Hi, my name is Ellie and I live in a town in the west of Ireland. I am a mum of two with a full time job outside the home and I am not half as organised as I appear to be. I have two daughters, DD1 age 13 and DD2 age 8, they keep me on my toes!
This blog is a mix of my experience of parenting, life, music, travel, Ireland and anything else that comes into my head. You’ll also find a few stories from my own childhood just for the fun of it. I don’t plan on doing any (or much!) moaning or complaining on here. This blog is for the good, the funny, the inspiring and interesting stuff. And no, my life is not all sweetness and light, but by reading back on my posts here I get to see the good stuff without all the other not so good stuff that went on as well. I will sometimes mention my disasters but only from a distance at a time when I can laugh at them too!
I am a keen photographer (though I am still very much a beginner). All photos on this site are my own unless otherwise stated. I would appreciate it if you contact me first before using any of my photos.
Please feel free to leave your comments. I’d love to hear from you.
this emerald life 
Hi Ellie, just chanced across your blog via somewhere else, you know how it is. I used to write a blog but havent got back to it yet. It was the “west of ireland” part that caught my attention. Although technically scottish I have a vast amount of family in County Sligo, where i spent all my summer holidays with my lovely nana. She came to Scotland when she married, but returned home every year and being the oldest grandchild i went with her. I am still back and fourth quite regularly and my hubby and kids now love the place as well. Im looking forward to reading your new blog, have a lovely day – jacqui x
Hi Jacqui, Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Great to know someone else is out there! 😉 I’m a little bit further down the coast from sligo but have been there several times and it is a great place. Let me know if you start your blog up again, I’d love to have a read. ~Ellie
Thanks for stopping by and following thefirstgates today. You’re off to a great start here and I look forward to reading more.
Thanks for following Morgan.
Thanks for stopping by MyFarAwayPlaces. I wish I could go back to the west coast of Ireland. I lived in Galway once and I have missed it ever since. I really enjoy reading your blog, i’ll be back soon.
Thanks Silvia. And I’ll be checking in on your blog too. Looking forward to it.
Hi Ellie. Thanks for visiting my blog. You know what? Just this week I have been looking at homes in Ireland! And now I’m here at your blog. Ha ha. There may be a possibility that we need to move to the UK for a year with hubby’s work in 2014 so I was looking to see nice places to live.
Oh I love that kind of home searching. You start by being all sensible and then you go into the fantasy stuff!! 😉
I hope you don’t mind, I added you to my blogroll. I really enjoy reading your posts and wanted to share it with others.
Oh thank you so much. I feel very honoured!
Sunshine Award Nomination
Thank you Frank! I did send you a thank you before but it seems to have got lost in the ether somewhere!
No problem at all. Dig the new picture at the top of your blog.
Hey, I still have your Frank’s Place T-Shirt to send out. Shoot me your size and shipping address to franknfran0967@gmail.com.
The photo is Dingle, Co Kerry. Taken from a boat following their most famous resident, Fungi the wild dolphin!!!
Miss you – have you been on vacation?
No- just caught up in kids activites. But I’m back now!!
Good. I am caught up in big kid activities and I am getting worn out – one son is working midnights for the summer to earn money to go back to school, and the other son as a cold
Hi Ellie,
Thanks for stopping by the blog. So nice to find this blog especially as I am a west of Ireland gal. This is a real treat for me so will be stopping by regularly .
Thanks Brenda. I’m following your blog too. Great to see things are going well for you over yonder!
What a wonderful place you’re living in, Ellie. So fortunate to be there. I have only been to the land of my ancestors once, back in 1992 (I think). We went to Northern Ireland – County Fermanagh. So beautiful.
Thank you Mj.
Ellie – you have not visited me for a while – I miss you and enjoy your blog – you are one of the first that I followed – come back Ellie, come back
I haven’t been visiting too many blogs over the past while due to an extra project at work. However I expect to be back on normal track this week and will catch up. Never fear, I am still following you though!
You’ve got a great blog here Ellie. I recently got nominated for a Beautiful Blogger award, and I want to pass on the honor to you. With each post, you are raising the likelihood that I’ll get to visit your beautiful country. For more info, you can check it out here: http://homeworkdad.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/id-like-to-thank-the-academy/
Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much Homeworkdad! I am honoured to accept!!
I stumbled upon your blog today and am so glad that I did. I have traveled to Ireland a few times in search of family history, adventure, beautiful sightseeing and celebrating with my husband. I will be back often to read more about you, your life and your beautiful location…
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Hope to see you round here lots and lots!!
What a wonderful blog! Makes me long for home… (I’m from Mayo!) x
It was Croagh Patrick that got you wasn’t it?!
It really was – such amazing pictures! To my shame I’ve never climbed it – keep saying I will before I’m 30 which may or may not happen! (It’s in Jan so best get a move on…)
“This blog is a mix of my rambling thoughts ”
If your blog is about mixed up thoughts………..I have come to the right place. It does take a while to get into another’s blog…..so much to read and see. I know I will enjoy your photos.
Hola! I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and I would be very honoured if you were to accept ^^
http://myfarawayplaces.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog to read my article on my visit to your coast of Ireland. We loved it and I hope to be back again someday. More posts to come on our trip. I look forward to learning more from your blog. Best, David
nominated you for super sweet award! xx
Great idea to blog about only the good stuff. I need to get better about that.
Hi thanks for stopping by. I love your picture. when I get time and more accomplished i’ll update my site too with some good Irish pictures. I’m based in cork but from dublin. Thanks for stopping by my posts!
Hey, I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Very Inspirational Blogger Award. You should come check it out for the details 🙂
I was wondering if you were interested in me nominating you for the Irish Blog awards?
Can you let me know your email address. I need it to nominate your blog.
Thank you so much T. See my contact page – don’t want to repeat it here to avoid spam!!
Ellie, just came across your site through Joan Frankham’s listings. Fair play to Clare this year, they deserved the All-Ireland. Will take a further tour of your site, but what I have seen so far I have liked. MM 🍀