Ireland Continued: The Wild Atlantic Way in Fuji Light
The Matchbook | 5.29.26
As April was a month divided, so too was our Ireland adventure. Half in the rolling green hills and lush forests of the East and Central parts, and another on the Wild Atlantic Way. A place National Geographic has called one of the most beautiful spots on the entire planet, with Slea Head Drive being one of, if not the most beautiful road you can ever drive down.
Our trip was filled with more laughter than you’d know what to do with, more stunning vistas and sights than you can count, and great friendship.
Onward to the last half of such a fantastic trip, and the ending of a month.
Click on the first and it’ll let you see them bigger and scroll through each one :)
Ice cream, wildlife, swans, ancient yew trees, castle ruins, church ruins, sunsets, sea spray, fog, local music in trad sessions you cannot possibly forget, fading blue hour light, reflections, Guinness signs that have withstood the weather for decades, little bunting flags that criss-cross a town center, and four friends navigating it all. The final photo, the reflection in the glass globe light of our Airbnb was taken only an hour or so after Anna was proposed to on top of a majestic short hike on the Dingle Peninsula, the furthest Western point on mainland Ireland, Cruach Mhàrtharin. Danny did amazing, he asked in the perfect way, and we were so lucky to be there to witness it, to capture it with our zoom lenses. Below is just a single image from that moment, the rest are theirs to keep. :)
The trip continued, Anna and Danny on cloud 900, and we were able to take them even further up the Wild Atlantic Way to Doolin by way of Bunratty and Quin. So much to explore and there was almost never anyone else there, just us, just wandering, just letting the day unfold as it wished to do. Doolin maintains every drop of it’s perfect mysterious beauty, and we got to listen to another amazing trad session whilst Danny and Anna enjoyed their first Irish Stew with Guinness soaked meat and perfect Irish potatoes. Anna probably stopped to stare at her new ring 20350 times, and we loved it every single time she did. I am so glad she got that experience, and to get it here, a place that means so much to Sarah and I, was pretty outstanding. To watch one you love so much be loved so much in turn, what a gift.
We braved the busy-ness of Galway for Anna and Danny who’d always wanted to see it, and after so many days of completely quiet and rural removal, the contrast was stark, it was shocking, and it prompted us to leave very, very quickly. I’m just not made for cities, and while I know there are many world cities I still need to visit, I know how my soul will respond once there. It will wish for release, it will wish for space, it will wish for precisely what we got in Ireland as we stopped in the haunting Doolough Valley, and the edges of Westport where in the far sun-soaked distance you can see Croagh Patrick rising up like ancient volcano. The trip was winding up, we knew it, but we still had one final bespoke elopement to photograph at Ballynahinch Castle in Connemara National Park, and my goodness, what a doozy it was.
The bespoke elopement was perfect. An abandoned castle ruin, flocks of starlings and jackdaws, the ocean, the sky, the Ballynahinch Castle as backdrop to their stay. What a job this is, to give people the insane gift of their own dream wedding and honeymoon, and to do so at a tiny fraction of what they’d have spent on a normal traditional wedding back at home, is just a joy, and to be there to officiate and share in those moments is an honor that I don’t know how to properly articulate. Just thankful I get to do this, to see this world with the love of My life, and to share it with you in photos, in stories, in poems.
We got home just in time to celebrate my Mom’s birthday, less than 14 hours after getting off the airplane. Sarah made an insane cake for her and everyone that made me wish I could eat chocolate. Alas, it was fun to watch, and to photograph, and to finally breathe HOME air after 2 weeks away.
Now we’re here, working, rounding the corner on finishing our YA Novel in verse that I am more excited to share with you than you’ll ever know, and just waiting for more adventures to begin. Trying desperately to book more weddings and elopements just like these by trying to learn Pinterest Ads hahah. IF anyone is an expert, let me know.
Thank you for watching, thank you for supporting this Signal Fire and this journey to sharing authentic, real, and honest art with all of you. It means the world.
I love you all.
Be good.
