Curious Explorer’s Guide: Ireland Edition
Travels in the Emerald Isle
Welcome to Ireland! Like any good travel experience, it won’t just be places you see but things you’ll take with you long after you return home. Ireland is a warm feeling from a pint shared with a stranger, rugged coastline whipped by Atlantic winds, and serene stillness within crumbling stone walls. It’s Ireland’s gift of “craic” to you.
Castles
Sprawling libraries. Dark, dank dungeons. Majestic towers. Stories of kings, queens, war, peace, and rebellion fill Ireland’s castles. While few countries are so steeped in history, Ireland’s castles range from impressively renovated to wonderfully ruinous.
• Blarney Castle: Perhaps Ireland’s most famous castle, it’s where you’ll find the infamous Blarney Stone. Legend says that kissing the block of limestone will bring you the gift of gab. To get to the stone, you must lean backwards while holding onto iron rails. Talk about puckering up!
Fun fact: Winston Churchill supposedly kissed the Blarney Stone. We’ll let you decide if that explains his way with words.
• Dublin Castle: Located in Ireland’s capital city, this castle has played a role in Irish politics for almost 1,000 years. Originally built by the Vikings, the castle you see today is mostly Georgian in architecture.
• Kilkenny Castle: Perfectly situated in a sprawling estate, this castle is every bit as Norman as it is Victorian.
• Trim Castle: The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland also starred in Braveheart. If those stone walls could talk…
Cliffs of Moher
Ireland’s west coast is full of natural wonder, but the Cliffs of Moher are the crown jewel of County Clare. The sheer mass of rock and earth towers 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. On a good day, you can even see the islands of Galway Bay.
When the storms roll in, watch as endless churns of water crash into rocks below. At the edge of the cliffs is O’Brien’s tower, a stone building with windows offering panoramic views of the cliffs. Take it from me: the views here are magical. Bring a jacket; the wind can whip fiercely.
Tip: Go in the morning or evening to avoid crowds.
Pub Culture
If Ireland’s castles are stalwart bones, then pubs are its hearty pulse. Across the countryside, pubs are cheerful gathering places for music, drink, conversation, and food.
When you enter a traditional Irish pub, you can expect:
• Comfort food: Irish stew, soda bread, shepherd’s pie, or seafood chowder if near the coast.
• Fresh Guinness: Creamier and stronger than any Guinness you’ll find outside of Ireland. Fun fact: Guinness estimates over 10 million pints are consumed each day worldwide. But trust us when we say Guinness tastes better in Ireland. It has to.
• Live music: Many pubs feature traditional Irish music. Think fiddles, flutes, and drums known as bodhráns. Don’t know any songs? Don’t worry — just start clapping and tapping your foot along to the music. You’ll fit right in.
In Ireland, to “go to the pub” means much more than to simply drink alcohol. It’s a communal social experience.
Whiskey Trail & Waterford Crystal
From water of life to working with water, Ireland excels at whiskey and glass blowing.
• Whiskey Trail: Whiskey-making facilities like Jameson (Dublin) and Bushmills (Northern Ireland) offer tours and tastings. Whiskey isn’t a quick process, though. Many brands age their whiskey for 10 years or more! But hey, good things come to those who wait.
• Waterford Crystal: Waterford crystal is hand-cut glass that has been produced in southeast Ireland since 1783. Take a tour of the factory and watch expert artisans etch designs into crystal you can shatter with a tap of your fingernail.
Travels in Rural Ireland
From country towns to sprawling farmland, rural Ireland is unique. As you drive through pastures and cow-filled fields, you’ll notice stone walls dividing property lines for as far as the eye can see. Constructed without mortar, some of these stone walls have been around for centuries.
Fun fact: Farmers used rocks gleaned from plowing their fields to construct the walls. Problem solved!
Farmers built the walls as a means to a better crop. Tourists came for the mystery. Now, we come for you.
Blarney Stone
The Irish sure love their superstitions. And kissing strange rocks is apparently one of them. Supposedly, kissing the Blarney Stone grants you the gift of gab (fluent speech). Queuing up to kiss stone isn’t quite as romantic as it sounds, though. You have to lean backwards while holding onto metal rails, with your head hovering precariously over a stone railing.
Is it worth it? Sure. If only for bragging rights. Kissing the Blarney Stone is an experience. And sometimes, we’ll go to great lengths for a story.
Irish Coffee = Guinness
Guinness lovers know you can’t visit Dublin and not stop into the Guinness Storehouse. This multi-story complex is part museum, part history lesson, and part watering hole. And we don’t just mean the beer.
On the top floor is Gravity Bar, which serves Guinness with a view. Grab a seat on the rooftop and drink in (pun intended) the 360-degree views of Dublin. Sláinte!
Fun Fact: Guinness features the Irish national symbol in its logo. That’s right, the harp. But interestingly enough, the government also uses a harp as its official symbol. To avoid confusion (and copyright issues), Ireland’s version faces the opposite direction.
Extra, Extra…Read All About Ireland!
Traveling Ireland is full of sweeping landscapes, but some of the best experiences are small.
• Finding a rainbow over a bog.
• Sheep casually driving traffic down a country lane.
• Ancient stone circles dotting the landscape. Tip: Visit one at sunrise.
• Catching a glimpse of clever pub signs or roadside reminders.
Ireland will sneak up on you. Then one day, you realize it’s filled your heart and soul. So pack your bags, grab your sense of adventure, and get ready for the trip of a lifetime. Ireland awaits!
You Take Ireland With You
You won’t just see Ireland. You’ll drink it. You’ll experience it. But, most importantly, you’ll feel it.
Ireland’s rolling hills, vibrant cities, and natural beauty are sure to capture your heart. So whether you’re climbing down into castle crypts or taking in the view atop a cliff, let yourself breathe it in.
Because when you travel to Ireland, Ireland stays with you.
Go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís, taitneamh a bhaint as an taisteal!
Amy
The Willing Traveler
| have passport will travel
