Outspoken Traveler

More trips below! Have at it.

About Outspoken Traveler

Travel should be about embracing every moment — from the magic of the mundane to the awe-inspiring of nature, cities, the beauty that lingers in small places, and even an amazing meal.

My passion is to seek the magic lurking in every moment you travel to a new place; then let good planning and a dose of serendipity shape as many of the travel moments as possible. And finally, share it with you with a tongue-in-cheek honesty, authentic to my faults, stumbles along the way, and joys.

Thank you for particpating!

Alfred O’Neill

(Author pen name: A.E.S. O’Neill)

—OutspokenTraveler

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Mulcahy’s: Best Diner in Munster, Ireland? No kidding.

And the winners of: Irish Restaurant Awards Munster Regional Final 2025. Mulcahy’s of Kenmare, Ireland is a very good restaurant. The BEST pate I have ever had. And it was chicken, which I normally avoid. I favor duck. From plate one I was grabbed. The chicken chasseur was exquisite…delicate pieces in a creamy sauce baked inside a pastry cup. Perusing the menu, it was one of those moments when you look up from your menu at the other table: “What are…
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Visiting the Mighty Connemara, Ireland: video that speaks to the awe you will feel.

There are a thousand reasons why the Connemara National Park and region are so legendary. The haunting views. The boggy-laden ground that goes on forever. The lonely hikes and walks in the shadow ominous, bulging mountains. The contrast of greens, browns and the blue of the sky as it battles for dominance wit the constant shifting clouds. Then the sun breaks through and you catch your breath. Connemara National Park: try and go off-season; the bumper months are best…
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Visiting N. Ireland and you missed the Shepherd’s Hut of the Sperrin Mtns?

Justine says it best: “At the Shepherds Hut, you just feel like you’re part of nature. There’s almost a mystical feeling about it to me. And that’s what’s so hard to convey in social media, is that it’s not just the views. It’s not just the hot tub. There’s an actual mystical beauty to it that you have to experience.” Justine is from the U.S., but married a local Irishman, so she has a true perspective on the beauty.…
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The Tuareg: Regal Blue Man tribe of the Sahara

The blue man, a Tuareg tribesman, was incredibly tall. Because of his draping blue robes, his long legs seemed like he was gliding across the sand. It was a slow walk past mud buildings to a mosque that was a thousand years old. As he spoke of the mosque’s royal history, gently animated, he held himself in a constant pose of majesty as if he were the entire tribe, and all their ancient collective pride resided in him. The…
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Now why would Nat’l Geographic call the Sperrin’s one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on Earth?

When you see a place so stunning, yet simple in its beauty, you never forget it. So, Instead of me writing about the Sperrin Mountains of Northern Ireland, U.K., let me show you what I saw. National Geographic, as always, was so damned right.
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Seeking Balance? Lagom (Balance) of Kenmare creates a new standard for Irish B&B’s.

Aren’t we all seeking “balance” in a crazy world? Are our vacations a mix of dreams of both relaxation and fun discovery? Lagom in Kenmare, County Kerry, is a great place to find both. Lagom is a special, unique place of food and rest. Stay here. Eat here. Be sure to say hello to Liz and Brendan, the owners and a wonderful team. First, the restaurant then the rooms. When asked about the name, Lagom, Liz said when they…
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Donald’s buggy ride & stories make any day perfect at the Gap of Dunloe. (County Kerry)

A magic buggy ride in the Gap of Dunloe, county Kerry, Ireland. Humor, wild tales, wild wind. Truly by the roadside.
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A great chowder and a smile to remember. The Bervie BnB, Achill Island, County Mayo

The Bervy, BnB.
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Five Days on Henrietta Street, London.

London had changed. As it always does. London has the best and widest variety of boutique hotels. The Henrietta, by the Experimental Group, was a delightful surprise. I took a chance, especially since my significant other had never been to London and a good hotel room is crucial. I had not been since 2019. The toilet was broken upon our arrival, but the staff stepped in, specifically Christina, and proved that good hotels, especially boutiques, are not just about…
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The Hotel Gault of Old Montreal: hip, modern, sleek and oh so comfortable!

