We eased into the morning with a cozy 10 a.m. brekkie, kicking off what felt like a more traditional kind of Irish day—soft, gray, and a wee bit damp.

After breakfast, we wandered over to the rose garden, where the blooms were as dramatic as they were dreamy. Brian made an enthusiastic attempt to sign up for castle fishing, but the rods, it seemed, were not in his favor.

While Liam snoozed through his first nap, we each took a turn sneaking in some movement. Anna laced up for a run, followed by Brian heading to the gym for a pre-tournament lift and a few solo soccer touches. You never know when scouts might be lurking behind the hedges.

Lunch brought comfort in its coziest form: steaming tomato soup, twirly pasta, and a beet-and-goat-cheese salad. Afterward came our favorite kind of rainy-day moment – blanket lounging beneath the shelter of a tree, Liam playing, with the castle in the background.

With the second nap complete and cheeks thoroughly smushed from sleep, we headed inside to explore the castle properly. Brian made it his personal mission to crash the on-site wedding. No dice this time, but sounds like it’s firmly planted on the forever bucket list.

Dinner was fashionably late and blissfully unhurried, followed by a sweet little finale of dessert on the lawn, toes chilled by the evening dew. Liam, as always, found a second wind just in time for bath splashes and giggles before winding down for bed.