Reminiscing About My Trips To Ireland

*Skip the intro if you want to get to the good stuff! I won't be mad :)

I know I haven’t written a post in a while and I think its mainly because I've been constantly overthinking what I should write about. Usually I’ve tried to bring up topics that are not only relevant to myself and where my interests lie but relatable/on track with current trends I’ve researched that my audience would prefer to see…and then comes along all the SEO keywords & phrases I add in to help increase traffic to my blog. (for those of you who do not know what SEO is, here is a link explaining)

But instead... I’ve decided I just want to take a break on following my usual marketing tactics and purely write this post for the sake of simply enjoying the topic and talking about it.

COVID still dictating everyone’s lives, this year has been a blur with a sh*t ton of things changing. This fall I was supposed to go to Ireland with my boyfriend - would have been my 3rd visit- but obviously it was no longer an option because of the pandemic/travel restrictions. So rather than harping on all the negatives COVID has brought on, I want this post to be about my happy daydreams and memories of my previous visits to this country.

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| Before I get into the different cities I've visited in Ireland, I just want to say that the people of this country are the nicest people I've ever met. Not kidding. Every place I went to, the people were welcoming and truly genuine which overall made my experiences there unforgettable. I also appreciated that this country's way of life is very different from the U.S.'s. No duh, these people drink too much - they're Irish- but there the people have more of a life to cherish with friends and family instead of dedicating themselves solely to their work and careers. It was refreshing.

As for the country itself, Ireland was breathtaking; from the oceanside cliffs, cobblestone city streets, to the green countryside meadows. I honestly can't put into words how the Ireland's beauty made me feel so you'll just have to visit yourself to find out...once the pandemic is over. |

Dublin

I actually visited Dublin on my second visit to Ireland; my first trip was for a short-term study abroad program. My best friend & I decided to do a random trip to Ireland one day when we were sitting around our college house's kitchen table- what a great epiphany. So, May eventually came around & we headed off to the airport, basically nothing planned out but our booked Airbnb's throughout the country. I think the best thing about this trip was that we literally had nothing planned..

Anyway, once we arrived at the Dublin Airport, made it to our Airbnb, and spent the first couple days venturing around the city of Dublin. I'm not kidding you, I am positive I saw more pubs lining the streets than any work/business buildings. It was lovely. :) 🍻

Highlights

Guinness Factory- You need to visit the Guinness Factory in Ireland. No excuses. Both me and my friend, Gabby had no clue what to expect visiting the factory but once we got in, it was fascinating to see all the history the building laid out on Guinness beer. The factory made up of different levels, the first floor went through how the beer is actually made, the second floor dedicated to the evolution of the beer's advertisement, to the third and fourth floors created more for entertainment purposes. I don't want to give too much away because each floor had its own unique surprises but just know each level you climb, the more exciting the experience gets. You'll also learn how to pour a perfect Guinness, as well as, visit the top floor which has amazing panoramic views of Dublin while you drink your freshly poured beer.

The Temple Bar- We had so much fun here. SOOOO much. The Temple Bar is one of the most, if not, the most famous bar in Dublin. Of course, it did have a lot of tourist inside- including me and Gabby- but it didn't matter, the atmosphere was great, a combination of Irish and pop music played throughout the night, and everyone we met was fun to chat to.

Galway

Stating a fact here: this is Ireland's best city. Not that Dublin wasn't great but I feel like this city is so underrated in comparison; yet everyone I've spoken to that's visited Galway loved it as much as I have. During the day, all the shops were fun to visit and by evening, the pub scene was amazing. I have so many good memories of just friendly local people helping us feel welcomed and joining their friend groups for the night. I know that may sound sketchy but I promise you it wasn't. Gabby and I became friends with a group of girls celebrating one of their birthdays. I think I may still have her on Snapchat??? But anyway, again, the people in Ireland are beyond friendly.

Highlights

The Local Market- I can't remember what days we were in Galway but off the main strip there were tents after tents making up a local market with foods (Gabby & I ate a cup of different cheeses. lol.), paintings, handcrafted jewelry, etc. All stations we walked to, the people were overwhelmingly nice and were genuinely happy to chat with us.

Night Life- This is a broad statement but I can not remember any of the names of the pubs we went to... but what I can say is I had fun at all of them. If you ever decide to visit, don't be afraid of smaller local bars; me and Gabby's Airbnb host recommended one of her favorite pubs and we ended up spending the whole night jamming out to 2000s pop played by a band.

Tattoo Shop- From my first experience in Ireland, I always wanted to go back and get a tattoo that reminded me of my experience there. This 'highlight' is a little more personal but it's a great memory of mine. My tattoo reads in Gaelic," "Éist léis en tír", which translates in English to, 'Listen to the land". I had taken a religion class in Ireland and from that class and my visit, the phrase means so much to me- I'll explain its meaning in another post. Also, yes, it's correct Gaelic and not Google translate-thanks to my professor for giving me the correct translation.☘️

Cliffs of Moher- The Cliffs of Moher are not located in Galway but Gabby and I stumbled upon a random bus tour to this destination. I can honestly say it was one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen. There was something so raw about this landscape, it almost didn't feel real.

Dingle

Dingle! This city makes me smile just thinking about it. Anyway, my first trip to Ireland had been to Dingle, therefore it'll always have a special place in my heart. I have so many great memories in this city, I'm not sure what to even bring up as a highlight; I do want to thank all the girlies though, that I met while studying abroad who added to my wonderful memories. But for anyone visiting, this is a quaint city with a strong local community with scenic views surrounding. It's also one of the last regions in Ireland that fluently speaks Gaelic.

Highlights

Murphy's Ice Cream- I have nothing to say besides get a large cup of the sea salt flavored ice cream. You won't regret it.

Landscape- Everything about this area was beautiful, from the school building I had my class in, the field trips we took, to the colorful buildings lining the streets. I'd visit this place again in a heart beat.

Pubs- The best drink I have ever had in my long 24 years alive on this planet was at Dick Mack's in Dingle, Ireland. Gabby and I to this day rave about this drink and never once were we able to recreate it. It was some sort of Gin & Tonic, possibly called the Dingle G&T? Not sure but well worth trying. We may also have missed our flight back to America because of this drink but if you were to ask my parents, our phone alarms didn't go off.... Also, visit the yellow pub on the street corner- you'll know what I'm taking about if you ever go.

So..... knowing that we still can't travel, maybe just save this article for later? I also want to mention that I have learned a lot from these past 2 visits and I eventually want to write a list of all the things you should know if you ever decide to visit yourself. I loved every moment of being in this country & I'm sure you would, too. 🤍

Until we can travel again, daydream on. ☁