Hi babes! How is everyone?
I’m so excited to be back adding to my Travel tab here on the blog since, although it’s been quite some time, it is my favorite topic to write about. I’ve been home for about two weeks (feels like less since my suitcase is still on my bedroom floor, unpacked…) from the beautiful Emerald Isle and all I can say is what a country. You guys, it would take me about 6 blog posts just to jot down everywhere we went and all the amazing sights to see so I’m going to save you all the time and write about the absolute best spots to visit, tips and tricks, and stories within 2 posts. So without wasting any time, let’s get into it!
On a scale of 1-10 of how much I think you should visit this lovely country my score would be pretty up there, around an 8-10. Ireland is like all of the beautiful European countrysides put together into one country. Dublin is the only city that may feel a little overwhelming (if city culture isn’t your thing) but besides that your trip can be as relaxed or as sightseeing filled as you so choose. If you’re in desperate need of an abundance of clean air (which living outside of NYC, I of course was) this should be your next travel stop. Don’t let the talk of rain deter you as you will probably get lucky and have at least a few great days but of course still bring that umbrella. 😉
My best advice for anyyy country is always this: knowing or meeting locals is the best tour you’ll ever get. Always. Our first part of the trip was spent with family friends while the rest of the 7 days remaining was an actual organized tour of Ireland. As great as tours are, reaching out to people you know who live, have lived in, or even visited a country for an extended period will always lead you to the most authentic places. While staying with our Irish friends we saw the cutest little towns around Ireland and places that you would just drive through when on a tour. Don’t get me wrong, our tour was amazing and truly authentic but the intimate experiences of discovering a country with locals are always so much more genuine. Even if for just a few days.
The best part of Ireland is that no matter what cities and towns you decide to visit you’re going to still experience the culture that dates back to early A.D. times as it’s evident everywhere. We started off in Maynooth, a suburb outside of Dublin, which was a great little local town with the cutest charm. Our family friends treated us to everything from a “full Irish breakfast” (an actual term you’ll see on menus) to bringing us to afternoon tea at cafés that looked like they were straight off a street in Paris. The best gastronomical wisdom I learned is fish & chips tastes best from take-away restaurants (so think fast food… my Jerseyans think dinner food) and it for sure does. Take it to true Irish levels by adding salt and malt vinegar to your chips and/or try a little garlic mayo, a condiment it seems that the Irish swear by.
(Quick Irish lesson:Â fries= chips, chips=crisps. Simple enough, no?)
One of the biggest adjustments coming from America was being driven around on the opposite side of the road. You get fairly acquainted to it as the day goes on but the one thing that makes a big difference is when you’re crossing streets…
(Quick Irish lesson: look the opposite direction before crossing the street)
A pleasant (and less scary) change in this little country is unlike the east coast… and everywhere in the states… where to get around you hop on an interstate or highway (Garden State Parkway I’m looking at you) in Ireland you can count the number of motorways on 1 hand. The rest are narrow roads that spread vastly across the country and make for great views. The type of views that make touring around the country less of a journey and more of an experience. This leads me into our first full day in Ireland where we took a little road trip to Clonmacnoise and the town of Athlone on the Shannon River to explore the town and have a drink at Sean’s Bar: Ireland’s supposedly oldest bar (a claim more than one establishment loves to boast). At night we did a small drive through Dublin and stopped at Phoenix Park, a great spot to check out even if only for 20 minutes.
After our time exploring the suburbs of Dublin we started our tour up in Kingscourt, about 30 minutes from the Northern Ireland border (so almost as far north in “Irish” Ireland as you can go before crossing into British territory). Cabra Castle is where we stayed for the night which is certainly a hit or miss depending on your preferences. All the quarters of the castle have been made into hotel rooms so if medieval style castles are your passion this is your kind of place. If you’re into haunted castles, this is even more up your ally. It was an experience to stay the least and at the very least you can say you stayed like royalty for the night.
The next day we continued on to County Offaly for a true Irish experience. I mean if you don’t visit a whiskey distillery in Ireland did you really go to the country? Our first true tourist stop was at Tullamore Dew. I’m not a Whiskey drinker but how can you pass up true Irish whiskey? Verdict: still not a whiskey drinker. Definitely a great stop though if you want to visit a town in County Offaly and discover a little Irish drinking culture. Not to forget, Jameson’s brewery is in the heart of Dublin if that’s more up your ally.
(Quick Irish lesson: Sláinte! (Slawn-cha)= Cheers)
Well after our little buzz had died down we continued onward to the city of Limerick. Point to note: cities in Ireland aren’t near close to what they are anywhere else. I would compare Limerick to Hoboken… maybe. However, in Ireland it is one of the bigger cities. After all my many previous nights of fish & chips we decided to try some Irish Chinese food after a recommendation of it being one of the best restaurants in the city. It was nice to get a change in the taste palette and experience a little more local dining establishment. Indian cuisine is also prominent in Ireland so once you’re Shepard’s pie’d out check out some non-Irish cuisine in the city centers. If in Limerick, I highly recommend a stay in The Savoy to enjoy a stay like a (modern) royal.
Last but not least (for part 1 that is 😉 ) from Limerick we made our way over to the Cliffs of Moher, a pure tourist destination but beautiful nonetheless. If you want your fear of heights (and grips on your shoes) to be put to the test visit here and better yet visit on a rainy day. Chances are high that if you’re in Ireland you’ll be making some tourist stops on a rainy day… and this was our day. Although it wasn’t ideal, the cliffs were still visible through the fog and the walk along the cliffs was just as challenging as it sounds. This natural phenomenon is a must-see, as is the Wild Atlantic Way you take to get there. If you look hard enough you may even be able to see Canada across the ocean (kidding) but it’s fun to think about what’s literally on the other side of the sea. While over at the Cliffs of Moher it’s worth taking a drive or staying the night in Galway to check out another one of Ireland’s major cities. It’s a great city to explore and worth purchasing a Claddagh ring in since they originated here. The more you know.
(Quick Irish lesson:Â “You can experience all 4 seasons in 1 day.” Never go anywhere without an emergency rain jacket)
Our next stop was in Killarney. One of my personal favorite stops on the trip. I’ll insert an intermission here so you can catch up on your note taking and join me on part 2 of my adventures once posted HERE. 🙂
P.S. if you don’t want to read the complete recounts of all my Ireland destinations, check out the list of places I visited and recommend that will be linked HERE.
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