We don’t often do this, but we decided to take the whole last month (September) off. This is usually one of the busiest times of the year for us for photography – with fall family photos and back-to-school photos. But for this year we decided to take the month off. We celebrated our 20^th anniversary in July and one of our bucket list trips, and something we’ve been thinking and planning for a couple of years now, was to visit Ireland and Scotland. So we made it happen!

At the end of August, we flew to Dublin, Ireland filled with excitement and ready for an adventure. I could have gone anywhere, what was important to me was having this intentional time to adventure with my wife – but to make it all the better, was that this was one of our dream trips! The beautiful landscape, the accent, the culture, the history – I was there for all of it!

As we are both A-type personalities, almost all of the trip was planned long before we left Regina. From the very first day to the very last day of our 3-week vacation. As much as we planned things, we also made sure to leave room for the unexpected and to allow ourselves the grace to decide how we were feeling or what we really needed on the day.

Dublin, Ireland

We landed in Dublin, Ireland at around 11 AM and made our way to our Airbnb to drop off our luggage – which was kitty-corner to St. Patrick’s Cathedral – literally that was the view out of our window! We were a little tired from the flight but we were not going to let that slow us down so we left from our Airbnb to catch our Hop On, Hop Off bus.

Some people view these as tourist traps, but for us, it was a great intro to Dublin and a way to take in many of the sites, while yet relaxing. We rode the entire circuit of the bus (and another half) to get to our first planned stop – the Guinness Storehouse Tour. This is a stop that almost EVERYONE who has been to Ireland has told us to make. It was GIGANTIC! Guinness owns over 50 acres of property in the center of Dublin and their Storehouse experience did not disappoint. We even got a “Stoutie” – a Guinness with our own picture printed on the top of it using barley extract.

After that we walked to our supper destination, a local takeaway fish & chips stand that Courtney had eyed up to be one of the best in this area. We took our meal and ate in the courtyard/park of St. Patrick’s Cathedral – a place where many local families hang out every evening. 

The next day we took in the Book of Kells exhibit at Trinity College. One thing that blew us away, no matter where we went, was the history of the buildings and the culture. A constant refrain from us was, “I can’t believe it! Our COUNTRY isn’t even that old!” As we wandered through the Book of Kells exhibit, we were fully immersed in the history and intricate handcrafted artwork that went into this copy of the gospels.

Included with the Book of Kells exhibit is a visit to the Long Hall, where there is an art installation of a large globe that hangs overhead and spins in an extremely old and long library! The entire experience was amazing!

While exploring Dublin, we made sure to venture by the popular spots like Temple Bar but also the nearby area where we visited the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience. This immersive tour took us behind the scenes of Ireland’s rich musical history, showcasing the legendary artists who have come out of Ireland. From U2 to Thin Lizzy, the museum was filled with fascinating memorabilia, exhibits, and even a chance to step into a recording studio. It gave us a unique appreciation for the vibrant music culture that continues to thrive in the heart of Dublin.

That evening, we had planned a special meal for our anniversary dinner. Obviously, this happened a few months after our actual anniversary, however, this was at one of Marco Pierre White’s restaurants. If MPW is not familiar to you, he is considered to be the first “celebrity chef” and is the chef who trained people such as Shannon Bennett, Curtis Stone, oh and Gordon Ramsay. To say we were excited about this meal would be an incredible understatement.  The meal did not disappoint! Even the simple starter of smoked almonds – WAS OUTSTANDING! If you get a chance to go to an MPW restaurant, don’t miss it!

Day 3 we made our way to Phoenix Park – a very large enclosed park just outside of city center. We spent our time walking the paths and talking, taking in the beautiful scenery. This might not be a good “Dublin Day” for some, but I loved it! Nothing beats a good stroll with my best friend. We had a bit of a hike to get from Phoenix Park to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre where we were seeing Wicked later that afternoon! Anyone that knows us, knows we are suckers for a musical and we had never seen Wicked before. It was INCREDIBLE- we LOVED it!

Ireland Roadtrip

The next day began our Irish road trip, so we picked up our rental car and left Dublin. The first main stop was Kilkenny Castle. There are SO many castles in Ireland and Scotland, and we knew we couldn’t see them all, but this one was high up on our list. As our first official castle visit, it was so extraordinary to see the castle itself, the grounds, and the incredible artwork and tapestries that hung EVERYWHERE! The history we learned on every castle visit was overwhelmingly amazing.

After leaving Kilkenny, we headed south toward the Rock of Cashel, one of the most stunning historical sites we’ve ever seen. Perched high on a hill, the medieval ruins had an almost mythical presence against the cloudy sky. The wind whipped around us as we walked through the ancient structure, imagining what life would have been like centuries ago. The history here was palpable, and it gave us that sense of awe that Ireland seemed to offer at every turn. Plus our tour guide was FANTASTIC!

