The boys and I have just spent five magical nights at Foghill on the West Atlantic Way in Ireland fulfilling a long dream to visit this most beautiful of islands and see some of its Neolithic landscape.

I have to say that Foghill is one of the most peaceful and healing places I have ever stayed. Foghill is an anglicisation of a Gaelic word meaning ‘under-the-wood’ because it formed part of the ancient wood of Focluth from Lacken Bay to Crosspatrick. It is the only location mentioned in St Patrick’s writings, as a place he saw in his dreams and “heard the voice of those who were in the wood of Focluth, which is near the western sea” imploring him to return.

Foghill also has a holy well and a lovely menhir and the most incredibly peaceful, calming and healing energy. I cannot recommend it enough if you just feel to get away from it all and immerse in nature.

The boys and I had a fantastic time travelling up and down the Wild Atlantic Way and taking in the most incredible landscapes. It helped enormously that the sun has shone for most of our trip thus far, but that aside, Ireland is just beautiful and the Irish are incredibly friendly. There’s something about the energy though, it’s soft and gentle and the pace is blissfully slower than Guernsey - it gets right under your skin and deep into your heart.

Elijah at Old Head Beach and Croag Patrick in the background

We drove South and visited Westport, which is a lovely town, they even have a health food store! We got to visit Carrowmore beach and take in the views before visiting the little port that can take you to Clare Island. We went out to DownPatrick’s Head and visited the incredible Ceidre Fields, an old Neolithic farming community, as well as various stones in the area.

We went north a few times too, up to Knocknarea, Carrowmore and Carrowkeel to see all the Neolithic cairns, dolmens and stones galore - this is stone heaven! We even visited Easkey, a surf spot that meant a lot more to me in my surfing days 30 years ago now.

Eben at Breastagh with Ogham inscription

We went in the sea at Ross Strand a coupe of time and were amazed to find it warmer than home, and befriended many dogs and visited many bakeries and playgrounds to appease the boys’ needs for carbohydrates and endless play. We were out every day from early morning to evening and sometimes out again after bath and dinner to see the setting light, much later here than home, 9.30pm, and check out all the tractors and fishing boats, much fun to be had if a boy who loves all such things.

Eben at Carrowkeel, cairns in background

We visited Loughcrew today on our way to the Boyne Valley and Newgrange. I do believe that Loughcrew might be one of my most favourite Neolithic sites visited to date, it just feels so very lovely. We sat in the hag’s chair and made a wish and I got to see right to the back of Cairn T and the rock art. There was rock art in one of the other cairns too and when a couple of ladies had finished their cacao ceremony (sigh) and cleared off, I managed to sit quietly without their drumming and music playing and really get into the place. It has much to say.

The place its awash with gorse and smells divine. I don’t know why people have to confuse these spaces and light Paleo Santos when nature does a really good job of keeping these places clean herself. Fortunately this place hasn’t been turned into a New Age shrine and no dead flowers and tat littering the place like you find at other Neolithic sites like Bryn Celli Ddu on Anglesey which is full of al of it, even human hair and little notes and key rings. The stones just don’t need any of it. It’s enough to turn up with an open mind and heart.

We’re in the Boyne Valley now, quite an energetic shift, all of a sudden there are a lot more cars and people and tourist trappings. Maybe a helpful transition though before our return to Guernsey - never easy after being somewhere quite so peaceful.

I don’t think this will be my only trip to Ireland, there is something very magical about this island.

Do visit if you get the chance.

Love Emma x

Our visit to Foghill, Ireland

Raising our vibration

Finding potential through the peri-menopause