Beautiful Coastal village of Kinvara in Ireland

My son had an away soccer match yesterday in the Beautiful seaside village of Kinvara. He plays for an under 13 team, but also plays up with one of the U14 twams which is great for his development.

While in Kinvara, I said why not go for a walk around, as I dropped him at 3pm and the match wasn't due to kick of until 3:45pm and amazingly it was actually dry!

For those unfamiliar with this Galway town, Kinvara sits at the edge of Galway Bay where the grey limestone of the Burren meets the raw rough Atlantic ocean, and locals will tell you there’s a quiet kind of magic in the place that visitors sometimes miss at first glance. The harbour is the heart of it, especially in the evening when the tide moves slowly past the pier and the light turns soft over the water. Looking across to Dunguaire Castle, you’re reminded how old this little village is.

Indeed I met a local on my walk who told me that centuries of fishermen, farmers and storytellers all left their mark on this place. Even on an ordinary day, there’s something calming about the rhythm of boats rocking in the harbour and the smell of salt coming in from the bay.

What makes Kinvara special to people who live there isn’t just the scenery, though, it’s the feeling of the place.

As you can see from my photos, the village is small enough that you’ll always meet someone you know walking down the street or stopping for a chat near the pier.

I found these chilled out donkeys on my little walk, which were very friendly and approachable.

I'm told that In summer the place comes alive with music, visitors, and the colour of sails out on the bay, while in winter it settles back into a quieter rhythm where the wind and sea seem closer.

I imagine the locals grow used to the beauty, the sunsets over the water, the stone walls stretching toward the Burren, the castle watching over everything.