Days 56-58; A Holiday is a Holiday, even 20 minutes from home.

 

Music and dancing have been at the heart of my family for as long as I can remember. We learned to waltz and jive not in fancy dance halls, but around the kitchen floor at home, with Mam and Dad leading the way. They were beautiful dancers, and thanks to them, we’ve all carried that love of music with us into adulthood. So it’s no surprise that we often head off to country music weekends whenever the mood strikes us. We've travelled the length and breadth of Ireland and even made it to Spain a few times for a good dance and a bit of craic.

It's a good job I know how to jive. These weekends are the only places you're still asked " Are ya dancin'?" and then you might be swirled around like a cement mixer!

So when word reached us of a "good one" coming up, there wasn’t much debate about going. Well… there was just one small question: this particular weekend was taking place in Trim, a mere 20km down the road from us. Did we really need to pay for two nights in a hotel practically on our doorstep? We pondered it for all of five seconds and said, "Why not? A hotel is a hotel, no matter where it is. And if we forget anything or leave the immersion on, sure we can just nip back!"

And so it was that I found myself packing a suitcase for my 'holiday' in Trim.

I can confidently say it was worth every euro. The Knightsbrook Golf Resort and Spa is absolutely beautiful. 

We were wined and dined, serenaded with great music, spoiled with a few drinks, and surrounded by like-minded people who, like us, were simply there for the fun and the laughter.

On Saturday morning we went for a stroll around the grounds, being careful to avoid all low flying golf balls!

Then we popped into town to meet our other brother for lunch. It was lovely to break up the weekend with a bit of family catch-up. 

I mean it's not like he lives a million miles away!

But I have to say, one of the unexpected highlights came on Sunday morning when I woke up with that familiar dread: “Oh lord, I have to drive home. I’m wrecked.” Then the penny dropped… “But it’ll only take 20 minutes!” Happy days.

It just goes to show — it’s not about how far you travel, or how exotic the destination is. It’s about the people you’re with, the music in your heart, and the laughter shared along the way.

A great weekend. A great reminder: a holiday is a holiday, even if it’s practically in your own backyard