My husband and I decided to take a special anniversary vacation this year. Where to go and what to do?
Before we set out to answer these questions, we knew we might hit a snag, mainly because we often have different ideas of what a vacation should be. He always wants tropical and relaxing, and I want mountains and hiking. How were we going to compromise on this?
The short answer — we didn’t. We both did a little reading on popular destinations that year and stumbled upon Ireland as a completely unique choice. So why choose Ireland for vacation?
1. The People
The Irish people are wonderful. They are friendly, welcoming, and fun. They seem genuinely happy that you have chosen to vacation there, and they are interested in taking the time to chat with you.
It’s, of course, helpful that they speak English, but to say that we were didn’t have any difficulties conversing wouldn’t be completely true.
The Irish accent is beautiful and lyrical sounding, but it was tough to understand at times. Luckily, the Irish are not lacking in patience, and when we had to ask them to repeat something, they were happy to oblige.
Also, they use different words to describe things than we do here in America, and we enjoyed learning their lingo. A few favorite translations:
- Beer mat — Drink coaster
- What’s the story? — How’s it going?
- Craic — Fun
- Savage — Really good
- The Black Stuff — Guinness
- Sambo — Sandwich
2. The Scenery
I cannot say enough about this. We drove across most of the country, and all of it is beautiful. Every time you round a corner, there is another breathtaking view waiting for you. Here are a few of the highlights for us.
Dublin
The city has green spaces, historic and modern bridges with interesting construction, incredible architecture, and new trendy areas as well.
You won’t get any tropical beaches, but you can see the water if you take a stroll along the Great South Wall. At one end is the bright red Poolbeg Lighthouse, which has been in operation for more than a century and is one of the most iconic Dublin sites along this path.
The area is also part of the Dublin Bay Biosphere, so keep your eyes open for seabirds, fish, dolphins, and seals.
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel includes several medieval buildings, which sit up on a hill in Country Tipperary. We spotted it while we were still several miles away.
For thousands of years, the Rock of Cashel was a religious site and the home of kings and Vikings. The place’s history makes it one of the most popular tourist sites in Ireland, but the views alone are incredible.
Cliffs of Moher
This was definitely our favorite. The Cliffs of Moher are on Ireland’s west coast, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Aran Islands. It’s a sheer drop, but if you can stomach the heights, it’s well worth a stop. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more stunning natural view.
The best way to enjoy the cliffs — with the sound of crashing waves below and stretches of green fields at the top — is a walk along the paved pathways. Stay on the paths to protect the wealth of flowers and other plant life, as well as the colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds (including puffins).
Ring of Kerry
This is a beautiful road trip around the Iveragh Peninsula. You’ll see lakes and waterfalls, cliffs and castles.
And don’t think that the awe dies down after sunset. Because of its remoteness, the Ring of Kerry area is the only Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve in the northern hemisphere. The stargazing is out of this world.
Blarney Castle
Yes, we kissed the Blarney Stone. The grounds are stunning, and the view from the top of the castle is amazing.
Take note that you are pretty high up while waiting for your kiss. The lady in line in front of us had a panic attack due to the height.
Cool old stuff that appears out of nowhere
This aspect of the scenery amazed me the most because it’s so different from the United States.
Compared to Ireland, the U.S. is a relatively young country. In Ireland, you will find yourself driving down a road, almost any road, and then suddenly you are approaching the remnants of a medieval castle or fortress.
They are frequently just alongside the side of the road. You can walk through some of them, but others are chained off and don’t allow admittance. When we came across the first couple of structures like this, we stopped to take pictures. If we had done this every time, though, we never would have reached our destination.
3. The Food
Before leaving, we were told not to get excited about the food in Ireland. This was completely erroneous information. We had incredibly delicious food the entire time we were there.
That’s not to say that there were not a couple of Irish dishes that we didn’t rate very high, but honestly, I can really only think of two.
- Mushy peas: These are typically served with fish and chips and are exactly as described — green peas that have been mashed up.
- Black pudding: This is a type of sausage that is served as part of a traditional Irish breakfast. Its black color comes from the blood used in its preparation. It also contains oatmeal, which gives it a bit of a gritty texture, and some spices.
But let’s talk about the good stuff! This includes traditional Irish bread, a delicious vegetable stew we ate at a medieval banquet, yummy smoked salmon, and other wonderful types of seafood, including monkfish and shrimp.
The seafood was often cooked in wonderful sauces, accompanied by delicious vegetable options and some of the best salads I’ve had anywhere.
My favorite dish was Irish fish pie, a savory pie filled with seafood, potatoes, and vegetables in a cream sauce. Imagine shepherd’s pie but with fish. I know it sounds weird, but it was flavorful and melted in my mouth.
4. The Weather
This is a tricky one. Ireland can have quite a bit of rain, so you need to do your homework. If you want to go when you will have the greatest amount of sun and have it be fairly warm, the best time to go to Ireland is normally June through July.
The nice thing about Ireland’s weather is there are never extremes in temperature. Head out the door with a light jacket that repels rain, and you’re good to go.
During our trip in June, the temperature was usually in the upper 60s during the day. For us, this was perfect weather for trekking through castles and across the countryside.
5. The Guinness
I would be remiss, and my husband would be really disappointed, if I left this one off the list. Even if you are not a beer drinker, you have to try the Guinness when you are in Ireland. It’s not like any other beer you will ever have. For some reason, and this seems be shrouded in a bit of mystery, the Guinness in Ireland tastes better than anywhere else in the world.
I am not a beer connoisseur, but I can honestly report that the Guinness in Ireland is more flavorful and smooth than any other beer I’ve tried. If you don’t believe me, conduct your own taste test when you get home. We did, and hands down, the Guinness in Ireland wins.
Travel Insurance for Ireland
Any trip abroad comes with risk, but you can avoid the biggest headaches with some planning. Include travel insurance in your preparations and you can protect your money in case of things like cancellations and delays, your health if you get sick or hurt during your trip, and your belongings in the event your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Choose the right travel insurance for your trip to the Emerald Isle by getting a quick quote online or talking to a licensed Seven Corners agent.
