Ireland was never a high priority on my bucket list of travel destinations; mainly because of the weather… yet ironically, I had the opportunity to go TWICE within a year. I’m so glad I did because it certainly changed my perspective of the Emerald Isle – and who knows how long it would’ve been for me to get their on my own!

While dating an Irish lad from Dublin, he brought me back to his hometown for a friend’s wedding. We toured Dublin in a day (totally doable,) then headed up to County Mayo where we stayed in a charming castle (they have tons!) for the wedding festivities. I experienced a true Irish Wedding- it twas a “Banter” and everyone welcomed me with open arms–which turned into a night of endless singing and dancing. They certainly know how to party!

A few months later, I headed back to Ireland for a week.  My company organized a fabulous tour of Ireland’s west coast and so I was able to check off a lot of the “must see” places. There are still a few more on list to do like Galloway, Cork and Belfast (UK.)

Since the Emerald Island is fairly small, you can see it all within 7-10 days. That being said, they have so much history and live entertainment (in almost every bar) that it’s worth taking the time to enjoy the moment and not just rush from one place to the next.

All in all, Ireland is a mystical destination straight out of a fairytale, with tons of myths to learn about. Its natural beauty is mesmerizing and the weather isn’t always bad. Even when it rained, it provided a warm cozy ambiance that makes you want to curl up next to a fire with some tea. The people I encountered also made our trip better, as they were so charming and proud of their heritage. I found the Irish are happy to educate you on Ireland’s history or sing you a folk song over a cold pint or three.

Getting Around

When Visiting Dublin, you can fly right in to their international airport, however if seeing the west coast I recommend flying in to Shannon.

Rent a Car: Easily accessible at the airports, renting a car is the best way to navigate through Ireland. Not only is it affordable but you also have the freedom to leave when you please and stop the car whenever you want to take in the view or make friends with some animals J

Bus: This is the most budget friendly way of getting around, although not the most luxurious. That being said, it’s great when on a tour with a large group.

Train: Ireland has a railroad system however it doesn’t have accessibility to all cities. If it makes sense for your itinerary I recommend purchasing tickets online as they are cheaper than at the stations.

County Dublin

Dublin is not only the largest city in Ireland, but also the Capital. As mentioned, I only had a day but I had an excellent native lad show me the ropes.

Walking around the cobble stone streets of temple bar was my favorite as the buildings were decorated with flowers, street art and tons of street musicians performing. The only thing I do regret is not having enough time to eat and drink more! Dublin has tons bars and restaurants… I suppose that alone is a great reason to go back.

Sight Seeing

The Old Jameson Distillery: This famous distillery was originally where Jameson was made. They have opened their doors to tourist since 1997 and get over 300k visitors per year. Certainly worth the tour if you’re a whiskey lover…. But you’ll have to wait until March 2017 as it is currently being renovated.

Guinness Storehouse: Ahh, Irelands favorite beer… for 20 Euro you can access 7 floors of Guinness history. Of course they have a bar at the end to quench your thirst.

Temple Bar: This area is also frequently called the “Cultural Quarter.” I’d say this is where all the evening banter occurred and where most tourists want to go to get the real taste of Ireland. As mentioned above, there is something to be seen around every corner whether it’s a beautiful building or a performance.  Make sure to check out the famous Temple Bar Pub!

Stephens Green: Found in the city Center of Dublin, this is one of the largest Georgian square areas. They had a beautiful pond with tons of people enjoying the sun (yes, the sun was out). Along the street sides of the park you’ll find a lot of artist selling their pieces. If you’re interested in seeing more parks, I recommend going to Phoenix Park. I didn’t have a chance to get there but it is the largest in Dublin and even has a zoo.

Stephens Green Shopping center: Conveniently located next to the park, this shopping center, along with Grafton Street is home to some of Irelands best stores and cafes.

The Dawson Pub– Easily missed, this is the smallest pub in Dublin, and probably the world! Enter through the street level, down a spiral staircase and rub elbows at the bar.  It’s a cute must see and great for a bar crawl 😉

Trinity College: Built in 1592 as the “Mother” of a new university, it was meant to compete with Oxford and Cambridge. It’d located near most of Parliament buildings and worth a walk by.

Georgian Dublin– This section of Dublin is famous for their beautiful doors and a perfect spot for a photo op J Back in the Georgian era, people showed off their social statuses buy having elaborate and colorful doors.  It was also interesting to learn that the windows get smaller with the height of the building because that is where the servants lived.

O’Connell Bridge– Famous bridge located in the city center.

County Kerry

Located in the southwest region of Ireland is County Kerry, home to the most well known tourist attractions. After spending a few days here I realized how mystical Ireland really is, especially Killarney. 

Sight Seeing

Ring of Kerry:  This is a scenic route that has both and inner and outer (coastal) path. “The Ring” is a popular day trip and numerous bus companies offer circuits during the summer months.

Muckross House: This estate is found along the stunning Killarney National Park. It’s a 65-room Victorian home built in 1843. You can take a tour of the mansion and learn about the wealthy families that contributed to its unique décor… I also recommend walking around the gardens! They were beautiful!!

