What fairytale stay in an actual honest to goodness castle (Dromoland) in the Irish countryside…read morewould be complete without an obligatory horse ride? If you answered none, you are correct. Booking through the castle, it seemed like something simple to just check off the list of "Can you be believe we are actually doing this" after sitting on a horse for an hour or so of successfully not killing ourselves, and move on (perhaps to skeet shooting or falconry). We had not counted on the charm of Ballyhannon House & its staff which easily turned a cool thing to do, into one of the most memorable of the trip. A living embodiment of Irish hospitality Johnny picked us up at the castle, after being really flexible on the timing as we were a bit behind schedule, and took us to the stables where we filled out the appropriate paperwork, assessed existing skill level (read: none), and enjoyed a nice crisp glass of white wine (beer etc were also an option). Things progressed quickly from there as we got fitted for helmets, boots (my "wellies" were already g2g thank you very much), stored our purses, gathered our courage (read: finished the wine) and headed into a stone courtyard. Where (drum roll please) I promptly fell in love. No, there was not a strapping Irish stablehand lurking... I met my "safe for a 5-year-old" stud of a horse, Hector. Showing more faith in us than I believe we had warranted thus far, we got a quick lesson on how to make horse friends (protip: the spot between the eyes along the nose) and were entrusted to walk them them on into the indoor barn like space (arena?) for mounting & basic instruction. This is a good time to note that I have had a firm belief since childhood that I was meant to be an excellent horsewoman, if not for my prohibitive severe dust/hay/horse allergies. It was also a good time for me to mention this to our host, who was surprisingly sensitive to them and made sure to keep things short inside (the worst possible trifecta for my breathing passages) and checked in often to make sure I wasn't slowing passing out. Amazingly the combination of Benadryl, wine, and fresh-air gave me an opportunity to ride that I have never really enjoyed until this point (face hives were still included however). In the barn we: mounted up, learned stop/go and left right basics, posture tips & tricks, along with some horsie trust exercises (think eyes closed) and were pronounced fit to head outside. We mixed walking with some trotting action right out the gate and it helped us settle in early on for the trek. After a nice outdoor venture along country lanes we reached a point where our pre-negotiated time was coming to an end. Perhaps it was the absolute glee that I am sure was radiating off of us, but we were able to come to a new agreement on the spot that extended our time, enabled us to see even more of the countryside, and was more than reasonable on the pocket book (at that point I would have paid triple to keep the experience going, so they fact that I paid less than budgeted originally is another mark in their favor). This really let us relax and enjoy the fact that we were not only sitting on REAL horses, but were riding about the Irish countryside like it aint no thang. During the leisurely ride (where we demonstrated enough competency to be riding completely on our own, handle the occasional car, and get up to a decent trot alternatively) I learned about the generational business itself and the 18th century manor house. They have a fairly large amount (to my untrained mind) of instructional horses, along with racehorses on the property. They seem to do a lot of corporate events, kids, and tourist type riding opportunities and would be great for groups. Care was also taken to point out geographical and interesting views (and a sad swan) during the ride; which I appreciated, especially when we were riding along the edge of the castle property. Upon return I was loathe to say goodbye to my trusty steed, learned about my lack of leg strength on dismounting, and was offered after ride drinks/snacks. Johnny drove us back to Dromoland completing the door to door service, really putting an exclamation mark on how 'is this real life' the whole experience was. It is hard to top making a childhood fantasy come true (I was meant to jockey at Churchill Downs I am now even more convinced, and my friend's fiancé better look out... I see ponies in the future for that one) in such spectacular fashion (read: Irish FREAKING countryside). This will easily be a memory I carry with me for a long time to come, and it was the openness, hospitality, and skill of Ballyhannon House Horse Riding Stables that really enabled it to happen.

From the moment he answered the phone we knew we were in good hands with Johnny. Had an amazing…read morehorse experience at his stable. So thankful we had an afternoon to learn from his wisdom and provide an amazing first time experience for our kids. Recommend for anyone even thinking about being around a horse, stable or good people.

This was absolutely the highlight of our trip. My 8 year old had never ridden before and I haven't…read morein a very long time and the family was so sweet and patient with us. The trail that you ride through is so beautiful. Rambling hills and sheep covered fields were so serene and peaceful. This ride was magical. We've already started planning a trip to come back. I asked my son what rating he would give it on a scale of 1-10 and he said 2 million!!! We highly recommend!!!

