We stopped here on our way to Kylemore Abby. It was breathtaking and worth the side trip…read more Beautiful views, and make sure you watch out for the sheep!

On our way to Kylemore Abbey we passed Connemara National Park and so we took a pit stop to see…read morewhat it was all about. I was pleasantly surprised. The visitors centre is just lovely, a nice setup. There is a exhibition on the park, with one section describing bogs and turf making. There is also a Tea Room, a picnic area and a playground. There are three walks from the visitors centre up the nearest hill, Diamond Hill. All at different degrees of distance and difficulty. We decided on the quick walk as we didn't have a lot of time. Definetly worth a look if you are in the area.

Caher Cottage has a small gallery full up with Lis' watercolour paintings of the stunning Connemara…read morecountryside. Lis has now retired, so if not painting as much as she used to, but last time I visited there were some fantastic new oil paintings too. Lis is almost always happy to meet visitors, so please feel free to pop by and say hello, even if you are not planning to buy anything. I think the best time to appear is just before dusk, as Caher Cottage's view of the sun setting over the Atlantic is simply beautiful. Lis is also a bit of a history geek, and knows huge amounts about the Connemara area, its history and of course the best places for walks or beaches. If you have questions about the local area, definitely go and visit her for a cup of tea and a chat!! *In the interest of full disclosure I should mention that this is my mother's Gallery* ...but that does not stop me from thinking it is brilliant!!

In the west of Ireland it rains - a lot, really, an awful lot, so it is vitally important for those…read morewho live there and indeed those of us visiting that there are distractions of some form or another least we all team up in a bored, wet and un-tanned rage and go on some sort of killing spree (probably drowning the victims). One such distraction is the rather unpromising sounding museum of country life, which as it turns out is a very nice wee place to wander around and kill a few hours. There are samples of clothing worn by the Irish way back when, a few temp exhibits like the Moylough Belt (8th Century belyt-thingy) and when we were there a temp exhibition (until spring 2010!) called Straw, Hay and Rushes where you get to see the unbelievable vast array of things we used to use straw and hay for! - really, everything from mattresses (which you get to try out) to harnesses (which you don't) We didn't get to see much of the outside exhibits because , guess what, it was blinking raining, but the indoors bit was enough to keep us going for a couple of hours. There is no admission fee which is nice, the café is OK but not noteworthy!

We drove to the National Museum of County Life last Monday.Unfortunatly the museum was closed but…read morethe grounds were still open to the public. There are lovely walks around the grounds through the formal gardens and the kitchen gardens. There is a restored Victorian Glasshouse in the grounds overlooking Turlough House and the beautiful tulip borders which were in bloom whilst I was there. There is also a small cottage which has recently been built to show how traditional cottages were constructed. Walked along the river and continued up to the round tower on the hill. I have no doubt this would be a great place to spend a day,when the museum is open.will be back to visit when it opens.

Just a few miles away from Ashford Castle we ran into Eddie's Bar when we didn't even know it was…read morethere in a town called Clonbur. As soon as you walk in the place is inviting and the people are friendly. The four of us tried different dishes. Full rack of ribs with chips, fish and chips, Thai curry chicken and tempura shrimp and calamari. Food was excellent! Finished off with a homemade apple pie.

Had there charcuterie board for 2 and loved! The Irish cheese is so delectable and the homemade…read morecrackers were the star of the show. Will be back next time we are in Westport! A great stop for a cheese board and a glass of wine!

How are there no reviews for you yet, you fabulous little hidden gem?! Upon my arrival in Westport,…read moreI was lucky enough to find this wonderful spot hidden around the corner on an unassuming street. I was greeted immediately by the locals, offered "the best coffee in Ireland" (too bad I don't drink coffee), and spent the rest of the night hanging out with my new friends. This place combines coffee shop with wine bar with groovy music...what's not to love. When Tom (the owner) is there, free wifi is available (no wifi when he is gone). The vibe is total hep cat meets artsy caffeinated wino. I haven't felt as comfortable in a bar as I did there in a long time. I wish this place was on the corner of my street, because I'd be there every day.

Stopped here for a cup of tea on my Greenway ride from Westport to Achill. The coffee shop is ok,…read moreplenty of seating and bike parking space outside.

Loved it! Arrived at 4pm Sunday and they closed at 5, but it's a great museum with free admission…read more The grounds are lovely.

Set in the grounds of Turlough Park, this is a bright modern museum. There is no charge to visit…read morebut they do appreciate a five euro donation which in my opinion was well worth it. Covering three floors, there is a vast selection of items on display covering all aspects of country life, crafts, living, clothing, tools etc. it is set out well with plenty of information. There is also a video presentation. We really enjoyed our visit to the museum but the house itself was a bit of a disappointment. Only a few rooms are open to the public. So my advise is come for the museum, not the house.

I love Newport, it has always felt like a town with potential and since the Great Western Greenway…read moretook form and started attracting tourists Newport has come into its own. Those pubs that survived up until the missing 2000s have continued with the welcome addition of a couple of takeaways, an ice cream parlour, great cafes and most recently, a half decent gift shop in the form of Parade. When I visited Parade was only 5 days open and already showing signs of becoming a focus for tourists. They have it all, knitwear, home ware, a small coffee shop, some books, local arts and crafts and a selection of local honeys (as in stuff made by bees, not girls answering to a pimp). Wifey told me there was fishing tackle there as well but I couldn't see it. like I said, a great and most welcome addition to Newport!