Gap of Dunloe: The famous Gap is a glaciated valley miles long, with 5 lakes, mountains, and farmland. There are only a handful of families that have lived here for decades, so it’s really nature at its finest.

This was more of an adventure than a tour. In the misty rain, we took a horse and carriage on the narrow winding roads through the Gap of Dunloe. During certain points we had to get off on foot, and ended up taking a scenic and rough boat ride back to our hotel. It was such a fun experience I didn’t even care how wet I got- plus they fed me some delicious stew once we reached the end at Lord Brandon’s Cottage J

Side note- if you’d like to save some money or get a good work out in, I believe you can also rent bikes in Killarney town or opt to go on foot the whole time.

Killarney town: It’s safe to say this was my stomping ground every night! Both bars and nightclubs were packed regardless of what night of the week it was! We bar hopped around based on which place had a live band performing…. Then ended up at Sheehan’s, which was their nightclub.

Aside from the nightlife, the town had beautiful buildings with tons of restaurants and spots to grab souvenirs -of course I grabbed my spoon here 😉

 

Where to Stay

I stayed at the Europe Hotel & Spa, which is a well known five star hotel located on Kerry’s largest lake, Lough Lein. The property had beautiful gardens and plenty of accommodations. If you go, I HIGHLY recommend a day at their spa!

I noticed that in general, Ireland had a lot of charming B&B places to stay. Sometimes staying at smaller hotels allows you to gain more insight to the culture and learn from the host!

The bustling center of Killarney also had a ton of places to stay, plus its very convenient. A few that stood out to me were: The Eviston Hotel, The Fairview and the International Hotel Killarney  

County Clare

Another mid-west region of Ireland, this is home of the famous Wild Atlantic Way that will have you in awe. Again, Mother Nature at its finest. When traveling from County Kerry to Clare, we detoured off in Cork to see the Blarney Castle.

Sight Seeing

Blarney Castle: Most famously known for kissing the Blarney Stone, this castle is certainly a must see in Ireland. As mentioned, Ireland has tons of myths and this is one to one… apparently kissing this stone will give you the “gift of gab” or the skill of flattery. I wasn’t in the mood to wait in line, as it was a bit long so I didn’t get a chance to kiss it. Instead, I wandered around the castle and the gardens taking photos…

Cliffs of Moher: B R E A T H T A K I N G!!! This was one of those pinch me, humbling moments.  Enjoy the walk along the cliffs and just embrace nature’s beauty as you watch the waves crash against the cliffs and the birds dive in and out of the water.

Don’t get too close to the cliff, as people have fallen off…. I was yelled out for putting my feet over (anything for a photo!)

The Burren: This region is a karst landscape, which is cracked pavement of glacial-era limestone, cliffs, and fossils– It’s one of the only along side the sea. Great spot to check out for a few photos.

Ballyhannon House Horse Riding Stables: What a lovely way to see the countryside! For 50 Euro we were able to ride these beautiful animals for an hour. The stables were very clean and the staff was so friendly they gave us free champagne after! How could anything end badly with champagne??

Where to Stay

Want to feel like a princess on vacation? Stay in a castle! If it’s within your budget I highly recommend staying the eloquent Dromoland Castle.

I knew we were in for a treat as they escorted our bus with foxhounds and horses followed by champagne and treats upon our arrival! Enter the castle and you’re in awe over every detail. Not only was their regular dining food delicious, but they even have a Michelin star restaurant, the Earl of Thomond.

Aside from the major Cliffs of Moher, I didn’t need to leave the grounds of castle. We enjoyed high tea time, the spa, bike riding, fishing, archery and falconry!  They also have a lovely garden where they hold many wedding ceremonies.

General Tips

-You have to eat Fish & Chips and Stew while in Ireland.

– It was hard sticking to my diet in Ireland so if you’re in Dublin, check out Staple Foods for a quick healthy meal! They have two locations; one in Temple Bar & another near the Grand Canal.

– When in Killarney, I had a delicious dinner in the Killeen House. It’s both a hotel and restaurant that is family run. They people were so welcoming and the food was on point!

– Enjoy a medieval dinner in County Clare at Bunratty Castle Mideveil. They had a great dinner and show along with Meade wine (boy is that strong!)

– You’ll need a UK converter

– Bring comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting ruined. The rain can be on and off throughout the day- that’s why I also recommend to dress in layers!

– Ireland is famous for their Knits. I bought a beautiful Poncho for myself, and adorable little booties for my nieces. They are so well made!

– If you’re into golf, there are tons of great spots.  Here are a few that some of my co-workers went to: Ballybunion Golf course, Waterville Golf Links, Lahinch

– If you have a chance certainly try out the following sports: falconry, clay shooting, and archery.

-Learn a few folk songs, and sign along with everyone in the bar! My favorite is “ In Dublin’s fare city, where the girls are so prettyyy….”

– I’m not a big beer drinker, I tried Guinness but Carlsberg is a great light beer that is very well known there.

-Climb a tree- I known, I sound childish… but when you see them you’ll want to too!