Exciting Things to See and Do Around Stradbally, Ireland

Ireland - A majestic country where we were met with breathtaking scenery, gracious hospitality, and amazing adventures. 

Before you read on I need to tell you a short story of our first few hours in Ireland. It started when we landed, I went to get up from my seat and I realized my foot was so swollen and in pain that I couldn’t walk, it took me a few minutes to get off the plane and out of the ramp. Luckily they found me a wheelchair and then we went and got our rental car. That too was an experience, because in Ireland they drive on the left side of the road and drive cars with the steering wheel on the right side. Andy had a fun time figuring that out and found himself on the wrong side of the road right away and going around roundabouts multiple times until we could figure out which exit we were supposed to take. We made our 2 hour trip to Stradbally, checked into our AirBnB, and then we found the nearest hospital. They got me in pretty quickly and said it seemed like my foot was strained so they gave me a boot! That was fun for the first four - five days until the swelling subsided and my foot didn’t hurt anymore. So that was our hilarious adventure the first day we arrived in Ireland.

Stradbally

We started our 14 day, 20th anniversary trip (with the whole family) in a tiny town called Stradbally, it was about 2 hours south from Dublin Airport located right on the famous Copper Coast Drive. This was our home for 4 nights while we explored the surrounding area. Stradbally had 2 pubs and a small convenience store that made amazing hearty sandwiches, and we even found a nice playground with really neat zipline swings. It was only a few minutes drive to 2 nearby coves called Ballyvooney Cove and Stradbally Cove which we went to about every day while we were there. Ballyvooney Cove had a rocky beach but was a beautiful contrast to the green grass covered cliffs that bordered it. Stradbally Cove was sandy and we happened to be there when the tide was out. The kids and Andy walked out really far to explore until the water started coming back in.  We found so many wonderful day trip places to visit near Stradbally like the city of Waterford, the Copper Coast Drive, St. Patrick’s Well, beaches, and of course castles. 

Waterford

Waterford was nearby and we explored it on foot. We walked along the River Suir, discovered the Clock Tower, Reginald’s Tower and the Medieval Museum. We went to the Waterford Crystal factory called The House of Waterford. The storefront was amazing with all the unique crystal pieces they had and you can even take a tour of the factory. There was delicately etched stemware, vases and bowls, and even a carriage and horses! We also found the beautiful and historic Christ Church which dates back nearly 1,000 years. It was a great place to walk around and see the stunning interior architecture and learn about its long history.

Copper Coast

We had a beautiful afternoon drive and picnic (with our delicious oversized sandwiches) on the Copper Coast which is a scenic route along the coastal countryside of southern Ireland. It is also a UNESCO Global Geopark. We just enjoyed the beautiful views and stopped at a few coves and beaches to walk around and enjoy our picnic lunch. We even found an old copper mine called Tankardstown Copper Mine dating back to the 1800’s. At the end of the day we ate fish and chips from a little takeaway place called O’Shea’s Fish and Chips. It was located in a small town called Dunmore East just past the end of the Copper Coast drive. The fish and chips we ate while in Ireland were the best we ever had.

St. Patrick's Well

Saint Patrick’s Well in Clonmel was really serene.  A circular stone border surrounds the well where the water bubbles up from underground and then flows down into a small rock walled pool. Irish folklore says that the water has healing powers. We saw quite a few people spending their time with their legs submerged in the cold water because of this lore. There is also a ruin of an old church on the grounds. It was a beautiful place to wander around and enjoy nature. 

Castles

Cahir Castle, The Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle were some of the castles we saw in our first few days in Ireland. Cahir castle is a large castle that sits on its own rock island right on the River Suir in the town of Cahir. It is a beautiful fortified castle that was built in the 13th century. The tour of the castle and grounds was a totally unique experience. The magnificent Rock of Cashel, located in Cashel, Co. Tipperary, was amazing to explore. It is made up of a castle, cathedral, towers and more. It has a lot of history and is a phenomenal medieval archaeological site. Before we got to the Rock of Cashel there was another ruin site we stopped to explore called Hore Abbey. Hore Abbey was a medieval Cistercian monastery and the ruins are located in a lush green grassy field not far from the towering Rock of Cashel. There were cows grazing when we went to explore and one of them followed our kids all the way to the site, it was pretty funny to watch. It was a beautiful monastery ruin and we enjoyed exploring it. Next up, Kilkenny Castle which was our favorite castle we visited on our trip. It is a magnificent 12th century castle that has been fully remodeled to the Victorian era. We enjoyed walking through the halls and rooms to see all the stunning pieces of art and paintings. There was the Tapestry Room, the Chinese Withdrawing Room, the Nursery, and the long great hall known as the Picture Gallery. There was also a tea room and a lovely rose garden on the grounds. We must have spent hours roaming the halls and grounds of this beautiful castle.

Beaches

There were many beaches that we were able to enjoy because we were on the southern coast so of course we went to as many as we could. Some were rocky coves and some were wide open sandy beaches. It was really nice to be able to experience so many of them. Some days were chilly and others were warm but it was a great way to take a break from the car and all the driving.

Here are some extra pictures from our travels around the Stradbally area.

Our first few days in Ireland were exciting! We immersed ourselves in the beauty of the land, the wonderful cultural food, the towering magnificent castles, the beautiful coastline, and anything else we could discover. Whether it was gloomy or sunny this country was magnificent. The next chapter will follow our journey to the Ring of Kerry and Galway. 

Irish inspired meal idea:

Guinness Shepherd's Pie served with Guinness Draught beer

Guinness Shehpherd's Pie

Mashed potatoes

2 lb Yukon gold potatoes (russets will work also),

peeled and cut into large cubes

4 Tbsp butter

1/4 cup half & half

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

fresh or dried parsley to sprinkle on top

Meat filling

1/2 lb ground lamb

1 lb ground beef (90/10)

3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided

1 cup yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1/2 cup Guinness stout beer

3/4 cup beef broth

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp pepper

salt to taste

16 oz frozen mixed vegetable (corn, peas, carrots, greet beans)

Make Potatoes

Boil the potatoes, with a hefty pinch of salt, in a large pot of water for 10-15 minutes until they are fork tender. Drain potatoes in a colander and place back into pot. Add the butter and half & half to the potatoes and mash them until smooth. Stir in the cheese and mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Set aside.

Make the meat filling

*Pre-heat oven to 350* F, spray a 9x13in. baking dish with cooking spray

1. place 1 Tbsp oil in skillet, add ground meat and brown thoroughly. Remove from pan and drain off any excess liquid by placeing it in a collander.

2. Heat additional 2 Tbsp oil in a skillet over medium heat, add onions and cook 3-5 min until translucent, add garlic and cook 30 sec more.

3. Place meat back in skillet with onions and garlic.

4. Sprinkle flour onto meat mixture and mix in.

5. Add tomato paste, Guinness, beef broth, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring the filling to a low boil, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes until the sauce is slightly thickened.

Fold frozen mixed vegetables into the meat mixture and cook an additional 3-5 min.

Assemble the pie

1. Evenly spread meat mixture onto bottom of prepared 9x13 pan.

2. Spread mashed potatoes on top of the filling. Make sure the potatoes are sealed against the edge of the pan. Take a fork and make a cross hatch design across the top of the potatoes. Sprinkle with parsley.

3. Bake for 30-35 min, until the potatoes are lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for 10-15 min before serving. Enjoy!