After getting back to the hotel in Edinburgh late last night, we were up early—3 a.m. early—for a flight to Cork, Ireland. He arrived at the airport, got through security, and sat down for breakfast at 5 a.m. I ordered tea and a breakfast sandwich.
Others around us ordered mimosas with barely enough OJ to not be straight champagne, beer, and cocktails. The food was good, and we browsed the shops until our flight.
After boarding the Ryan Air flight by walking on the tarmac, I took my seat, which I barely fit in. Two hours later, we landed in Cork, Ireland and rented a car. We then headed to an Airbnb in Ballyvourney, County Cork and settled in.
Then we headed to Gougane Barra Hotel to visit friends. Kel had stayed here before, but this time a wedding party had taken over the entire hotel. We walked next door to Cronin’s Cafe and had a wonderful lunch looking over the lake and to the steep mountain beyond. The white streaks on the mountain side are actually water run off.
We went into town on the way back to the Airbnb and picked up groceries for the stay. When we got back, we had a much-needed nap and read. My primary book for the trip was Project Hail Mary.
For supper, we returned to Gougane Barra Hotel for a fine meal. I had steak and potato leek soup, which was delicious. Our server, Amelie, was from France working the season (which was ending in a couple of weeks) at the hotel. She brought fun along with our meals.
The wedding party held their rehearsal dinner at the same time. The topic of weather was under discussion. Remnants of Hurricane Humberto were sweeping through Ireland.
The next day, the rain worsened. The wedding went on with adjustments. The owner of the hotel drove by Land Rover the bride, groom, and priest to the chapel, through the flood waters to the chapel.
Apparently, weddings are valid only if performed at the location specified on the license. Hence, the extraordinary effort to get to the chapel. Afterward, the rest of the ceremony took place at the hotel.
We went to a pub in town for lunch and stopped by a used bookstore in an old shop. It spanned two floors and included everything, fiction and non-fiction. I even found a book by Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame.
We grabbed some sandwiches at the general store for supper then headed back to the Airbnb to beat the rain with reading and napping.
Other European vacation posts:
Day 1 (London): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/10/18/vacation-day-one-london/
Day 2 (London-Rock ‘n Roll Tour): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/10/26/vacation-day-two-london-rock-n-roll-tour/
Day 3 (London-Harry Potter, Part 1): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/11/02/vacation-day-3-the-harry-potter-experience-part-1/
Day 3 (London-Harry Potter, Part 2): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/11/09/vacation-day-3-the-harry-potter-experience-part-2/
Day 4 (London-ABBA Voyage): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/11/17/vacation-day-4-london-and-abba-voyage/
Day 5 (London-Sunday Roast): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/11/30/vacation-day-5-sunday-roast/
Day 6 (London-Travel Day): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/12/13/vacation-day-6-travel-day/
Day 7 (Scotland-Hogwarts Express): https://georgegmoore.com/2025/12/28/vacation-day-7-the-hogwarts-express/
I’m an author living in northern Virginia with a wife and a cat. In the late ’80s, I worked on the International Space Station project. I recently retired from managing a group of software engineers to focus on writing science fiction and speculative fiction. Learn more.