Slight Detour: Ireland 2025: Day One

After about 30 hours of traveling and visiting, we finally enjoyed a night's rest at beautiful Lawcus Farm Guest House in Stoneyford, Ireland.

It's always a "coming home" of sorts as we reconnect with Ann-Marie and Mark and the dogs and the pig and the goat, horses, cats, donkeys and birds.

All live in their own little piece of Heaven in the rural area not far from Kilkenny.

The trip here also involves some time at Malzard's Pub, recently voted as Ireland's best and owned by Fred Malzard, whom I like to call a prince of a man.

In the past few years, Mark and Ann-Marie have gotten us acquainted with a fine restaurant in the neighborhood, called the King's Mill. It' features Italian faire, all tasty, well prepared and attractive.

Last night, we enjoyed meeting Antoni, whom you'll see in a photo below.

Our experience at the King's Mill served as a tasty and fun grand finale to a long, long day.

This morning, on Mother's Day in Ireland, we have enjoyed the usual leisurely and sumptuous (much home grown) and all homemade.

Ann-Marie, a fellow horse lover, does the preparation while multi-talented and creative Mark entertains the guests, pours coffee or tea and hones his brand of fun banter.

Have I ever mentioned that Mark looks a bit like John Wayne?

During this stay, we have also enjoyed meeting a family from the Minneapolis area who are visiting Ireland for the first time. Lovely people.

Stoneyford and Lawcus Farm Guest house provide a wonderful and welcoming place to start our Irish visits.

Today we move on to Kenmare in Southwest Ireland.

We'll spend three days and celebrate a few family birthdays AND do some reconnecting with friends we've made over the years.

Look out, Vince and Mary. The Love's are coming!

So, movin' on and loving the fact that the weather is both brilliant and grand.

We lucked out.

Happy Sunday, and Happy Mothers' Day to all the "mums" in Ireland.