Compromising on Tradition, But Loving The Cookies

During the summer, I mentioned how the memories my children have of summer are so different to my own childhood memories. Today an article of mine was published on The Irish Times website. It looks at how The Bavarian and I have tried to bring the traditions we grew up with into our children's lives.

As with many aspects of marriage and family life, establishing traditions involves compromise. Whose family dinner was better and should be passed on? Should we start our own tradition as a family? In our case, the main difficulty I had was bringing in something Irish to the German traditions that surround us here and which The Bavarian grew up with.

You can read the article here but if you just want to cookie recipes, then click here.

11 Brilliant Day Trips in Ireland

When we came back from our Summer holidays in Ireland, I was full of energy and motivation, ready to write tons of posts about all our recent days trips. The boys are at an age now where we can easily visit historical sights as well as parks and playgrounds, so we took advantage of that and did a lot on this Summer's trip home. 

But the whole back to school thing and Number Three turning from placid baby to energetic toddler meant that a lot of posts I'd intended to write got put on the long finger. Bit by bit I am catching up, but I've come to the realisation that I will not be able to squeeze in time to write a post about each of the places we visited. 

So here, condensed into one county-by-county list, are some details about each of the places we visited and loved. You might like to try one or other of them during the mid-term break. Feel free to drop me a line if you want a bit more information on any of them.  

Armagh - Slieve Gullion Forest Park

My sister-in-law suggested we meet them at Slieve Gullion Forest Park for a day out. Initially I was put off by the drive but it was a lot shorter than I imagined, being about 50 minutes from Drogheda. 

Entrance fee: No. Free entry

Cafe: Yes

Picnics allowed: Yes

What we loved: The fairy walk with loads of fairy houses, the trail in search of the giant and the amazing, huge playground

What we'd warn you about: The walking trails are quite steep in places. We brought the buggy and managed alright, but we had three adults to take turns of pusing it. Next time I would take Number Three in the sling. 

Meath - Newgrange Interpretive Centre and Passage Tomb, Donore

Entrance fee: Yes, but not extortionate. Rates differ depending on the package you want, e.g. just Newgrange or Knowth adn Dowth passage tombs too

Cafe: Yes, a Brambles cafe with highchairs, planty of space and delicious caramel slices.

Picnics allowed: I don't think so, but while waiting for the bus from the interpretive centre to the tomb, you could sit at one of the benches and picnic there I suppose

What we loved: The fascinating history, the witty tour guide, the food in the cafe and the child-friendly interpretive centre

What we'd warn you about: Arrive early and plan plenty of time. The tour of the tomb itself is about 45 minutes and the tours run every 15 to 30 minutes but they fill up very fast during the holidays.

Meath - Oldbridge House & Battle of the Boyne Museum, near Drogheda

Entrance fee: Entrance to the grounds and gardens is free. There is a small entrance fee for the museum.

Cafe: Yes, Brambles again (as far as I remember). 

Picnics allowed: Yes and there is a huge area for picnicing on. 

What we loved: The wide open space for running around, the walking trails, the beautifully laid out gardens, the cannons in front of the house, learning about the Battle of the Boyne through the small but interesting exhibition in the museum which includes a laser show (anything that includes the word laser is a great thing).

What we'd warn you about: The museum is very small. Don't rush through it. There is a lot of information packed in. We took our time and let the boys try and get some ideas of their own as to what was happening in each of the life-sized recreated scenes. 

Dublin - Malahide Castle, Malahide

Entrance fee: The grounds are free

Cafe: Yes, an Avoca cafe

Picnics allowed: Yes and there is a huge amount of space to picnic on.

What we loved: Again, the space to run about and kick a ball. Castles are always a big with our boys, so exploring around the castle was great fun too. At the other end of the park is a huge playground, also suitable for picnics. We spent a long time there too.

What we'd warn you about: The playground is huge. With small children you need to keep a good eye on them. Dressing them in  clothes you can easily spot is a good idea. NUmber One had a navy hoodie on, as did approximately half the children there. Number Two, in bright orange, was a lot easier to spot.

