 Yesterday, I returned home after an amazing week in Ireland. It was my first time in Ireland and I was there to instruct a plein air group for Travel Fever Tours. The entire experience was beyond words, but I will try to share a little of the magic that I experienced during this wonderful trip! Landing in Dublin, our group gathered and drove about two hours to our accommodations at Ashbrooke House. Ashbrooke house is a beautiful Georgian manor and the estate is still in the same family. The team there made us feel right at home and provided fantastic service. Ashbrooke isn't only a beautiful place to stay, the large estate has a beautiful walled garden, provides other workshops, an equine therapy program and more. For the week, we even had the luxury of a private chef named Joery Castel. Joery made us 3 extraordinary meals a day and they were all top notch; he tailored meals for the guests who had specific diets in a way that showed his creativity and skill. Upon arriving, one of our first experiences was to learn about raptors and the art of falconry from Hawk Walks NI. I sketched as we learned about them, but the greatest thrill was being able to hold these beautiful creatures. Throughout the week, I really enjoyed getting to know all of the participants who came from the US, Canada and the UK. We painted together every day and I did demos and provided individual instruction. One of my favorite excursions was to a giant cliff formation called Slieve League. I had never experience terrain like this so it was quite thrilling as I hiked around. I took some photos and video, but it didn't come close to capturing the grandeur of the experience. After seeing the cliffs, we had lunch at a pub from 1892 called The Rusty Mackerel. The fish & chips with an expertly poured Guiness was sublime. We all enjoyed the meal as the pub's cozy atmosphere was accentuated by a warm fire. In Donegal, our group also got to do a little shopping at a shop called Magee of Donegal. The shop, from 1866, specializes in Donegal tweed and I picked up a "baker's boy" hat and a few scarves. The quality of their products is stunning and I feel very Irish sporting their wears. Another day trip was to the nearby Florence Court in Enniskillen. We had a tour of their estate and walled garden followed by an "upstairs and downstairs" tour of the house. I love learning about these properties so this was another highlight for me. As my memories are fresh and I reflect, I am trying to fully express the beauty of Ireland and the hospitality of its people. From beginning to end, the entire trip was like something from a dream. I want to thank Bob & Cicely from Travel Fever Tours for letting me instruct this wonderful group. And another huge thanks to Christopher, Amanda, Lara and the whole team at Ashbrooke House.  Memories For a Lifetime!
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