.

Our next stop was The Hill of Tara.

It was cold, windy, misty, and quite muddy.

I lost my grip and slid halfway down one of the hills, thinking the Fenians were dragging me back to the Underworld.

The Hill of Tara

The megalithic passage tomb called the Mound of the Hostages (Duma na nGiall) is the oldest monument on the Hill of Tara, dating between 2500 and 3000 B.C. The passage, 4 m in long and 1 m wide, is divided by sill stones into three compartments, each containing cremated remains. There’s a lovely etched stone inside with a triple spiral triskelion.Mound of the Hostages

The Lia Fáil or Stone of Destiny stands about one meter high on the King’s Seat.

According to legend: if touched by a worthy king, the stone would scream its approval. It could be heard all over Ireland.

It didn’t scream for us.

Lia Fáil or Stone of Destiny

Admission Fees

Adult: €4.00
Child/Student: €2.00
Family: €10.00

Then, we drove to Newgrange.

We arrived just in time for the last bus from the visitor’s center to the site. You can only visit the Newgrange archaeological site with tickets, the bus trip, and a guide.

The mound dates to 3,200 BC, which makes it older than Stonehenge and Great Pyramids of Giza. It is approximately 80 m in diameter with the base consisting of 97 stones.

Newgrange Monolithic Site

At dawn on the winter solstice and for a number of days before and after, a shaft of sunlight enters the chamber through an opening in the aperture above the entrance.

Newgrange

Pictures aren’t allowed inside. The ceiling is so low, adults have to bend over a bit, but can stand up at the end. The ground actually rises gradually from the entrance to the rear. The passage ends in a cross-shaped chamber. The passage points southeast and is a little fewer than 19 m long. The chamber consists of three recesses with a corbelled roof. To construct this roof, the builders overlapped layers of large rocks until the roof could be sealed with a capstone, 6 meters above the floor. After 5,000 years, the roof is still waterproof.

There are large stone basins in each recess and the walls are decorated with carvings of geometric designs like diamonds, triangles, spirals, and triskelia.

Kerbstone 52 is directly opposite the entrance stone on the outside of Newgrange. You can see carved spirals, diamonds, and triangles on the left, and more elaborate shapes on the right.

Newgrange Kerbstone 52

Visitors Center and Newgrange Megalithic Tomb

Adult: €6.00
Senior/Group: €5.00
Child/Student: €3.00
Family: €15.00
Average Length of Visit is 2 hours.

Some great educational resources on the Brú na Bóinne site.

The Battle of the Boyne site and museum is just down the road from Newgrange, but it was getting late and we were tired and hungry.

River Boyne

We drove to the city of Kells to see some sites and eat dinner.

Kells derives from the Irish Ceanannas Mór, meaning “great residence.”

We saw the 9th century Market High Cross as soon as we drove into Kells. The carvings depict scenes from the Old Testament.

Kells Market High Cross and Old Courthouse

The Abbey of Kells was first founded by St. Columba in 554. We’re so glad we watched The Secret of Kells!

The Book of Kells remained at Kells Abbey until the 1650s, when Cromwell’s troops were stationed in the town. It was sent then to Dublin for safekeeping. In 1661, the Book of Kells ended up in Trinity College, Dublin, where it remains.

The Round Tower is 90 feet high and unusual in that it has five windows, rather than the usual four, overlooking the five main roads into the town. The Churchyard Wall marks the original limit of the monastery. It was rebuilt in 1714 and 1998.

Round Tower and Churchyard Walls

St. Columcille’s House probably dates from the early 10th century and is characteristic of an oratory from that period. There is no mortar in the house, it is stacked and angled stones, an amazing feat of early architecture. There was an underground passage from the house to the church.

St. Columba's House

The Abbey gates were locked and the old lady who holds the key to St. Columba’s house wasn’t home.

We had dinner at The Bective. It was recommended by a sweet local passerby when we were looking at the Round Tower.

The food was quite divine. I’m just not sure what the restaurant wants to be: it’s not a pub, but neither is it fancy white tablecloths.

We were squeezed into a small table in the middle of the room since we didn’t have a reservation.

Instead of water, we were served a Tang-like orange cordial. We loved that. Don’t get me wrong: I grew up with Tang and it’s a delightful memory.