Sligo - The Beach Bar and Surf School, Aughris

Entrance fee: Yes, or rather you pay for your meal and drinks in the bar. The surf school obviously charges for rentals and lessons.

Cafe: The bar does food and coffee

Picnics allowed: On the beach, yes.

What we loved: The boys and my dad rented body boards and wet suits and spent a fun afternoon splashing around in the Atlantic. 
Later we all ate in the bar. The Guinness is great. The food is very good and a decent price too. 

What we'd warn you about: If you are braving the Atlantic, make sure to have something hot in a flask with you for warming up afterwards.

Mayo - Museum of Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar

Entrance fee: No. All Museum of Ireland museums are free of charge, a fantastic service.

Cafe: 

Picnics allowed:

What we loved: Walking round the large pond in the grounds, running on the great expanses of lawn, the interactive exhibitions. On arrival the children got clipboards, pens and activits sheets from the staff and were kept busy for ages, finding the answers to the quiz questions and drawing their favourite items form the exhibition.

What we'd warn you about: Plan plenty of time. There is a lot to see and to take in.

Mayo - Great Western Greenway, a walking and cycle path from Westpost to Achill Island

Entrance fee: No. You can hire bikes and trailers for children in several locations, e.g. in Newport and Mulranny

Cafe: Yes, several dotted along the route

Picnics allowed: Yes, wherever you fancy stopping

What we loved: The stunning scenery and the fact that the kids could run along without having to look out for cars. 

What we'd warn you about: Nothing. It is a brilliant addition to Mayo tourism and you should definitely go there if you get the chance. You don't have to go the whole route. 

Mayo - Foxford Wollen Mills

Entrance fee: Not to the shop. There is a tour of the wollen mills but it was booked out at the time we were there.

Cafe: Yes, with a great selection of delicious cakes as well as savory foods.

Picnics allowed: No, but you could have a traditional Irish car boot picnic in the car park if you wanted to.

What we loved: The wollen mills' own woollen blankets, throws and cushions as well as the gorgeous interior design of the shop and cafe. The kids loved that the cafe had a little old-fashioned school-like corner with colouring pencils and paper to keep them entertained while the grown up chatted and drank coffee.

What we'd warn you about: You will probably end up with bags of fabulous Irish designed and handmade rugs, cards, scarves, etc. 

Cork - Titanic Museum, Cobh

Entrance fee: Yes, but reasonable.

Cafe: No, but there are several bars and cafe along the opposite side of the road and next door.

Picnics allowed: No, but there are benches along the street if you were sitting down with a snack or a cuppa.

What we loved: The fact that the museum is housed in the former White Star Line tícket office, meaning that we were in the building where passengers on the Titanic stood. The recreated passenger cabins are amazing to look at and there are some interative games for children. Really well worth a visit if you are in the area.

What we'd warn you about: The information provided during the tour is incredibly moving. Bring tissues. 

Cork - Baltimore Castle (Dun na Sead Castle), Baltimore

Entrance fee: Yes

Cafe: No, but there are several bars and cafes just around the corner

Picnics allowed: Not at the castle but across the road at the pier there are picnic tables.

What we loved: Learning about Irish, Dutch and African pirates and the plundering that went on in the south of Ireland. 

What we'd warn you about: The museum is very small, but if you take the time to look at the construction of the castle, to enjoy the view from the rooftop and to read all about the piracy that went on, you will find it fascinating.

Cork - Model Railway Clonakilty

Entrance fee: Yes

Cafe: Yes, housed in an old railway wagon - charmingly nostalgic.

Picnics allowed: No, but again the old car boot picnic in the car park would be an option

What we loved: The railways, the tiny model people and houses, the indoor playground/ball pool and the outdoor playground.

What we'd warn you about: Don't rush. There is a huge amount of detail hidden in each of the sections of the display. 

  

6 Reasons We'll Never Tire of Holidaying in Ireland

It goes without saying that visiting my family is the main reason for us to return to Ireland as often as we can. But more and more, we have been treating our trips to Ireland as real holidays. I want the boys to really know the country and how it ticks. So apart from the amazing people, here's what we love so much about the place.

