The months leading up to our baby’s first flight were filled with anxiety for me. As someone who tries to avoid ruffling any feathers, I was super nervous that we would annoy our fellow passengers with crying and other baby shenanigans. Our flight ended up being delayed four hours due to November snow, and while there was plenty of crying (including on my part when deplaning after two hours on the plane while it was de-iced) overall it went pretty well. Other passengers and the Norwegian Air flight crew were super understanding, and the baby slept for several hours, which gave us a little break.
Our first trip to Ireland was of course very special; baby got to see where his dad grew up and where part of his family comes from. While we often do day trips from Galway to Connemara, this time around we rented a house and stayed for a few days.
But first, we made time for a little hike in Connemara National Park. Climbing the Diamond is a pretty tiring undertaking (with incredible views of Connemara and beyond) so this time around we just did the base hike while Myles hung out in the car with Granny. It was windy and cold, and he was asleep, so we decided it was best that way.
After our hike and a trip to the grocery store in Letterfrack, we found our cottage, which was just a few houses from Renvyle House, a beautiful hotel and resort.
Our cottage rental was gorgeous and fully equipped with everything that we needed. We got a fire going and relaxed before taking in the sunset on the West Coast of Ireland, something I try to do every day there is sun.
Connemara sunsets go on forever, and this one was spectacular. You could hear nothing but wind and waves, and we were the only people for miles. This is a very special place.
Having Renvyle House so close gave us the opportunity to have dinner there, and our food, wine, and service was all fantastic. Their roaring fireplace is a must for cozying up on a trip to Connemara!
I love trying a few menu items, and I enjoyed a delicious salad with beetroot, pear, and pecans, along with a steaming bowl of local mussels. You have to eat seafood when in Connemara! These were so flavorful and aromatic, perfect with a bit of brown bread to soak up the sauce!
After a super restful night in the country, we were greeted by a blustery but beautiful Connemara day, and we took a drive to a place that’s an important part of our story for a few reasons. Ballyconneely is a place my husband spent a ton of time at while growing up, and it’s also where I brought my father’s ashes and where we got engaged. You can’t help but feel connected to the sea and earth and sky here and to really exhale.
Myles loved the baby cows along the beach, and we were lucky enough to spot a few seals, which always has me squealing like a child!
The wind was whipping out there, so we made our way to Clifden, where Myles’s papa is from, for a perfect pint of Guinness at EJ Kings.
Since we loved our cottage so much, we then made our way back to have some snacks, including Connemara smoked salmon and some cheeses. We took a moonlit drive later on to drop my husband’s aunt back home, then watched the clouds go by over the cottage through it’s giant skylight. I love country nights.
We rarely go to Connemara without visiting Ballynahinch Castle, and we made time on the way back to Galway to stop for a hot whiskey and a walk around.
Ballynahinch is the place to stay for a special occasion, and we were lucky to spend one St. Patricks Eve there. The food, castle ambiance, views, are all amazing and create for an unforgettable getaway.
Our last stop on the way to Galway was the valley where my father-in-law grew up. While I know that Myles won’t remember this trip, it meant a lot for us to bring him along to the places that we love so much.
Traveling with a baby certainly isn’t the easiest, but we’re hoping he gets a bit of our wanderlust and craves learning about the world as much as we do.
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