Irish Cottages, Countryside & Castles

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Europe » Ireland » County Clare » Ennis
March 27th 2014

Published: March 27th 2014

County Donegal Exiting Derry (or Londonderry depending on your point of view) meant the time had come to really get out into the Irish countryside. We suspect that not many Americans venture into the northwest part of Ireland, mainly because it’s a bit off the beaten tourist path created by the many travel companies that bring Yankees here by the planeload. The locals we have encountered are ex... Read Full Entry

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Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

D MJ Binkley

Photographers, divers, writers, foodies, chefs and music enthusiasts. Travelers' Century Club Members: 12/2023. MJ 107 and Dave 104. We appreciate your feedback and if you like our stories we would appreciate it if you follow our blog. We live on North Hutchinson Island, Florida. If you are in Florida please send us a private message as we would love to meet you. Two retired nurses who are passionate about traveling the world. Our love of travel, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures will hopefully take us to wonderful plac... full info

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St. Columbus Church

St. Columbus Church

St. Columbus Church

Yeats is buried here

View from our cottage

View from our cottage

View from our cottage

County Donegal

Enjoying Ireland

Enjoying Ireland

Enjoying Ireland

Exploring Ashford Castle

Exploring Ashford Castle

Exploring Ashford Castle

Cong Ireland

Cong Ireland

The Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle

Cong, Ireland

20th Anniversary

20th Anniversary

20th Anniversary

A great day

Opulent inside

Opulent inside

hallway to our room

Tig Coili Pub

Tig Coili Pub

Galway, Ireland

Dungulaire Castle

Dungulaire Castle

Dungulaire Castle

Up close cliffs

Up close cliffs

Up close cliffs

Slieve League

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Not exactly Stonehenge....

Stone fence

Stone fence

miles and miles of stone walls & fences

Chicken Liver Pate

Chicken Liver Pate

Chicken Liver Pate

the chef can cook!

At Kenny's Grocery & Pub, Ennis

At Kenny's Grocery & Pub, Ennis

At Kenny's Grocery & Pub, Ennis

Hanging out with the crew.

Paddy O'Brien's Pub

Paddy O'Brien's Pub

Paddy O'Brien's Pub

Ennis

Entertainment

Entertainment

Dromoland Castle

Staying warm in the cottage

Staying warm in the cottage

Staying warm in the cottage

Coat, scarf, 2 pair of socks...blanket ... just took off the gloves

Coal for sale

Coal for sale

It's not even Christmas!

Our Irish castle

Our Irish castle

Our Irish castle

Dromoland

Stylish boots

Stylish boots

at the cottage

27th March 2014

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

It may be cold
But you both look happy and sassy in your coats. I love the shot of Dave in his Wellies. Heck, what am I saying? I love your pictures. This was a fun blog and I am glad you had so many good experiences. As for the cold cottage, well, that will be something to remember and talk about in years to come. Happy Anniversary you two.

27th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Baby it was cold outside...and inside
It is a good thing the cottage was so cute ...or I might have been packing the car sooner. I was not in the mood for an Antarctic adventure. But-- it all worked out. We're having a fantastic time. Great food and love all the sheep. Stylish boots, yes.

27th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Baby it was cold outside...and inside
It is a good thing the cottage was so cute ...or I might have been packing the car sooner. I was not in the mood for an Antarctic adventure. But-- it all worked out. We're having a fantastic time. Great food and love all the sheep. Stylish boots, yes.

27th March 2014

michelleandkev
Michelle & Kevin Cavanagh

Happy Anniversary!
Loved reading your adventures in Ireland! My husband is a fifth generation Australian of Irish descent. This weekend we are off to Maitland (about two hours drive from Sydney) for a Cavanagh family weekend where, no doubt, we'll meet more rellies we never knew we had!! So your reminder of the joys of travelling in Ireland was quite pertinent.

27th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Thank you Michelle and Kevin
Traveling here sure makes us wish we were of Irish decent. We've met so many wonderful and fun people. The Irish people are so full of life and great, great story tellers. Enjoy your family retreat and thank you for following along with our blog.

27th March 2014

20th Anniversary

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Happy Anniversary, Lord and Lady Binkley!
You seem well fitted to the castle life, having overcome the adversities of wrong-side driving (I failed at that), following very quirky directions, lighting a temperamental fire and surviving a cold cottage. You even got sheep to pose for you--a pretty perfect anniversary. Here's to another 20 years of adventures!

28th March 2014

20th Anniversary

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Ah yes Lord and Lady Binkley
Love the new title you've given us and it may stick. We love the challenge of adversities and feel we are up for another 20 years. I'm becoming an expert with the temperamental sheep.

27th March 2014

Mildred
non-member comment

anniverersary
All the best on you 20 anniversary I wish you many many more. Love Mildred

28th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Thank you Mildred
We are so happy you are following along. We talk about you each morning when we have a scone and rate them against the ones you make. The ones you make are the best!

27th March 2014

Marsha
non-member comment

Irish countryside
Looks lovely and sounds like you are having a splendid time. Happy anniversary!

28th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Thanks Marsha
We are having a great anniversary trip.

