When I come back home from the big smoke, my friends all joke with me about how 'I've changed' (at least I hope it's a joke).
No matter what I say is followed by a tut, or someone sighing 'notions'.
"Cocktails? fancy nightclubs? brunch?, far from that you were raised", they would say. I had the misfortune of showing them Ireland's most romantic glamping spot which featured on Lovin a few months back.
I explained how myself and herself were thinking about staying there and before I had time to explain my reasons why, I was crucified.
"Are you gone soft? Glamping, you wouldn't get that down in Mayo". And as I sank into my high chair and did the same with my pint, I swore to myself that I would find a glamping spot in Mayo that was more awesome than anything that came before it.
I didn't have to look too hard tbh. I typed in Mayo Glamping into Facebook and lo and behold, a page of the same name popped up.
And I couldn't get over the quality of a glamping spot that was pottering around in my home back yard.
It's not just like any other Glamping spot, oh no.
It's a west of Ireland luxury that focuses on creating hobbit huts and cabins but with a modern day twist.
Hidden in the beautiful area of Ballyvary, just ten minutes outside of Castlebar, it takes the hassle out of camping placing people in their own unique and fabulous cabins and huts for the night.
They provide you with your own outdoor fire pit and heating for the night time while also making sure that your belly isn't rumbling in the morning with continental breakfast. There's also a cooking facilities in their Communal Kitchen, however, if you fancy a go at cooking your own.
There's a cooking area for BBQs and making wood fired pizzas and as well as this, for the kids there is an outdoor play area, a selection of board games and a hall for watching movies.
I was interested when I heard it was in my hometown but what really sealed the deal was the bar and spa that was situated beside your living space.
But with beds like this in each place, I think it might be hard enough to get anything done...
You can understand why hens and stag parties are absolutely mad for this place. It's basically like renting out your own little world for a night or two.
They cater for birthdays and friends/family get-togethers too, any sort of occasion really and with a minimum of 15 people, you can have the entire Glamping site exclusively to yourselves.
So the sauna, hot-tub/bar area, outdoor cooking, hall with built-in sound system and projector screen for movie nights, karaoke & discos IS ALL FOR YOUR GANG.
So there's three types of buildings in this Mayo Glamping spot:
There's three different hobbit huts - as seen in the main image - which are €100 to rent out per night - sleeps four people, one double bed and one queen bed.
There's three different wooden cabins - as seen below - which are also €100 a night - also sleeps four people.
And then, there's their special 'Carraiste traenach'/Train Carriage spot.
"Once used for transporting livestock and goods across Ireland in the early 20th century, the railway carriage ended up between 2 fields outside the town of Kinvara, Co. Galway. "In 2014 we moved it to the site, giving it a new lease of life. The carriage can sleep up to 6 people with 2 double beds, and 2 bunk beds with porthole windows, outdoor decking & seating area, cooler box & electrical heating. Being located near the Ballina-Manulla railway line you get the occasional sound of the passing train."
And to finish it all off, there's a Game of Thrones toilet on site.
