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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The best diner in Ft Lauderdale (and we know diners!)

Egg ‘n You…been around since 1956 and as diners go, and we have gone to several in Ft Lauderdale, and come from a diner city (Philly) this is a true gem. We have been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while it is diner food, it is the highest quality. What does that mean
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Ft. Lauderdale: Grill 66…superlative steak and fish, on the edge of pretentious but just misses it!

When we visit Florida, we tend to make Ft. Lauderdale our base, we say this for reasons not worth going into other than to explain to readers why restaurants in this city versus others are the focus of reviews. (Though there are an enormous number and range of restaurants). Of the 20 or more restaurants
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Business (true) Class: a chef and a bed! What more could you want?

Austrian Airlines (#austrianairlines)…Business Class was truly classy, with a chef and bed! We rarely can afford Business Class, but we decided for this overnight flight, we’d splurge. But this was like being a fine dining experience that had a bed, and a many wearing a chef uniform and hat (photo below)! The food was amazing,
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London at Christmas: five nights, four restaurants and High Tea

The Christmas lights of London were amazing — every major street and many small lanes and mews had different styles. You would turn a corner and be stunned. These were the angels of Regent Street, #regentstreetlondon
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Vienna at Christmas time: the marvels of Marts and Mozart

Summary: 5 nights in Vienna, Austria. A great trip. Easy, full of rich experiences. Holiday cheer and wonder on every corner. The structure of this post will be: Overview (#vienna #viennachristmasmarts #viennaatchristmas) The people Christmas marts Monuments: St Stephens cathedral, Schoenbrunn palace, Albertina museum Food Tips (Especially visiting a city in winter) Overview, the city
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Mica: delicate, thoughtful, delicious

Can food be thoughtful? I wondered that because while you know chefs put much thought into their menus, how much of it is based of a mix of intuition, tastes and the atmosphere they are trying to create. Micas tiny menu, smallish space, General air of decorum and thoughtful food all combine to provide a
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Lobster Pot: the sweetest lobster and people (and yes, wear a bib!)

On an island where nothing is cheap, and meals represent the lionshare of a day’s spending, where and what you eat needs to be heavily researched. On Bermuda, you can overpay easily for a good meal pretending to be great; and likewise, you can pay a fair amount for a great meal in a divey
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Tavern on the Hill “A gem of an ole pub with great food.”

This gem is like an ole fashioned British pub with fair-size table seating in the rear. The host is this older gentleman who always has a smile, a warm laugh, a gentle manner and an open seat if he can find one; and not much of a wait if he can’t. Food? Very good pub
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Kasha-Katuwe, Tent Rocks: THE magical park of New Mexico

You get to the top, you turn, and turn and turn and you are part of the entire overwhelming immensity of the raw Southwest and the nearer almost silly and fantastical looking towers: you are in awe. Touring in New Mexico, and the Tent Rock park comes up near or at the top of things
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BERMUDA: Elbow Beach stunning beaches and so close to the US people forget this incredible gem.

A Labor Day weekend in Bermuda. Another of those amazing places that one must visit in a lifetime. Yet, while it was once the place for honeymooners from the U.S to go, and was incredibly popular for decades, it has somehow lost its place in the consciousness of travelers. Yet that is an awful mistake
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Bermuda’s new get-around, the amazing Twizy!

On Bermuda, tourists cannot rent cars; either motor bikes or cabs. The cabs are ungodly expensive, though the drivers are always fun and incredibly informative. The motor bikes are fun, but not for the faint f heart (and I fell off mine twice). But as of this summer, the island resorts have introduced the electric,
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Wandering Lancaster, PA: America’s oldest hard pretzel-maker, Sturgis a true, delicious gem

A sunny fall Saturday and nothing as quaint or rolling-hill-beautiful as Lancaster, PA. We went for the Strasburg Railroad Museum, which is one of the truly great collections of those massive engines and their designer cars. But it was also Thomas the Engine day, and fun as that seems, too many people, strollers and lines.
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