A Surprise at our Irish Bed & Breakfast

Day 2 of our Ireland trip

Author’s note: This is Day 2 of my 2014 Ireland Trip series. Here’s Day 1.

Dawn came early. At 5:30, I shut our curtains to give us a few more hours of sleep. We decided on a later start to make up for jetlag.

Last night, I hadn’t seen much outside my sister’s farmhouse, but today tubs of petunias and bushes of roses gave me a jolt of delight when we finally got up and walked outside at 9:30.

How would you like to wake to this view every day?

My sister and her husband cooked us a yummy breakfast of Irish sausages, eggs, basmati rice, toast, and fruit. Midday, my brother-in-law showed us around the hundred-acre farm that’s been in his family for generations.

From the kids’ bedrooms, framed by the window, the farmland had a pleasing pattern of golden, harvested fields and green uncut fields outlined with hedges.

We took a lane past a meadow so green and lush and full of pretty little wildflowers and gold hued ladybug-like beetles.

Two Jack Russell Terriers named Rascal and Angel (who belonged to my sister’s brother-in-law next door) came bounding at our feet. They rolled onto their backs constantly to have us pet their bellies. We indulged them, lying on our backs in the soft uncut grass while Rascal licked us silly. For me, that is a lot to tolerate, but I surprised myself by not minding too much.

This was my favorite photo of the girls with Rascal (left) and Angel (right).

I took so many pictures of the farmland. Every way I turned, there was another shot-worthy angle. I loved watching the kids run through the grass, the dogs running at their heels. The landscape, the crisp weather, just inspired exuberance. I could see why Northern Europeans make it a habit to walk through such landscape and weather.

Seeing the beautiful land made me wonder how in the world my sister and her husband connected. His world had been so different from hers, and so remote, with all the responsibilities of farming, I was amazed they found each other. But then again, they were so suited to each other, I was so happy for them.

After the tour, during which the kids got to drive their uncle’s ATV up and down the lane, we ate lunch. It was kind of early for a meal, but we wanted to be on the road to make our six hour drive to Killarney. We planned to spend two days there, including seeing the Giant’s Causeway at the tail end.

Again, my sister and her husband spoiled us. Since we were not going to stay for dinner, she decided to feed us what she was going to serve for lunch and dinner. She made pasta bollonaise and chinese chicken, a filling combo.

Although we could have just driven around looking for a bed & breakfast tonight, we decided to reserve lodging with the Lios Na Manach in Killarney.

Over the phone, the owner sounded friendly and offered us a good price on two rooms. As we drove down, our son Wesley wondered if they had a piano, so I texted the b&b owner.

She answered, “Long story. I will explain when you get here.”

We laughed at her cryptic message and Wesley commented, “Well, that’ll make for a good icebreaker.”

A couple of hours later, she texts, “Piano arrived! ! ! !” Which made us laugh and marvel all the more.

We made it to Lios Na Manach nearly midnight, having gotten lost briefly. The road to this b&b just kept going and going and going. Like you think you’re finally there, but there’s still another house, another stone wall, another hedge.

Finally, a sign pointed to a tidy little courtyard with soft lights gleaming invitingly through the windows of a lovely building, and three faces looking at us from within.

Brigid, the owner, greeted us with a firm handshake and a friendly smile. The other two were Brigid’s 13-year-old daughter and a family friend named Christian.

Brigid had us bring in our stuff while she heated up a delicious dinner of what she called “Brigid’s Seafood Cataplana,” a creamy sauce with mussels and fish on mashed potatoes.

Soft music played in the background. The overhead lights weren’t overly bright. We sat with grateful anticipation at the table set beautifully for five, the flames of tea lights casting a golden glow on my family’s faces.

And then there, near our table, sat a piano, polished and gleaming.

Brigid explained.

Just the day before, Christian had asked if they ought to transfer the piano from Brigid’s house next door into the B&B. And they had decided not to.

Then today, I had asked about the piano. “How weird was that?” Brigid said with a smile. So her husband and Christian moved the piano.

Also today, they had visitors from France. Christian was studying French and music, so he played the piano for them. Lovely coincidences, indeed.

Wesley played the piano the next day.

Drew and I had a cozy room to ourselves. The kids each had separate beds in another room. Usually the girls shared a bed and Wesley, as the only boy, got the rollaway. But not this time.

As I snuggled under the covers, my body ready for sleep but my mind still racing with excitement, I was glad we had decided to book Lios Na Manach ahead of time. I was sure we wouldn’t have found it just driving around.

It was only our second day in Ireland, but it had been wonderful so far. As my eyes fluttered shut, I smiled at the memories of the storybook villages we drove past that day.

Next up: Ghostly Ruins. And, in case you missed it, here was Day 1 of our Ireland trip.

Thank you for reading!

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