# @kirstenalana on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/ByX684GhN7d
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/2429596-kirstenalana-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/97c45df856.jpg
- **Posted:** 2019-06-06T15:43:36.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Kirsten Alana (@KirstenAlana) — https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana

## Caption

If you could live anywhere, where would you live? (Assuming it’s different from where you live now.)
.
I’d probably move to rural France or Scotland tomorrow if I could. And one of the reasons - though there are many - is because I love the modest homes that you find in both. (And in Ireland, England and Wales to be fair.) They’re not always practical for today’s lifestyle but if everything was equal and practicality somehow wasn’t an issue then give me a stone, timber or thatched-roof cottage any day! 😝 I love them. 🥰 I don’t entirely know why. I just know that I see them & I think that’s HOME.
.
That might be why I loved Ireland so much this time around now that I got outside Dublin. Just like those other places, the homes just looked more homey to me. I could also very much be romanticizing! But that’s just how I feel when I see them!
.
Anyway, a fun place to visit if you like those homes too, is Bunratty Castle and Folk Park close to Shannon. It’s a bit more touristy than what I’d normally recommend. But I genuinely enjoyed visiting during my hosted trip with @railtoursireland to see over 30 buildings on 26 acres under soaring, seemingly ancient trees with wildflowers that grow like ground cover and friendly goats that pop their heads over the stone walls and scare you half to death (if you’re me!). It all portrays a time of fundamental change in Irish society during the early 19th century when a traditional, self-sufficient rural culture began to forever alter. There’s everything from the most modest one room dwelling to a Georgian residence built by the Studdarts who were the last to occupy Bunratty Castle which the park is named for and which you can also tour. It has a great view from the roof. There’s also a cafe serving delicious homemade food and if you like to shop, one of the largest souvenir shops that I saw during my trip to Ireland featuring a great selection of Irish products made locally.
.
.
#loveireland #bestofireland #stellerstories #tourismireland #visitireland #bunrattycastle #countyclare #railtoursireland #irishhistory

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,431
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 89

## Tags

railtoursireland, bestofireland, stellerstories, irishhistory, visitireland, countyclare, tourismireland, loveireland, bunrattycastle

---
Copyright (c) Gondola