(Privately shared on January 15, 2023 with a select group of friends). The photo above is a Silly Selfie of me at Castle Lough Rynn, Ireland. More photos can be found here.
As a reminder, words written in italics represent the original journal. Underlined words are edits for clarification within the original journal. I’m also adding new notes in my journal as I share it, mostly historical information of the things I’ve seen and researched upon my return and random thoughts. This will be represented in regular type.
20 September 2022 ~ Lough Rynn Castle
My stay in Doolin was nice. I’m glad I finally experienced a proper Irish Pub with traditional music and the food and drink was delicious. Aran View Hotel (?B&B) was nice but the bed was rock hard! Mercifully I was able to sleep but I was sore when I woke up this morning. I’m sure most of the soreness was from the walking but the hard bed didn’t help! (The bed in Bunratty was divine!)
Breakfast was scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, an Irish scone with butter, two croissants almost as good as Mary’s and fruit with yogurt. I took my time leaving Doolin and stopped in the village on the way out to get some souvenirs for my friends and a proper Irish sweater like I had many years ago. This time, I opted against the traditional cream color and bought a slightly darker cream color with colorful specks in it.
I drove for the last time on the Wild Atlantic Way up the Black Head Lighthouse and again immensely enjoyed the drive. A pit stop at a hardware store for duct tape then I arrived at Lough Rynn Castle around 2.30p.
I haven’t checked in yet but walked around the grounds a bit. The day is overcast but dry and I’m wearing my new hat. I’ll probably check in in a few minutes.
During my drive up here I asked myself what I had hoped to achieve on this trip. It wasn’t designed for photography or tourist experiences – it was more to find myself while seeing Ireland from a different point of view. I feel peaceful and strong, and in some ways free. I couldn’t possibly photograph every stunning scene I came across but I’ve enjoyed my time and hope my squirrel brain can recall all the beauty that I’ve seen.
Speaking of squirrels, I finally saw one! And it was a red squirrel!
I’m scheduled for dinner at 7pm and have 50 minutes to get ready.
My room is literally fit for a queen. I just jumped out of the shower and after dinner I’m going to take a bubble bath.
I walked to the walled garden and sat for a while, blowing bubbles (did I mention that I really like to blow bubbles?). I didn’t take too many photographs and realized this trip again wasn’t for photography or tourism, it’s for rediscovery and growing into Kelly Adams. It’s a very liberating thought.
I saw a cat here! If I don’t remarry (or maybe even if I do) I want a home in the country and adopt all the surrendered cats and let them live the rest of their lives with me.
Dinner at the Sandstone.
Dinner was a prix fixe five course meal. The setting is beautiful with sandstone walls, a beautifully carved fireplace and a huge chandelier in a skylight, and stained glass windows. I chose foie gras as my appetizer and a glass of Merlot. (I try to be mindful of animals and almost didn’t get the foie gras because of the cruelty, but geese are mean! Plus, if Chuck was with me, he would get it!). The wine was good and the foie gras was divine, but as I was eating it, a wave of sadness and loneliness overcame me and to my horror I started crying! So much for Kelly the Brave and Kelly the Strong! There was a couple sitting directly across from me and a lovely lady invited me to join them for dinner. Her husband beckoned me to join as well. They were ahead of me, course wise, but made me feel so welcomed and wanted. I hate that I forgot their names! Anyway, they were celebrating their 23rd anniversary and live in Northern Ireland. I had a wonderful time with them. (My main course was Irish beef with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli (the fancy kind) and steamed parsnips). There was a spoonful of raspberry sorbet before the main course. Dessert was creme brulee that was so unbelievably smooth. Coffee followed. It was a magical dinner and my Irish friends will be in my heart forever.
After dinner, I wanted to take a bath. The bathroom in my suite is very airy with a deep bathtub. I got out of my clothes and into the bathrobe and went to draw a bath but saw there wasn’t a stopper! (The bathtub also had a huge rain shower head and had the telephone handle thing as part of the bath). I called the front desk and they apologized for the missing stopper and promised to send up a stopper. After a few moments a stopper was delivered but it didn’t fit! I called down again and the house manager came up to see what the problem was. She confirmed that the stopper didn’t fit and was in a bit of a panic as housekeeping was gone for the evening and there wasn’t an alternative. She went to look in a closet for something but came back empty handed. We tried to think of a way to stop it without a stopper and she said something like ‘if only we had tape.’ I suddenly remembered that I had duct tape and to my amusement, we managed to stop up the bath with several strips of tape! The manager sent up a glass of white wine and I had a luxurious hot bubble bath, with a duct tape stopper!
My bed is fit for a Queen. Eleanor would be so envious! It’s a King size (I think) with four posters and a canopy. There are many pillows and velvet covered decorative pillows – something I may need to add to my own bed. The covers were heavy and not too hot.
21 September 2022 ~ Castle Lough Rynn
It’s so sad that today is my last day in Ireland (tomorrow doesn’t count). I just had a lovely Irish breakfast in the Sandstone and am stuffed! The orange juice was so amazing and super fresh (it was made from Spanish oranges!). I’ve had three glasses. Check out is at noon and I intend to stay here as long as I can. I want to take a nice shower before hitting the road. I also need to transfer photos from my Irish phone to Google Drive. And I need to drop off the car at the airport with a full tank by 5pm. I’m trying to decide if I want to go to Kells as originally intended or if I should go to Bru na Boinne. Decisions, decisions.
Upon researching Bru na Boinne I discovered that tickets were required and unavailable. Guess I have to come back!
I went back to my room after breakfast and took a shower and packed up. I also decided to treat the couple I had dinner with by paying for their dinner. I made them a note and asked if we could keep in touch and said how much I enjoyed myself last night.
I packed up the car then went back inside to see the front sitting area and the bar area. The sitting area was gorgeous. There was a fireplace and a baby grand piano and lots of sitting nooks. I think they serve tea there as well. The bar was nice, too. I then officially checked out and found a note and contact information from my new friends, Annas and Paul Black. I was so happy. Then when I walked out, there they were! We got one more hug and then some photos together (thanks Colm!). It was the perfect ending to a magical stay.
Since I couldn’t go to Bru na Boinne I headed to Kells. Unfortunately, it was disappointing besides seeing the tower. I thought there would be more to see. I then headed to the Hill of Tara. It was pretty cool but in the end, I was like, ‘yeah there’s a centuries old rock in the middle of a field. Cool!’ In my defense for being so unimpressed and unprepared for both Kells and the Hill of Tara, I was tired. I didn’t properly research either destination and just drove to both of them. Kells does indeed have a nice visitors center explaining the history and even has a replica of the Book of Kells. But I just drove to the Tower which was fine. The Hill of Tara was more impressive than my journal entry and I would love to return to it next time I’m in Ireland. I think spending the day there and at Bru na Boinne, which is another prehistoric site, would make an amazing day.
I had to refill Pierre before I dropped him off and headed to Dublin. Getting to the car return place was nerve wracking! There was all sorts of merging and roundabouts and construction at the airport. But I finally found it and said goodbye to Pierre. He was a good car and one of the nicest ones I’ve driven.
I finally made it to the airport hotel and uploaded some more photos. I need to recalibrate my luggage then it’s off to bed. Tomorrow I’ll be heading home.
I’m so glad I was able to make this trip. It was well deserved and life changing. I hope I can return sooner rather than later.
Thank you, Father, for the wonderful trip.
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