28th March 2014

Sojourner1208
William

enjoying a turf fire
I’m glad to see from your pictures that you got such nice weather for your trip in the South of Ireland. You certainly covered a lot of ground. I’ve been over most of the Southern Ireland portion of your trip myself albeit at a much slower pace and on different trips; mainly since I am retired and have the luxury of pretty much unlimited time. I noticed from your description of using a “sod log” for the fire in the cabin that you got to enjoy the quintessential Irish experience of a “turf” fire. So now you know what a turf fire is and why when I stayed with the family the first task of the first person to get up each morning was to get the fire going again since it usually died down (but was never allowed to go out) each night. When I stayed with my cousins in Ireland turf was used for heating, cooking and all.

28th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

The turf fire
William it was not enjoyed for a long time. There is an art to getting them going and keeping them going. It is tough. We spent about 10 days in the north, 8 on the west and will have 10 in the south. Not moving slow enough but certainly getting a good look around.

28th March 2014

Wearing wellies into the yard

aspiringnomad
Jason

The Emerald Isle
I thought your fireside description was really very good. But where are the pics of these cliffs you favour?

28th March 2014

Wearing wellies into the yard

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

The Emerald Isle
Hi Jason, take another look at the photos. I think we posted two of them. They have amazing colors to them which our photos didn't pick up well because it was a bit foggy and misty. They are grand.

28th March 2014

Donna and Neil
Donna and Neil

Cold!
Ha, Merry sounds just like Donna...a little bit of cold weather but not for long! Glad you guys had a great anniversary - what a way to celebrate 20 years, castle stays!

28th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Luxury Castles
Stay tuned...it would not surprise me if our next vacation is to a warm location. The weather has been cold a couple of times but we are doing well overall. We must admit staying in the castles was top notch. We don't generally need a lot of luxury but we did have a short discussion about how nice it was and maybe we should do it again at some point.

28th March 2014

The Best Irish Cottage

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

It's a good thing that cottage is cute!
I was going to say that it wouldn't have taken much to have the cottage warm for your arrival; but given how hard it was to get the fire going, I can see why Mary didn't do it :)

29th March 2014

The Best Irish Cottage

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Cute Irish cottage
Ah yes but the cottage had electric heat and a fireplace. The electric heat must have had small baby hamsters energizing it because it took hours to warm up and it was a small cottage. Mary could have and should have turned it on for us. They emailed and asked what time we would arrive. ?! Oh well, enough complaining. Everything turned out fine. Dave worked as fast as he could. They burned dried out peat in the fireplaces and there is a real knack to burning them.

29th March 2014

Exploring Ashford Castle

liliram
liliram

You look so fab!
You're both looking good and happy.... But you, MJ, look soooo fab! Love this pic. Enjoyed this blog, thanks for sharing your anniversary adventures. Now I'm dreaming of Irish holidays and castles. Miss you two!

29th March 2014

Exploring Ashford Castle

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

And we miss you! Wish you were traveling with us.
You must plan an Irish holiday and include some castles! They are a joy.

29th March 2014

Claudia
non-member comment

Wish I was there
Hi guys! This blog created a desire to travel with you - not sure if it was the variety of accommodations, the natural beauty, the off-tourist season motto...even the soup, but nevertheless, wishing I was there!! You look like the land treated you to a wonderful anniversary! Love you! C

29th March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Wishing you were here
We'd be happy to travel with you. So much to see and to do. Yes we've had a variety of accommodations and it has been fun. Ireland has a lot to offer. We are having a great time. Glad we are doing it slowly.

30th March 2014

Slowfeet
Slowfeet

Excellent Post
What a great post. We have Ireland at close to the top of our list and this post settles it. And congratulations on 20 years.

31st March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

The joys of Ireland
I'm not sure what other countries are on the top of your list but we are having a wonderful time here. You won't regret a visit. The people, the music and the food are fantastic. I'll send you a suggestion with some ideas on things to see. You always learn a few things along the road.

30th March 2014

another door opens
John & Gwyn Goodrow

Beautiful!
I'm listening to my Celtic Thunder CD this afternoon and can well imagine your lovely cottage and the wonderful scenery! Such a good story!

31st March 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Celtic music
Dave brought our iPod and a small travel speaker and each morning I get to enjoy Irish music. It is wonderful. The cottage was perfect and so many places to enjoy the serenity.

1st April 2014

Sheila Walsh
non-member comment

Fabulous Irish travels
Hi MJ and Dave, You seem to be having such a lovely journey around my home country, despite the terrible "spring" weather. Hey, you didn't mention the abundance of daffodils everywhere in March! It must have been cold but you sound like you were good sports about it. Your photos are fabulous and make it look like you had fabulous weather every day. Thanks for bringing us on your adventure, Sheila

1st April 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Irish spring weather
A mention of the flowers are in the next blog. Stay tuned. We know they've had a bad winter but assumed this was a normal spring. We are having a wonderful time. We didn't have any rain the first 10 days. The past 10 we've had rain every day but the sun always comes out when we are doing something fun. We've had a few wicked windy days and that makes it feel very cold. If you are coming to Ireland in the spring you can't complain about the weather....it is supposed to be unpredictable. It was 60 degrees ( 14C) today.

2nd April 2014

auspicious
Michelle Duer

What gorgeous colors in the countryside once that sun poked out! It sounds like you guys are having lovely travels and, as for the fire in the fireplace, it must have been that much more enjoyable after all the effort put in, hehe. ;) We miss you and thank you for the postcard!!

2nd April 2014

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

The beauties of Ireland
We are having a grand time. Sun and rain, it comes and goes. We are flexible. We were happy when the fire was going strong.

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