For as long as I could remember, I dreamed of galloping and riding through the beautiful hills &…read moreland of Ireland. Every thing I could dream of was filled to the fullest at Castlefergus. So much so I rode the two days I was in the area. The only thing that was disappointing was I could not have stayed longer! MR. Morgan & his beautiful family made my experience a memory I will never let go! I can't express anything less than having the time of my life with "Bluey", the Morgan's, the country side in Ireland. So much so Im planning on returning with friends all the way from Florida. Thank You to all of you for the best experience of my life

On a beautiful day in mid June I drove out in search of Ballybunion Castle, a cliff fort on the…read morenorth coast of beautiful County Kerry, Ireland. I had wanted to explore Ireland on horseback but did not expect to come across a horse farm there. After I saw signs along the road for horse riding, I decided to ask some of the locals in town about it. Moonshine Lodge Equestrian Centre was recommended highly, and when I called it turned out they had room to take me out on a ride. The ride was amazing to say the least!! I had my own personal guide who rode with me at my comfort level. I'm an experienced rider who prefers easy going horses and relaxing trail rides. Equestrians of all skill levels and disciplines are welcome as well as nonequestrians wanting to experience their first ride. The farm itself is pleasant -- everyone is friendly and loves their job. The horses are well taken care of and the saddles and bridles are in excellent condition. We rode past open fields of horses grazing and stopped by locals' houses to water our horses and talk about life. We walked, trotted, and cantered along the way. I felt very welcome and comfortable, as if I were a regular part of the local area. We cantered on winding dirt roads and climbed lush green fields to a mountaintop view of the land, beach, and sea. It was one of those days one feels thankful to be alive and able to enjoy the beauty in life. I highly recommend!!

My wife, son and I really enjoyed our time with Tipperary. I think we took the Scenic Trek. Since…read morethe weather was good, we rode for more than an hour. The staff was super accommodating. The Trek was like six activities in one. We 1) got a classical riding lesson as we were all trained in Western riding. 2) We, of course, got to ride horses. 3) The scenery was magnificent. The vistas of the hills were brilliant. We got so many great family photos. 4) There were multiple history/archeology lessons as Clare, the owner, was full of information on the local ruins and the stonework left behind. 5) The wildflowers were beautiful and everywhere. My horse made sure to show me the best tasting leaves and grass. 6) Yoga: We got a horse yoga lesson at the end. Which helped us to stretch before we alighted (got off) our ride. We were told ahead of time that if it started raining the Trek may have to be cut short. If you spend any time in Ireland this is always a possibility. The risk is well worth the reward. I would have enjoyed even just 30 minutes of this tour. This ride was the best I have ever been on. The staff is super friendly. The son, who is nine, talked a poor young Frenchman's ear off, and later would not stop talking about how much he enjoyed the cultural exchange with him. Clare the owner was very down to earth, and her and all her staff showed joy in their horses, riding and their slice of Ireland. Very importantly, the horses were healthy and well cared for. You could tell they had affection for Clare and the staff.

Great experience! My daughter (age 10)and I went on a 2 hour mountain trek with Clare she was…read morewonderful! Gave a thorough quick riding instruction and took us on a breathtaking ride through the mountains. I highly recommend her if youre traveling in Tipperary, Ireland on a beautiful day. Cant wait to go again worth every penny!

I cannot say enough good things about the Moycullen Riding Centre! If you are in Galway (or Ireland…read morein general) make a point to drive out to the riding center and see what the beautiful area has to offer! It was absolutely one of my favorite parts about our trip. Let me start from the beginning: The night before we were in Galway my friend and I contacted Moycullen Riding Centre via email (not successful, but we all know that rural internet is a pain), there is a phone number however it was already late at night. Anyways, our mistake, but we decide to drive out to the stables the next morning anyways. When we arrive at this quaint home about 15 mins outside of Galway we were greeted by Sandra's parents - Sandra's mother is such a sweet, sweet lady! She allowed us to use her cellphone to contact Sandra & Tom and squeeze a ride in. Tom to the rescue - he drops what he is doing and drives out to the stables to take my friend and I for a trail ride! Tom is a wonderful tour guide, the horses were amazing & beautiful creatures, and the terrain/trail is something you do not want to miss. We learned soooo much about Ireland! I literally could go on and on, but I will say this VISIT THE MOYCULLEN RIDING CENTRE!! It's 100% worth the drive and money!! Thank you guys sooooo much for the wonderful experience!