1. The beaches - in Germany we live a day's drive from the beach, so a visit to the beach is a real highlight for the boys. No matter what the weather is like, we take a spin to the beach and walk, potter, build sandcastles, the boys invariably get wet socks and we have tons of fun. 

2. The food - we love our grub and really make time for eating out while we are in Ireland. There are so many fantasic cafes and restaurants now compared to fifteen years ago. Particular favourites of mine are The Brown Hound Bakery in Drogheda and The Kitchen restaurant, also in Drogheda. McCormack's Cafe in Westport is brilliant too for real homemade food. Harvest Home Bakery in Trim is a tiny, cosy, old-fashioned Irish bakery. Have the pear and almond pie or berry and almond pie and a cup of tea. 

3. The meat - Irish beef and lamb are fantastic. The rashers are the best in the world. But the absolute best thing is black pudding. From Clonakilty to Kelly's of Newport, there are dozens of brands. We've tried many, but always come back to Kelly's. It is melt in the mouth crumbly and delicious. 

4. The scenery - usually when I see spectacular scenery I think "Wow, isn't this amazing? It must be brilliant to live here and wake up to this every morning". But Irish scenery has a different effect on me and The Bavarian. As we drive through Connemara, Sligo, Mayo or even the lush, rolling landscape of County Meath, we see the beauty of it all and it makes us sad not to wake to it every morning. 

5. The fishing - OK, so this is maninly a reason The Bavarian has for coming to Ireland again and again, but Ireland has amazing fishing opportunities, be it at sea, on lakes or on rivers. We were lucky enough to see the row boats setting off on Lough Mask on the final day of the World Fly Fishing qualifiers and it was quite impressive, I must admit.

6. The history - Ireland is the land of saints and scholars but also of ancient burial tombs, Viking settlements, Norman invasions, piracy, plantations, the Battle of the Boyne, the Great Famine, and rebellion against Great Britain. You can't go far in Ireland without coming across something of significant historical value. The opportunities to visit battle sites and castles, hear stories, or experience what life was like in times gones by are endless. 

I know I am *slightly* biased in my opinion here, but if you ever get the chance to visit Ireland, do.

Summer So Strange

It is not quite 7am and the display on the main street reads 23 degrees as I stroll past on my way back from the bakery with a baguette in my hand. Still sleepy from the muggy nighttime heat, I try my best not to scratch the mosquito bites that tingle on my neck and the back of my leg. I'm getting good at it, finally. You see, I am not on holiday. This is my life, this summer so strange to me.

Oppressive heat, intense humidity, thunderstorms, eating meals outside, afternoons at the ice-cream parlour, mosquito bites, the school closing because it is too hot to teach / be taught, day trips to water parks and lakes for swimming - these are the memories my children will have of summer. A summer so strange to me.

The local pool

After school on a Wednesday

My childhood summers were filled with playing in the garden, trips to the beach on the sunnier days, believing that if the temperature rose to 20°C you could fry an egg on the footpath, eating Choc Ices, the pain of sunburn and the excitement when the tar would melt on the road from the heat.

My children are growing up as the kind of children I only ever encountered at campsites in France - the kind that have a slight tan year round, the kind that speak two languages and run round in the nip without a thought as to why they should wear swimming togs. The kind that eat foods we'd never seen then and who aren't at all bothered by temperatures above 25 degrees. 

Whereas as a child I looked forward to two weeks of outdoor swimming pools, water slides, the smell of suncream and to eating scoops of ice-cream in exotic flavours like pistachio or mango, their lives are like that every day of summer from May to September. 

Yet still they look forward for months to their couple of weeks in Ireland. They plan trips to the beach in their wellies and raincoats, hoping to see horses gallop in the waves. They want to visit Lough Conn, after which one of them is named. They beg to be allowed go back to the Viking exhibition in Dublin and want to go to Tayto Park again. They want to munch cheese and onion crisps and lick 99s "like last time", to play with their cousins, go swimming with Grandad and eat Nana's meatballs. "How many sleeps Mammy?", they ask every evening, longing for their Irish summer, so strange to them. Strange and wonderful.

I'm linking this post up to Twinkly Tuesay and The Truth About.