The service was iffy.

I had to beg for a waitress to explain their beer selection from a smudged chalkboard in the far back corner of the restaurant. If they advertise “local craft beer” then maybe they should have a menu I can read up close. I was never quite sure which lady was our main waitress.

They didn’t pay attention when we all ordered and then switched up two of my daughters’ meals so I had to scramble to share around to cover up their mistake. I understand it’s odd for my teen to order off the kids’ menu and my 10-year-old to order an adult meal, but that’s just normal for us. The chicken wings my one daughter ordered off the kids’ menu came out all spicy sauce and all, but they quickly replaced them with plain ones. Maybe the menu descriptions could be a little clearer.

The salmon and trout were some of the best I’ve ever had.

I ordered a mushroom au gratin that was like cheesy cream soup. It was good, but not what I expected.

Their card machine was on the fritz so we had to pay cash.

We then drove back to Ashford Castle. It was late when we arrived.

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Our Trip to Ireland

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It’s long been my dream to visit Ireland.

Since I turn the big 40 this month, we took a short trip to visit some key places in Ireland!

Our Trip to Ireland

We flew into Kerry from Frankfurt Hahn on RyanAir.

We rented a car. That was an interesting experience for my husband, driving on the “wrong” side of the road.

We stayed at Ashford Castle.

Ashford Castle in the Morning

Day 1:

We visited Kylemore Abbey.

The drive through the hills was lovely!

Kylemore Abbey

We had a lovely tea at Ashford Castle in the afternoon.

Day 2:

In the morning, we went on a Hawk Walk at Ashford Castle.

Falconry

We walked around Galway City in the afternoon.

Day 3:

We drove over to County Meath to see Trim Castle, Newgrange, The Hill of Tara, and the City of Kells.

It was a loooong drive but all of those places were close together once we got there.

We got back to the castle pretty late that night.

Our trip was too short.

We lost two days just traveling there and home – and I had hoped we’d have more opportunity to take side trips on the way to/from the castle/airport on those days.

There were several places we longed to see, but we just ran out of time.

The speed limits on the crowded little 2-lane country roads and the rainy weather made the going very slow.

I’d love to go back to Ireland to see The Cliffs of Moher and The Burren and to visit Dublin to see The Book of Kells.

Ashford Castle

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Galway City in Ireland

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We took a short trip to Ireland and rented a car so we could drive around and explore.

We spent an afternoon walking around the lovely Galway City.

Galway is on the southern side of the Corrib Lake and Ashford Castle is on the northern side. It’s about an hour to drive down and around.

Our Galway City Ireland Trip

We found a parking garage right by the Spanish Gate in Galway.

Super convenient and right by Quay Street and Claddagh.

Spanish Gate in Galway City

We ate at McDonagh’s for fish and chips per Laura’s recommendations (she was our favorite clerk at Ashford Castle).

McDonagh’s is on Quay Street. Opening times: Monday to Saturday 12 noon – 11pm and Sunday 2pm – 9pm

Fish and Chips at McDonagh's in Galway

We mostly walked around Quay Street, window shopping.

The kids loved this statue of Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Wilde

We strolled over to St. Nicholas Collegiate Church. What a treasure.

Built around 1320, St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is well worth a visit and is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland, which has been in continuous use. Currently serving the Church of Ireland community, the church is dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of children (the model for Santa Claus) and mariners. Through the centuries, the church has played a central role in Galway’s history. In 1477, the explorer Christopher Columbus prayed at this church. During the 1600s, two tribe families of Galway extended the church but after the city was besieged in 1652, Cromwellian troops used the church as a stable.

The exterior has numerous carvings of animals and mythical creatures, while inside there are a diverse number of notable artefacts and monuments such as the Crusader’s grave (1300s), the carved baptismal font (1600s), a decorated stone lectern (1500s), and the Lepers’ Gallery.

St. Nicholas Church in Galway Ireland

We crossed over to the Claddagh district. It was super windy and getting colder.

