Country Decor Blog

The view from Arnold’s hotel in Dunfanaghy  is a quintessentially beautiful Northwest scene. The light in Ireland (particularly the Northwest) is beautiful and emotive. When I woke up Friday morning and drew open my curtains, my heart stopped. I still can’t believe how gorgeous Ireland is. Every day just gets better and better! After consuming thousands of calories over the past week, I found a little more room in my stomach and indulged in a “small Irish breakfast.” Simply put, that means only ONE rasher of bacon, ONE sausage, ONE poached egg, ONE roasted tomato and ONE cup of fried mushrooms. (The thought of eating more than that just seems like an insurmountable task!). Following breakfast, Stacey and I indulged in the ultimate equestrian experience: we got to ride Irish horses on the beach. The stables is just behind Arnold’s hotel - in fact, Arnold’s hotel is the proprietor of the property. The Dunfanaghy stables themselves, however, are run by mother and daughter team Helen and Niamh. We were lucky enough to have Helen take us on our two-hour jaunt. The photos that I have been posting so far on this blog have been supplied by the Irish tourist board - I will be able to post my own personal images next week… But this image does give you the essence (although when Stacey and I were riding there wasn’t a cloud in the sky!

Beach riding in Dunfanaghy

The only way I can describe the ride is pure exhilaration! Stacey and I are already plotting about how we will be able to return to the shore of Dunfanaghy next year! Post-ride, we were driven back to Belfast by our ever-patient guide Tim Conway. We’ve developed a wonderful friendship with Tim - his insight into Ireland is delightfully educational. When we arrived in Belfast, we checked into the Fitzwilliam Belfast (remember we were at the Fitzwilliam Dublin when we first began our Irish sojourn). This hotel exudes elegance. I love the contemporary furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows. After trading our riding kit in for a more sophisticated look (a tweed Triona jacket and jeans!), we wandered over to Mourne’s seafood restaurant, where we continued to indulge in MORE food. This time, crab claws with melted Irish butter for me, fish and chips (and mushy peas!) for Stacey, whole lemon sole for Tim. Mourne’s seafood is sublime. The location is very chic too - it’s right next door to a classic Belfast pub frequented by locals - pics to come of the pub too!

I’m off now to tea at the Merchant hotel and a visit to the Belfast castle and gardens. More on that later!!!

Don’t forget, if you are interested in visiting Ireland, log on to www.discoverireland.com

Tags: Arnold's Hotel, Connemara ponies, Dunfanaghy, Dunfanaghy stables, Fitzwilliam Hotel, horseback riding, Irish Breakfast, Irish horses, Mournes seafood restaurant