Old Montreal is displaced in time; the contrast of the 18-19th century granite architecture that command the entire district, runs counter to the hip vibe, cafes, stores with funky stuff you end up buying for a relative with a laugh. But it starts at The Hotel Gault, (www.hotelgault.ca)in Vieux (old) Montreal…approach it with the same curious solemnity of such a grand old granite building, about 6-7 stories tall, like all the others in the area. It sits at one…
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The mysterious world of Big Sur lighthouse perched 1,000 High on its strange rock

Point Sur lighthouse; I had been to Big Sur for over 20 years and never knew this isolated, exotic monument to the sea was open for visits. A must.
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Brasserie Lipp: A Fallen Classic, Do not go!

The hotel told us the Brasserie Lipp was probably the best one on the Left Bank, on Rue St Germain. It had great, classic Brasserie feel and decorations — and being over 100-years-old, it still held onto that legendary Left Bank feeling. Yes, it seemed a little worn, but it held the aspect of classic era with the pride of an old man yet unbowed. This fantasy balloon popped on the way to the WC — and there was…
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Paris and the Hotel Regina: Gracious, Warm, Luxurious With a Few Surprises

Ah, Paris. Having mainly stayed on the Left Bank, this time we chose the Hotel Regina. A 5-star, former Red Cross headquarters in the heart of classic Paris. The entrance faces the gold statue of Joan of Arc, and to the left of the entrance as you leave, the Louvre. Basically, it sits squarely between Rue De Rivoli and Rue St. Honore — between tchotkes stores and high-end boutiques. It was a cold morning, but the old world chairman…
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The Hotel Gault of Old Montreal: hip, modern, sleek and oh so comfortable!

A grand and stern edifice, opening to large open space and distinct lines of design
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The Gilded Age architecture tour of NY; ground-up in the grip of history.

The massive St Nikolas barber shop, 1850’s NY.
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Ft. Lauderdale’s shining light of authentic northern Italian food: POD!

POD, a northern Italian gem. Truly outstanding. Who doesn’t love good Italian food? And who doesn’t enjoy having the cute young husband (Marco, the chef) and wife dote on you, give you advice, stop by and visit and laugh with their thick English accent. Welcome to POD, Osteria Del Duomo. Marco, as he introduced us to the menu, made it very clear this was Northern Italian food — he waved at the large “Milano”banner hanging above the counter —…
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Spring Mill Cafe, a reliable French restaurant, takes the big dive.

A foodie cries in the dark — Spring Mill Cafe, what happened? Few things are sadder than when a perennial place, a restaurant you have always relied on for good food, takes a dive. You go year after year, you take guests, invite friends and family, and then one Saturday night, bam, the quality falls as fast as a guy getting clocked right on the chin. Such was our recent Saturday night dinner. Going with the usual high expectations,…
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What makes a great hotel room? Ventana Inn cracked the code.

The view from the room over the mountains at sunset
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The renewed, redone, rejuvenating Ventana Inn, Big Sur, California

The renovated Ventana Inn: what was always spectacular is now made better. Ventana is Spanish for window. As you enter the property, near the top of The Hill, you will see a circular sand colored circular sculpture with an empty center. You must pull over and take the time to explore this view, especially through the sculpture hole, and then spin the solid block on its clever stand. Stare long at the Pacific, amid the white caps of waves,…
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Rocca Calascio: Where many movies were made…and the armies march across the plains

When it comes to driving, the Gran Sasso mountains are not for the faint-of-heart. Even the GPS couldn’t handle the remote roads leading in and out of tiny villages clinging like lichen to steep cliffs. Nonetheless, we maneuvered tiny roads the GPS could not find, through villages where you wondered how they survived, to the ruins of one of Europe’s most intact castles, Rocca Calascio, and the amazing, octagon-shaped Chapel of the Madonna perched on the precipice, from which…
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San Stefano di Sessanio: truly medieval, once deserted now reclaimed. (And not too far from Rome).

A view from the bulwarks.
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