Claddagh

Claddagh means “the shore.” It’s is an area close to the centre of Galway city, where the Corrib River meets Galway Bay. It was formerly a fishing village, just outside the old city walls. It is just across the river from the Spanish Arch, which was the location of regular fish markets where the locals supplied the city with seafood as recently as the end of the 19th century. People have been gathering seafood and fishing from the area for millennia. It is one of the oldest former fishing villages in Ireland – its existence having been recorded since the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century.
During the 19th century the Claddagh attracted many visitors, including writers who spread its fame. The original village of thatched cottages was razed in the 1930s and replaced by government buildings.

I wish we’d had more time to see Galway Cathedral, but we were cold and tired and it was several blocks away. We could see the dome of the cathedral.

Galway was a delightful little city with lots of shopping opportunities, pubs and restaurants, and culture.

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Falconry School in Ireland

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We’ve been studying the Middle Ages for history and we’re absolutely fascinated by birds of prey.

We took a fun trip to Ireland for my birthday!

We primarily went to Ashford Castle for the falconry school.

It was the highlight of our trip to Ireland!

Falconry School of Ireland

The kids and I had a great time with the Harris’s Hawks and Aaron took pictures.

Our guide, Jamie, graciously took this family shot of us!

Alex got two turns, so don’t let his scowl fool you. He was disappointed our time was over!

And, as you can see, it started raining pretty hard right about then, so it was good we were finished.

Falconry

We made an appointment for our hawking at 9:30 AM and walked over to the Falconry School on the grounds of Ashford Castle. It’s also open to the public; you don’t have to stay at the castle to do the falconry activities.

Jamie, our instructor, introduced us to all their important birds: Dingle the owl, some of their special hawks, and two beautiful falcons. We even got to witness their oldest hawk, retired now, come in for a landing after his morning flight.

Each hawk has its own perch and a bathtub within the enclosure. They are tethered to it and that’s their territory. Each bird is weighed every morning.

Dingle the owl and the retired hawk have larger, private enclosures.

Learning About Falconry

After all that excitement, Jamie brought out brothers, Chico and Aztec, for our session.

Liz and Chico met their match in orneriness. Chico liked trying to help with his ties and bands, but it just tightens them. He thinks he’s so smart. Teenagers.

Chico the Helping Hawk

Alex liked the calmer Aztec, Chico’s brother.

Aztec the Harris's Hawk

Liz and Alex had their turns first and got to walk out of the gates with hawks on their arms.

He was SO careful walking with the hawk on his glove. He propped up his hand to steady it.

Walking with the Hawk

The hawks are much lighter than you’d expect and will not touch your face, so there’s no fear of that. As much as we want to, we shouldn’t pet them because it interferes with their oil production which helps keep them waterproofed.

During our hour-long walk around the woods, our guide told us all about Harris’s Hawks. We even got to see them perform a few tricks.

Alex was giddy with the taking off and landing.

He just knew to open his palm to feed him the bit of meat, before Jamie even told him.

In a few minutes, he was acting like a pro!

Hawk Return

The girls loved it when it was their turn!

Girls with Harris's Hawks

The kids all love animals and this was a wonderful experience for them to interact with hawks.

I think the hawks like posing for pictures too.

Posing for Pictures

Tori was a little nervous at first, but soon got the hang of it.

Enjoying Hawk Time

The hawks feel most comfortable on the glove with the thumb turned up, otherwise they start to climb up your arm.

Hawk Landing

Kate was super excited because she has been reading about Frightful and My Side of the Mountain. It’s so much better experiencing it than reading about it!

She knows she wants to work with animals when she grows up. She thinks she might want to intern as a falconer or be a marine biologist.

Fun with Hawks

Tori and Katie got to walk the hawks back inside the gate and to their napping room.

Naptime

Chico doesn’t produce enough sebum to be water-proof so they blow-dry him.

We all had so much fun learning about and flying the hawks.

Rates:

€80.00 for one participant
€65.00 each for two participants
€55.00 each for three participants
€50.00 each for four to ten participants

Reductions apply for larger groups and families and there is no cost for spectators who accompany a participant.

We got a family rate of €135.00.

Our time with these Harris’s Hawks was the highlight of our trip to Ireland!

Check out the Falconry School at Ashford Castle.

Ashford Castle
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Kylemore Abbey in Ireland

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Our first tour on our Ireland trip was to see Kylemore Abbey.

