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Virginia Park Lodge, County Cavan
Our wedding will be held at Virginia Park Lodge, an 18th-century hunting estate set across 100 acres of countryside in County Cavan, about 90 minutes north of Dublin. The estate overlooks Lough Ramor and Deerpark Forest, with walking trails, a nine-hole golf course, gardens that supply the kitchen, and a lake for swimming and kayaking.
The lodge was restored by Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan with a focus on self-sufficiency and sustainability. The food is sourced from the estate's own walled garden and the surrounding countryside. We've rented the entire property for the weekend, so the estate will be all ours.
If you can make it this August, we promise farm-to-table meals, good craic, and a trip to Ireland you won't forget.
A few days in the Irish countryside
Getting here and where to stay
Fly into Dublin Airport (DUB). Our favorite airline is Aer Lingus.
East Coast guests: We recommend the Thursday ~5pm ET flight. It lands around 4–5am Dublin time, which sounds rough — but that's only ~11pm your body clock. Stay awake on the plane, land, check into your Dublin hotel, and go straight to sleep. You'll wake up Friday on Irish time. The ~10pm flight that lands around 9am sounds more civilized, but you won't get enough sleep on the plane and you'll be a zombie all Friday. Trust us on this one.
West Coast guests: The longer flight from California means you'll actually have time to sleep on the plane. Aim to arrive early Saturday morning, and Friday would be even better if you can swing it.
Thursday / Friday in Dublin: Ronan has reserved a range of hotel types for our guests, all in City Center Dublin and generally walking distance from one another. Email him directly to book your room: ronan@rsquared.ie. We'd recommend booking by early April if you can — August is peak season in Dublin and rates are better the earlier you lock in. Bookings are generally flexible up until about two months before the wedding.
Saturday / Sunday at the Estate: We've reserved the entire estate for the weekend, and you're invited to stay both nights. Virginia Park Lodge has a range of accommodation across the grounds — the main house has 23 en-suite bedrooms, and the estate also has courtyard cottages (great for families), shepherd's huts nestled in a wildflower grove, and cabins in the woods. You'll be able to share your room preferences via the RSVP form.
We'll have a bus from Dublin city centre to Virginia Park Lodge on Saturday morning, and back to Dublin on Monday morning.
If you're renting a car, Virginia Park Lodge is about 90 minutes from Dublin. We'll set up a WhatsApp group for carpooling — details to follow.
US citizens need a valid passport to enter Ireland (no visa required for stays under 90 days). Make sure yours won't expire within 6 months of travel.
Ronan Ryan can help with trip planning, transport, childcare, or any logistics. Whether you're extending your stay or just need a hand with something, he knows Ireland inside and out.
Get in touch: ronan@rsquared.ie
Some things we love — take what's useful, ignore the rest
Many of you are visiting Ireland for the first time. We've been splitting our time between Dublin and the US, and these are a few of our favorites. Our not-so-secret hope is that you fall in love with the place — we're keeping a house here and would love any excuse for you to come back.
We'll also share a Google Maps list of our Dublin favorites.
Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College (book in advance) — then pop across the street to the Aran Sweater Market (a bit touristy, but nice quality).
Sea salt ice cream at Murphy's (made in Dingle) → Irish Design Shop around the corner → Cornucopia if you're hungry (vegetarian, California vibes).
Guinness Storehouse — award-winning tour, incredible views from the top floor.
Jameson Bow St. Distillery (Smithfield) — learn the difference between Irish whiskey and American bourbon.
Grogan's — where we first met. A proper Dublin pub.
The Cobblestone (Smithfield) — small pub, all locals playing trad, near the Luas stop. If you're lucky, you might spot someone you know on stage.
Devitts (Camden Street) — great trad music upstairs.
Whelan's — real Irish music beyond trad (Radiohead tribute bands and the like).
John Kavanagh "The Gravediggers" — allegedly the best Guinness in the world. Attached to Glasnevin Cemetery & the Botanical Gardens, which are worth a visit too.
The Shelbourne Hotel — for a traditional Irish breakfast.
Fumbally (Dublin 8) — like a fancy Tartine. Great coffee and pastries, lovely brunch.
BAMBINO — hot pep hot honey pizza slice.
Pickle — fancy Indian food. Locals are obsessed.
Patisserie 2212 — try the Irish chocolate biscuit cake.
Harry's Nut Butter — Irish brand. Try the hazelnut or spicy truffles.
Barry's vs. Lyons — pick up both at any supermarket and decide which side you're on. (We're team Barry's.)
If you have extra days, Ireland is a stunning country for a road trip. A few ideas:
West Cork — gorgeous coastline, small towns, great food scene.
Ring of Kerry — the classic scenic drive.
Cliffs of Moher — dramatic and worth the trip.
Belfast Black Cab Tour (Northern Ireland) — a fascinating and moving way to learn about the Troubles. Highly recommended. Note: Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but US citizens don't need a separate visa — your passport is all you need.
McNally's Farm — our favorite farm in Ireland. Seasonal organic produce, a fun brunch spot. Check hours — they're often closed early in the week.
The Irish Road Trip has great route suggestions for every timeframe.
We hope this is the first of many trips. We'll be here — come visit anytime.
The things you're probably wondering
Yes — we're happy for you to come with or without little ones. Saturday dinner will be adults only, and we'll have group childcare set up in a cozy room with food and entertainment so parents can enjoy the evening. Sunday is relaxed and kid-friendly. If you'd prefer a private childminder, Ronan can help arrange that. The courtyard cottages on the estate work well for families.
August is one of the warmest months in Ireland, and "warm" is relative. Expect highs around 18°C (64°F), occasional rain, and long evenings with light until after 9pm. Pack a rain jacket.
Saturday's wedding is semi-formal. Think earth tones, greens, beiges, warm naturals. Bring layers and something warm for the evening. Sunday is relaxed country estate: wellies, waxed jackets, plaid, whatever's comfortable for walks in the Irish countryside.
No — we're providing a bus to and from the venue. If you do rent a car to explore Ireland before or after, there's plenty of parking at the estate. Remember: they drive on the left here.
Yes! There's brunch on Sunday and the grounds are lovely for taking it easy. The bus back to Dublin departs Monday morning.
Ireland uses the Euro (€). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and it's good to have a small amount of cash on hand. Let your bank know you're traveling.
In Ireland, registries aren't really a thing. We don't need any gifts, and we mean that. And for those of you who simply cannot live with yourselves otherwise, we'll post a link here soon.
Please let us know in the RSVP survey and we'll make sure you're taken care of.
We'll set up a WhatsApp group a few weeks before the wedding to help coordinate carpooling, extend the adventure, and connect with others. In the meantime, just message us directly with any questions.
We know an international trip this summer is a lot. If August doesn't work, we'll find another way to celebrate with you.
We'd love to know you're coming.
RSVP