#killarney

#killarney

"Winter has officially landed in Sydney. Our summer has finally ended, with a bang. I'm overlooking the harbour now, and the waves! We don't really get autumn or spring. It lurches from one extreme season to another. You'd miss the mild, soft days."

The early morning sun is bursting around the dark corners of High Dodd and Sleet Fell, sending a flush of light across the golden bracken and on to the hammered silver of the lake.

Achaphubuil, a tiny hamlet, is surrounded by mountains and ancient forest, making it an ideal location for artists seeking beauty, privacy, and peace.

With the ripple effects of the US-Israeli war on Iran causing the biggest disruption to global travel since the pandemic, staycations are looking like a safer bet for some households.

The latest Register of Interests of Members of Dáil Éireann shows that the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine owns 28 properties and pieces of land. Of these properties, 17 were some type of accommodation for rent.

When Desmond Courtney bought The Schoolmaster's House in Ireland's horse heartland in 2002, he turned it into a "bachelor pad". The civil engineer did most of the restoration of the property himself, with some help from friends. After nearly two decades of living there alone, a random reunification with his long-lost love Monica (née Barron) transformed his life and his Kildare home.

McDonald's locations in the United States tend to be pretty staid and uniform in design, but head abroad and things start to change. While there are a few American McDonald's that don't feature the traditional golden arches aesthetic, in historic international cities, you'll frequently find the burger chain housed in beautiful old stone and masonry buildings - with only a small McDonald's sign offering any hint of what's inside.

Hop on a plane to Malaga, and you might expect to see passengers in flip-flops and sun hats, ready to spend a week on a lounger with a cocktail to hand. But in recent years, a different kind of traveller has set their sights on the Costa del Sol. Instead of staying by the sea, they head inland, to cycle the mountains of Sierra Nevada.

While houseboat dwellers spend significantly less on monthly bills, upfront costs and regular maintenance have to be factored in

Portrush has gone up a gear with several new hotels, including this from Marine & Lawn

I've never had a sense of direction. In a family where everyone knows where they're going, I'm the one who gets lost. When my son Charlie was small, he would listen as I outlined the day's itinerary-grocery store, library, post office-then interrupt. "Mama," he'd say, "I have a better way." And he did. He was five, and already knew where he was going.