The story of Kylemore is a remarkable history spanning over 150 years.

The drive from Ashford Castle to Kylemore Abbey was about an hour.

The landscape on the way was lovely – hills and streams and sheep frolicking!

History Talks of the Abbey are available each day at 11:30am. 13:00pm & 15.00pm.

We arrived just in time for the 11:30 talk.

Our Trip to Kylemore Abbey

We walked down the trail to see the church.

Ireland has seen a lot of rain lately and there is some flooding.

We loved this teal bench. Don’t think we’ll go boating though!

Flooding at Kylemore Abbey

The kids loved the little Gothic Church beside Kylemore Abbey.

Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey

We took the shuttle bus to the Victorian Garden and then walked back to the visitor’s center.

The walk back has children’s activities like naturally made musical instruments.

Children's Walk at Kylemore Abbey

The kids loved running up the stone steps to donate a coin in the grotto.

Grotto at Kylemore Abbey

Tickets:

Adults: €13.00

Students €9.00

Children under 10 are FREE!

Visitor Center & Admission to the Estate:

  • Every Day 9.30am – 5.00pm
  • Last admission at 4.30pm
  • Garden closes at 4.45pm
  • Last shuttle from the Garden to the Visitor Centre is at 4.50pm
  • The shuttle bus runs from 11.00am to 5.oopm

Generally:

  • March to November 9.30 am to 5.30pm
  • November to March 10.ooam to 4.30pm
  • April to July 9.00am to 6.oopm
  • July & August 9.00am to 7.00pm

The Garden Tea House is closed in winter. Henry’s Takeaway Coffee Shop is closed from August 31, 2015 to June 2016.
Mitchell’s Cafe and Kylemore Craft & Design Shop is open every day 9.30am – 5.00pm

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Ashford Castle in Ireland

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We stayed at Ashford Castle during our trip to Ireland.

We traveled to Ireland for my birthday and our stay at Ashford Castle was worth every penny.

We watched The Quiet Man before we went and it plays at the castle theater and in room TVs too!

Our Stay at Ashford Castle in Ireland

Ireland’s stunning Ashford Castle, founded by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family in 1228, is set on 350 acres on Lough Corrib. It was expanded by the Guinness family in the mid 1800’s and turned into a hotel in 1915. A golf course was added in the 1970’s. Red Carnation purchased the property in 2013 and restored the entire property to its former glory, refurbishing 82 guest rooms, the castle’s stonework, windows, the roof, and adding a spa and fitness center.

We completely missed the front entrance (it was dark and not well-lit) and our GPS led us to the back road and gate.

A staff member offered to park our car for us and bring up our luggage. Service, y’all.

We were greeted at reception with delicious, fruity rum toddies upon check-in.

Alex found a chessboard in the Oak Room by the fireplace and challenged a sister while Aaron was squaring us away and reserving our dinner.

We were offered a lovely tour by Laura on the way to our rooms. She was always super helpful and sweet to the kids.

The hotel and restaurants, the public spaces and rooms are immaculate.

I couldn’t find a flaw in the décor or a speck of dust anywhere. They pay attention to every detail.

Waterford Crystal chandeliers hang from all the ceilings, twinkling in candlelight and highlighting the blooming orchids on every side table.

The kids were greeted with a sweet touch (Alex licked his icing off the cookie before I could get the picture!) and personalized activity packs.

All of us had robes and slippers laid out with blood orange chocolates and apple juice.

A Sweet Touch at Ashford Castle

The kids loved their room. Those headboards.

Room 407 was just around the corner from our room.

The Kids' Room at Ashford Castle

My room was green with pictures of birds. The beds were already turned down, but the pillows are monogrammed and there was a fun green embroidered bolster pillow in the center of the bed during the day.

The heated-floor bathroom is so perfect with shelves, a lovely tall bureau sink, bidet, and a nice, powerful rain shower head and wand. Delicious Voya organic seaweed beauty products are provided with fluffy white monogrammed towels on a warmer rack.

It couldn’t have been more perfect! Room 419 has a view of the bridge and river.

My Green Room at Ashford Castle

The rooms are a perfect combination of old and new!

There are electronic controls by the door for the lights. The bedside has touch controls for the lights and blinds.

