Westport, Ireland Travelogue

 Our last stop in Ireland was Westport, over on the Atlantic Ocean. I had one more travel routine to carry out: find some salt and pepper shakers to add to my collection from everywhere I've traveled. They had an adorable set of black-faced white sheep who looked like Shaun the Sheep. They are now happily residing with my roosters from Portugal and dolphins from Florida.

We stayed in the Westport Woods Hotel, a family resort just up the road from the quay. Running, laughing kids were everywhere. They had activities for them so they could run off some of that energy. The site was the beautiful green we had enjoyed throughout our visit.

At the breakfast table

Grace O'Malley, pirate queen, is revered here. A woman ahead of her time, she ensured her community's survival during the 1500s. Her descendants built the Westport House 400 years ago. As anyone who watched Downton Abbey knows, keeping up a huge mansion is a very expensive proposition. Restoration has fixed the leaky roof and the ground floor. The dungeon and upper floors can be toured individually. The family finally sold it to a private investor / community group. The house has guided tours, of course, but also so much to do! There are paddleboat swans right out front. There is glamping, and camping, and 400 acres of trails, and a Pirate Park. The last owner even managed to change a law so that his daughters could own the house. Hooray for feminism!

Westport House, guarded by paddleboat swans

Kids love the 'tiny' live swan

Angel Uriel inside the mansion, with a flame, not a unicorn horn

I could not leave Ireland without experiencing live music in a pub! Matt Molloy's was packed. Everyone was enjoying their Guinness and the company of strangers, or old friends. The traditional Irish music was provided by three musicians in a corner seat reserved for Musicians Only.

 

Traditional live Irish music in Matt Molloy's pub

A fitting final event for my first visit to Ireland, right? The next day, we took the train back to Dublin, to an airport hotel so I could fly home to my little Timmi-dog. Cris stayed, spending family time in County Cork. 

Timmi was so happy to see me! I was so happy to see him! Sissel, his 'grandma', loves him, too. He had a lovely vacation visiting Lucas, his friend from puppyhood.