What time is the wedding? We haven't set a time yet, but we are thinking the ceremony around 4pm, reception immediately following.

Where is the ceremony? The ceremony and reception will be held on our property in Killawalla, Mayo.

What is the weather like in Ireland in July? Hard question to answer! It will rain at least 2-3 days a week, generally a light rain. Temperatures should be in the mid 70’sF (23C), but 2024 was the coldest year on record in Ireland, particularly Co Mayo, so be prepared for mid 60’s. Also be prepared to experience all four seasons in a single day :-)

Where to stay? See accommodation tab.

Outdoor wedding? We will have tents on site so we will be safe from the elements!

Wedding attire? Semi formal, nothing too fancy required.

Gifts? No! Joining us on our special day is more than we could ever hope for. Please, no gifts.

How far away are the accommodations? The village of Westport is about 12km or 15 minutes away. We will have a shuttle taking people from the village to the our cottage/venue.

How long is the wedding? It won't end until the last pint is poured, the last dance is had, and the last song sung! But we will have the shuttle available the entire night to take folks back early if so inclined.

Nearest airport? Shannon is the closest airport that services the US at around an hour and forty-five minutes away by car. Dublin is roughly 3 hours away by car.

Other airports? Knock airport is 45 minutes from the house. If you are planning a trip to mainland Europe or the UK before or after the wedding, this is a great airport to use (and cheap!). Ryanair (budget airline) flies from Knock to: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Lourdes, Medjugorje, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Rome, Alicante, Cologne, Barcelona, Bristol, Cadiz, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Malaga, Faro Islands, Liverpool, Palma, Milan. Generally, around $100 round trip to most of these destinations.

Train? There is a train directly from Dublin to Westport which takes 3 hours. The train station is within walking distance to the hotels in Westport. There are also plenty of cabs at the train station to take you to your hotel for a few Euro.

Rental car? There used to be one at the train station in Westport, but it seems to have closed. More to come on that. Dublin and Shannon airports have plenty of cars to rent. Castlebar, a village 15 minutes from Westport, also has rental cars.

Pumping gas: You will be pumping your own gas if you rent a car, sorry Jersey peeps. The pumps will take your credit card or if you pay in cash, pump first then go in and pay inside....yes, they trust you will not drive off. Big thing to remember if your car takes "petrol" (regular gas) is that the gas pump is GREEN. In the US, green is diesel, in Ireland, diesel is black. So exactly the opposite. Be careful. Side Note: some of the gas stations in Ireland serve some pretty good food (says Jim).

Driving in Ireland? Okay, so here’s the deal. Driving in Ireland is very different than driving in the US. Yes, you drive on the opposite side of the road and yes, the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car. But that is just the beginning. There are lots of circles or roundabouts in Ireland….a LOT of them. But they take the place of traffic lights so it really is a good system. But the hardest part to get used to are some of the VERY narrow roads, you may actually think you are on a one-way road at times, that is how narrow they are. So our suggestion is to get the FULL insurance on your rental car, you very well may need it. Oh yeah, reserve your rental early because there are only so many automatics available for rental (for American tourists really), the rest are manual if you are up for the challenge (remember you will be shifting with your left hand).

Food? The restaurant scene in Ireland is impressive if you look for it and Westport is no exception! But most of the pub food is excellent too. You will find good seafood everywhere, particularly in Westport, as well as lots of lamb and beef dishes. You won’t be disappointed. Check out the restaurant tab for more information.

Shopping? Westport is full of quaint shops throughout. If you are touring Ireland before or after, you will have plenty of shopping available in all the villages.

Beaches? There are some great beaches around the area, we have yet to explore many of them, but Achill Island, which is about 45 minutes away, is one of our favorite places.

Hikes, trails? Check out the Things To Do tab. There are great national parks and hiking trails all over Ireland, particularly in the west where we are. There will be a hike up Croagh Patrick on Saturday the 12th, see RSVP tab.

Cultural etiquette? Okay, here are a few things to remember.

· Don’t talk Irish politics, especially in Northern Ireland, not a road you want to go down.

· Wouldn’t talk American politics either, I promise you they know more about American politics than most Americans.

· Craic: by now must of us have heard the Irish term ‘What’s the craic?’ which means “How ya doing?” or “ What’s going on?”. We don’t want you to think that there is a massive demand for the white powder in Ireland.

· Tipping: Tipping culture in Ireland is not what it is in the US, thank goodness. In pubs, don’t tip. If you are ordering a bunch of complicated drinks, sure, toss a euro or two. But in general don’t, the locals sure don’t want that catching on! At restaurants, tipping is generally 10%-15% max. Hotel staff, maybe a few euro a day for the room, max. It would be customary to tip a tour guide at the end of the day on an overnight tour, like the ones we are setting up. 10 euro or so is fine. Other than those examples, no other tipping to speak of.