We freshened up and ate a lovely dinner before bed.

We had reservations at The Dungeon but ate in the Drawing Room because there was no room downstairs for all of us. Noli Alngohuro was concerned about the lack of space in The Dungeon, but how can you tell guests they’ve overstayed their time? He made sure we were well-taken care of during dinner and explained the Irish Whiskey to us.

Robert Bowe greeted us every time we saw him, always ready for a chat. He was delightful and wore awesome vests.

The kids were all happy with salmon, potato soup, chicken strips, and an amazing hamburger. Each dish was served with fries and steamed buttered vegetables. Platters of miniature breads and Irish butter appeared on slates.

The quality and exquisite taste of such simple food is impressive.

Aaron ordered this gorgeous venison stew en croute, served with mashed potatoes.

Venison Stew

I enjoyed this unique mix of flavors with salmon and beets. The salmon was superbly prepared.

Salmon, Beets, and Bok Choy

We took an early morning walk by the river and took this lovely picture of the castle:

Ashford Castle in the Morning

I loved seeing the heron in the marshes by the bridge.

View from the Bridge at Ashford Castle

Stone Irish Wolfhounds guard the front door.

Front Door at Ashford Castle

The exquisite Reagan Presidential Suite is named for President Ronald Reagan who once stayed at Ashford Castle. There have been lots of famous people at Ashford over the years. The kids loved reading the wall of fame.

The George V Dining Room is very upscale (It’s named in honor of the king’s visit in 1906, when he was the Prince of Wales. The bar is also named for him.) and we didn’t want that added stress of helping the kids at a fancy dinner, so we didn’t dine there during our stay.

We had breakfast every day in that same dining room so we didn’t miss anything. The breakfast was to die for – smoked salmon, Connemara slow-cooked ham station, sausages, these amazing stuffed mushrooms, cheese, scones served with silver pots of tea, coffee, and hot chocolate…and the kids could even order pancakes off the menu and Tori ordered eggs Benedict two mornings – it was all included!

The kids were delighted with afternoon tea in the gorgeous Connaught Room (which boasts a Donegal Crystal chandelier) the next day!

We ordered two adult teas and four children’s teas. It was more than enough for all of us.

We were each greeted with a fruity cordial and the adults’ were topped with champagne.

Aaron and I ordered a full glass of champagne to start. Just because.

We each ordered tea, of course. Other options are on the menu for those who don’t like tea.

Katie and Liz shared Darjeeling. Alex likes Earl Grey. Tori and Aaron enjoyed Irish Gold. I got Irish Cream Whiskey. It was amazing.

Then these fun towers of food arrived with plates full of goodies!

A plethora of fun sandwiches: salmon, cucumber, chicken avocado, PBJ, cheese. And all these darling cakes and sweets. The kids got adorable little vanilla milkshakes and candies.

Then, at the end, we got three huge plates of scones with jam, clotted cream, and lemon curd!

We were stuffed!

Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle

The Irish Wolfhounds, Cronan and Garvan, come to Ashford every day at 10 AM for tummy rubs and pictures. Follow them on Instagram!

Ashford Wolfhounds

I just loved these sweet boys!

Cronan and Garvan and me

Aaron and I enjoyed evenings in The Prince of Wales Bar for whiskey tastings and ale and the Billiards Room for a chat with the barkeep and a game of cards. The table was for Snooker,  so we didn’t know how to play! There’s also a Cigar Terrace, but we didn’t go there.

We decided we loved Redbreast and Midleton best, though Connemara was peaty and unique (and goes great in porridge – who knew?).

Irish Whiskey Tasting

The kids enjoyed the 32-seat movie theater with popcorn and sweets. The library was a delight.

There is also an indoor pool. Remember to bring swim caps or be ready to pay €5 each. There are family-friendly hours from 6-8 PM. Our three younger kids and Aaron swam two evenings in a row.

We didn’t try out the award-winning spa, but I hear and read that it’s amazing. It has five treatment rooms, including a couple’s room with nice views and all the expected amenities.

Double rooms start at about €245 (or £185) per night, including breakfast.

Check out Ashford Castle for a magical family experience!

Ashford Castle

Studying Castles and the Middle Ages

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