Irish Treats - Halloween in Éire (2017)

The idea of this trip was born during my first business trip to Ireland when I got to know from Ian that Halloween is originated from their country. Immediately knew that I wanted to look around at that time of the year and secretly hoped that we had the same spooky experience like with Family Lassu in California years ago.

Proper companion organized, Aer Lingus tickets booked well in advance on reasonable price level, precise schedule worked out, suitable airbnb accommodations searched for and one of the most memorable trips rounded.

1st Etap

We landed in Dublin and spent the first night near the airport. While the kids were rejoicing over the bunk beds and unbend themselves with Juli, I could not refrain from making a short walk in the nearby to take some night photos of the city. Since we arrived late, the only purpose of the team was to have rest and to set off the next morning to hire our car. Cheer, hunting for plug converter, a disappointing poor breakfast but all in good mood and ready for the Irish adventure.

2nd Etap

Once we had the car - which wasn't a very smooth procedure - started our trip to our next station. The team was ready to arrive the second accomodation where the Halloween evening was planned to spend. Before settling, we aim at the Johhnie Fox's pub as the best place to eat and warm up for the evening. To find a great place suitable for trick or treating was a challenge from such distance but I proudly present that I made a good choice, unseen. Monkstown was perfect from Halloween point of view, the surrounding houses were well prepared for welcoming the kids. And the more doors were opened in front of them, the more courage they had. They fall into bed terribly tired at the very end of that spooky evening.  

 

3rd Etap

Leaving Monkstown we headed from Dublin up to North, till Bushmills, till the very end of the island where countless natural beauties were waiting for us. The left position of the steering wheel and driving on the left side was not our dream and required much attention and concentration than usual, but after a couple of miles we started to become master of it. Our third accomodation was everyone's favourite. The key was under the mat and entering the house we found ourselves in a friendly pretty house that also inspired the kids who kept them busy with "spring-cleaning" while we were away for getting the breakfast-to-be.

The first natural beauty was the Dark Hedges which is an avenue of beech trees forming an atmospheric tunnel that has been used as location of the popular TV series, Game of Thrones resulting a more popular tourist attraction. We found it finally and looked like in the pictures - just a little bit more crowded. Although, I haven't seen any episode, I really like the music of the series. What else should we listen to in the car while driving there? In about 1775 James Stuart built a new house named Gracehill House after his wife named Grace Lynd. Over 150 beech trees were planted along the entrance road to the estate, to create an imposing approach. According to legend, the hedges are visited by a ghost called the Grey Lady, who travels the road and flits across it from tree to tree. 

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (in Ballycastle) links the mainland to a tiny island. It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below. The bridge was first erected by salmon fishermen 200 years ago. It is no longer used by fishermen in the salmon season (from June to Sept) as there are now very few salmon left. In the 1960s almost 300 fish were caught each day, by 2002 only 300 were caught over the whole season. The bridge is mainly a tourist attraction and is owned and maintained by the National Trust. The windswept coastal walk leading to the bridge is beautiful. On your left is the wild Atlantic Ocean and to the right, fields of coastal farmland.

The Giant's Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an area of about 40 000 interlocking basalt columns. These are the result of an ancient volcanic erruption, forming stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. To tell you the truth, it is a great natural wonder but not the favourite of the little ones. Both kids were upset and out of humor but mainly tired by the end of the day.

On our way back to the airport on the last day we needed to drive a little bit faster than the legal speed limits to arrive on time and to catch our plane. And what due to happen was happened: the penalty reached us at home several weeks after. Although, it was not as high as the Danish one... :-)