About Faith | Thoughtful Travel in Ireland and Beyond
I am a travel writer based in Ireland, focusing on thoughtful, experience-driven travel across Europe.
For the past decade, I have lived and traveled across Ireland, the United Kingdom, and beyond. My work is shaped by a background in cultural anthropology and a lifelong habit of reading widely, especially in literature connected to place.
I approach travel with a feminist lens and a focus on how culture, history, and everyday life shape each destination. I am less interested in surface-level highlights and more interested in what it actually feels like to spend time somewhere.
This site reflects that approach. It is designed to help you plan trips that are realistic, meaningful, and grounded in experience rather than just inspiration.
A Life Built Around Food, Travel, and Culture
With a degree in Anthropology and Women’s Studies, and more than 30 years working in food, travel writing, and restaurant development, I have always followed one idea.
What people eat tells you how they live.
I have lived in ten countries across Europe and beyond, including Canada and Mexico, and have built a life abroad more than once. These experiences shape how I write about culture, food, and everyday life across Ireland, the UK, and Europe.
Why This Site Exists
XYU and Beyond focuses on slow, accessible travel in Ireland, the UK, and Europe for travelers who want more than quick highlights.
After years of living in Ireland and the UK, I saw how often travel advice overlooks real travel planning needs such as time, energy, mobility, and accessibility.
This site provides:
Ireland travel guides and realistic itineraries
UK travel planning with practical advice
Europe travel guides that go beyond surface level tips
Global Food: cultural insight, food traditions, and local context
Accessible Travel in Ireland, the UK and Europe
I travel with mobility challenges and hidden disabilities, so accessibility is central to everything I write. As a traveler in my 60s, I focus on slow travel, realistic pacing, and practical planning.
Here you will find:
- accessible travel tips for Ireland, the UK, and Europe
- walking distances, steps, and terrain explained clearly
- realistic travel itineraries that avoid rushing
- alternatives when a destination is too demanding
- honest advice about what is worth the effort
Accessible travel should feel possible and enjoyable.
What You Will Find on XYU and Beyond
My expertise is Ireland, the UK, and Europe, places I know through living as well as travel.
Across the site, you will find:
- detailed Ireland travel guides and Ireland itineraries
- UK travel guides covering England, Scotland, and Wales
- Europe travel itineraries including France, Spain, and Italy
- accessible travel advice for Ireland and the UK
- global food guides and culinary travel content
- living abroad guides for Europe including visas, healthcare, and settling in
You will also see the influence of my time in Mexico reflected in the food and culture content, especially in traditional dishes and local markets. You can also read about another of my favourtie topics: women’s history, folklore, and cultural travel experiences
Historic Women who shaped Ireland
Walking the Suffragette Trail in the UK
Chenonceau: The Château of Women Who Shaped an Era
Irish Witches: Folklore and Legends
Fontevraud: Where Eleanor of Aquitaine Reigns in Stone
A More Personal Note
I travel with my husband, a retired postie, and our son is part of our daily life. He lives with a rare autoimmune condition that has affected his vision.
These experiences shape how I approach accessible travel with flexibility, empathy, and realistic expectations.
How I Travel
I enjoy a quiet back lane, but I am just as happy taking a hop on hop off bus if it makes travel easier.
I believe that slow travel in Europe allows for deeper experiences. You do not need to rush to have a meaningful trip. Popular destinations are often worth visiting, and planning well makes them more enjoyable.
Start Planning Your Trip
If you are looking for accessible travel in Ireland, UK travel planning, or Europe travel itineraries, you are in the right place.
Explore the guides, plan at your own pace, and travel in a way that suits your needs.
Your journey starts here.
Slán go fóill.