Views from Niall ’ s house in Donegal , Ireland .
“ They recently completed some upgrades , so it was the perfect time ,” Erin said .
While the plan was to always spend time in Donegal at the vacation home , the family also explored Dublin for two nights and Galway for two nights , before their four-night stay in Donegal .
According to Erin , Dublin had great meals , along with a famous bar known as The Temple Bar .
“ It was just this giant pub ,” she recalled .
Additionally , the family got to visit the gravesite of W . B . Yeatts who is widely considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century .
Upon acclimating to the time change and eating all the local fare Dublin had to offer , the family drove approximately three hours to Galway , which is well known for their pubs that play various forms of Irish music .
“ I was looking for traditional Irish music , but they love country music and John Mayer over there ,” Erin said . “ I tried Guiness while I was there , and although I didn ’ t love it , I figured I should try it while I was in Ireland .”
After four nights of the city life in Dublin and Galway , the Bryans made the trek to Donegal , where Niall ’ s vacation house was situated off a tiny road .
“ The Internet was pretty terrible and you could barely fit two cars on the road ,” Erin said . “ But , it was great ; it really allowed us to grow close and the kids to take a step back and enjoy reading and the scenery .”
Niall treated the kids to various day trips , showing them places he used to go as a young boy .
One of the day trips consisted of Sheldon and Byrdie playing golf in Portstewart , while another found the family on a boat tour of the Slieve League Cliffs .
“ Everyone wants to see the Cliffs of Moher , but Slieve League is the tallest ,” Erin said . “ It ’ s just not as popular .”
Erin said the family decided to visit the cliffs by boat and were stunned by how magnificent they were .
“ Everything was just beautiful ,” she said . “ It just looks make believe .”
Continuing on their exploration of Ireland , the family then went north and visited the Giant ’ s Causeway , a popular tourist destination consisting of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns .
After viewing and soaking in everything Donegal had to offer , the family took one last special road trip to Belfast .
It was in Belfast that Niall ’ s family owned a hotel , where he and Nancy got married . It was also the hotel the family stayed in on their final night in Ireland .
“ That was fun for the kids to see that ,” Erin said .
40 Fall 2023 | Thomasville Scene