Tom our guide was fantastic none of us have riding experience and he had the patience of a saint…read more He was also very knowledgeable about the area and flora and fauna. The four of us really enjoyed the experience!

I found this stable on yelp/the Internet when I was looking for a place to go riding on my trip to…read moreConnemara/west coast of Ireland. Their rates are very affordable €35 for a beach ride, which in Hawaii where I'm from, would be at least $80. It was simple to call and make reservations and when we arrived, the other people hadn't arrived, so one of the owners (a lovely woman from Belgium I think) took me out on a private ride. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to ride one of the connemara ponies they breed (and the area is known for), but so many positives outweighed that. The beach scenery was stunning, and we cantered a bit on the sand. My guide even rescued my phone from the waves when it dropped out of my pocket. I will be back next time I'm in Ireland to do some more trekking with these beautiful ponies and people. Mahalo!

It is advised to call before as it is a well-known riding center in the tourist guides. They offer…read morea one-hour horse tour which was convenient for us: a couple with a young kid of 5. My wife did a one-hour while I waited with our son. He had a 5 min ride within the red barriers to keep him happy. There are no poney for kids and what they call Irish Poneys are quite tall. They give you the necessary boots. The ridding center is located 500m after the Golf course.

I have ALWAYS wanted to go horseback riding, so we decided on our trip to Ireland, on my birthday,…read morethat it was time! We had an absolute blast. The guides were great, and even though the entire group was filled with beginners I feel as though we got a lot out of our lesson! The guides did an excellent job with pairing the horses to our personalities and abilities. We were very pleased!

Online showed they were booked for the following day, but we called them and they fit in our group…read moreof 7. We were all beginners and the trail guides did an excellent job with instruction. Everyone was really friendly. The views were amazing. A must do!

Ferry Ride I…read morevisited the largest of the islands 23 years ago Worth the ferry ride for lunch Must visit? Perhaps, maybe,.... I have experienced a number of ferry rides

Early in the 1970s, I saw an article in National Geographic about this set of 3 islands in Galway…read moreBay. "Ive got to go there someday" I swore. In less than 5 years in was on a small plane from Galway city to Inishmore, the largest of the islands. All of Ireland is beautiful, but Inishmore was absolutely stunning. We passed on the horse and buggy ride and made our way on foot to the north side. Thousands of miles of stone walls line the roads and fields. We stopped at the stone hut that was used in the filming of "Man of Aran." At this point, we realized that we had to get back to the plane, so we managed to use a crank phone to put in a request to the island's one cabbie. We had enough time to take one more walk to the cliffs on the west side of the island. In 2008, we managed to go back and see Inisheer, the smallest and most southerly of the chain. At dinner, we had the only truly great steak I'd eaten in Ireland (usually better to stick to the lamb). I'd hoped to get a sunset shot, and the one I got showed all three islands at once. High on my bucket list is visiting the third island someday.

We were a group of 4 for a 1hour ride. I have only done a few rides in my life (with a few lessons…read morewhen I was younger) so here's an honest list (take with a grain of salt): Pros: The women guides/staff who rode with us were very adept at picking just the right horses for our skills/experience and heights. No stirrup changes needed. Good instruction on guiding the English-style ride. They were very clear when we were about to trot and gave us clear instructions on how to hold on. The horses were very chill, had great and unique personalities. The views were amazing. The staff were good on the ride about checking our horses' behavior, and the staff made sure to get our phone to take pictures of us while riding, which was awesome for our memory book. Cons: The instructions when you arrive are not super clear. Who needs boots and why? One tiny sign, which we missed. The helmets are safe-looking (not falling apart) but are quite disgusting... they're "sanitized" after each ride but smell of old sweat... my forehead/hair still reeks, several hours later Perhaps because the horses are inside, everything is inside, the horses are very smelly. They were quite visibly dirty (not just recently-muddy-due-to-rain). And, again, I can still smell them strongly on my clothes, several hours later. Maybe that's "normal" but I've never had it happen on other rides in my past experience. So -- overall we really enjoyed ourselves, but the experience had some odd elements. Forewarned is forearmed: Bring something to wear under the helmet (that you can wash!?) and perhaps a change of clothes for the drive home. Then enjoy!

We had a great experience at the Killarney Riding Stables! They were careful to pair you with the…read moreright horse for your experience level. We took the 1 hour trek through the park. It was a beautiful day and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. We also saw a herd of Irish deer.