Next on our itinerary was Blarney Castle. And yes, we both kissed the Blarney Stone! It was a bit of a climb to get to the top, but the view was worth every step. The lush green surroundings and the castle grounds were just as enchanting as the castle itself. We wandered through the beautiful gardens afterward, with the castle in the background, taking in the serene atmosphere. 

In Cork, we visited the famous English Market. This bustling market was a feast for the senses – from fresh produce to local cheeses, meats, fishmongers and baked goods. Our lunch that day was a couple of meat pies from The Pie Guys as we just couldn’t resist! It felt like a true taste of Irish culture, and we could see why it’s such a beloved spot.

After Cork, we made our way to Kinsale, which was a delightful location. We hadn’t expected to fall in love with this coastal town as much as we did. The colourful buildings and the harbour added to a sense of peace and brightness. We spent a couple of hours strolling along the waterfront, stopping into little shops and cafes. The charm of Kinsale was undeniable, and it was one of those places where we felt like we could have lingered longer.

Our next day was a FULL one. Muckross House and Muckross Abbey were next on our list, and we were amazed by the beauty of the estate and sprawling grounds. The gardens surrounding the house were immaculate, and the Abbey, with its ancient walls and peaceful atmosphere, was a step back in time.

In between those two though, we made our way to Torc Waterfall, which turned into quite the adventure! What started as “just a short hike” turned into a bit of a misadventure as an unexpected journey up a mountain path took much longer and was way more aggressive than we were anticipating. As we made our way back to Muckross House we did also take a side trail which turned out to be more of a service road more than anything. Never fully lost,  just not where we were meant to be. But getting lost in such a beautiful place wasn’t the worst thing – the views were incredible, and by the time we made it back down, we felt accomplished and a bit tired, but still with smiles on our faces, having blazed our own uniquely travelled trail.

As we left Killarney National Park, we drove a portion of the Ring of Kerry, through Ladies View and Moll’s Gap, which offered some of the most scenic landscapes. The rolling hills, expansive lakes, and winding roads made for a breathtaking journey. We stopped frequently just to take it all in – it felt like the essence of Ireland was on full display here.

Going to Ireland in September, we weren’t really expecting to hit up any beaches but when we came across them we just could not NOT stop. Derrynane Beach was a peaceful retreat. The waves crashing against the shore, the wide stretches of sand, and the rugged coastline were all we needed to unwind. We didn’t expect the water to be so crystal clear and deep Caribbean blue, even if it was just a tad colder! We could’ve stayed here for hours, just listening to the sound of the ocean. We didn’t go swimming but we did take off our shoes and wandered through the Atlantic Ocean waters. To say the beach was not crowded would be an understatement- we basically had the beach to ourselves.

One of the constant adventures was finding where to eat. One thing we found out (unfortunately while we were hungry), especially in the more rural areas of Ireland, is that many restaurants are not open on Sunday-Wednesday. And many pubs don’t serve any food. That night as we searched in Kenmare, we had gone to 3 different restaurants/pubs that were closed or not serving food when we decided to wander into the Kenmare Brewhouse.

This was one of our favourite experiences of the trip. The service was incredible, and the food – traditional Irish fare – was the best we’d had so far. Live music filled the pub, and the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. It was the quintessential Irish pub experience, and it felt like the perfect way to end the day. We both literally sat there with tears of joy in our eyes as this was part of the dream for this trip!

Our drive around the Dingle Peninsula (or as Courtney likes to call it- the Ring o’ Dingle) the next day was like something out of a dream. The white sand of Inch Beach stretched out for miles before us, with the Atlantic Ocean crashing against the shore, with a mountain view to one side, and lush green fields, dotted with white sheep to the other. We explored the ancient beehive huts, marvelling at how the structures have stood the test of time.

And then came Conor Pass – a narrow, winding road that offered jaw-dropping views at every turn. Navigating the single-lane (yet two-way traffic) road, high up the side of a mountain, and even having to reverse into the closest lay-by was an adventure to say the least! It was one of those moments where you couldn’t help but feel small in the grandeur of it all.

The next morning we made our way to the Cliffs of Moher, which were as awe-inspiring as we imagined. The cliff faces were so ruggedly dramatic and beautiful. We spent hours just walking along the cliffside, taking photos, and soaking in the majesty of the scene. We took some time to pause, breathe, take in the views and worship the God of this beautiful creation!

Photo Session with Nikki Golden in Galway

Our last stop before heading back to Dublin was Galway, where we had the chance to meet up with a fellow photographer, Nikki Golden, for our own little photo session. It isn’t easy for us to be on the other side of the camera, but we know how important it is. Neither of us are really much for souvenirs, knick-knacks, etc but this was our “must have” souvenir; capturing these memories of our bucket list trip. Thank you Nikki for some STUNNING photos that we will cherish forever!

The first leg of our journey came to a close as we drove back to Dublin to catch a train to Belfast, Northern Ireland. We had already seen so much – more than we could’ve asked or dreamed for, but yet there was so much more to come!

Stayed tuned for the next part as we share about Northern Ireland and Scotland!