Ireland
Ireland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean and part of Europe, is the second largest of the British Isles and third largest in Europe. The Cliffs of Moher, Giant’s Causeway, Guinness Storefront, River Liffey, Kilkenny Castle, and Trinity College are just some of the sights this lush green island has to offer. Northern Ireland is still part of the UK and day tours to Belfast from Dublin is one of the options to seeing that region.
Dublin
O’Connell Street is one of the thoroughfares through Dublin. As you walk along this lively street, make your way to O’Connell Bridge, and enjoy the views of River Liffey. Located on the other side of the bridge is the famous Temple Bar nightlife district. Pick one of the many bars and enjoy a pint of Guinness while listening to live music. O’Connell Street is filled with souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, and clothing shops. During December, the streets and buildings throughout the city are decorated with Christmas lights.
Guinness Storefront
A trip to Ireland is not complete without enjoying a Guinness while overlooking the city. A visit to the storefront, located at St. James Gate, Dublin, includes the history of Guinness and as well as its production process. After you are done making your way through the 7 floors, you will end up at the Gravity Bar located at the top. Finally, have your Guinness(included with the ticket) and take in the 360 degree view.
Nightlife
I suggest making a visit to Temple Bar Pub and The Brazen Head. The two bars are not in the same area of Dublin but nonetheless, have their own significance. Temple Bar Pub is located in the nightlife district close to O’Connell Street and has the largest whiskey collection in Ireland. This is a must visit for Whiskey drinkers.
The Brazen Head, on the other hand, is located in Usher’s Quay district and is Dublin’s oldest pub(established 1198). You can buy a shirt from here to take home as a souvenir. Additionally, if you are Guinnessed out, enjoy an Irish Coffee, which you can find in several variations. https://brazenhead.com/
Shopping
Ireland is well known for their wool industry. The fact that they produce wool goods locally means quality wool can be found at a decent price. I recommend picking up an Irish wool scarf at one of the many clothing and souvenir shops.
Accommodations
I have been to Ireland on two separate trips. During the first trip, I stayed at Hotel St. George. This hotel was close to O’Connell Street but at the other end opposite of O’Connell Bridge. For the second trip, I chose Arlington Hotel. I enjoyed this hotel a lot more and would definitely stay there again. A spacious bar, in-house restaurant, live music and a great crowd are just some of the great things about it. Lastly, it has an excellent location as it is close to River Liffey and O’Connell Bridge.
Transportation
Cars drive on the left side of the road. This was one of the deciding factors when I was debating renting a car. Additionally, accommodations in Dublin do not usually have their own parking lot so a rental car would have to be parked off site at a separate lot(an additional expense). Taking public transportation and doing organized tours is the easiest way to see the sights. The public busses go to countryside and the tours give you history and facts about a destination you would otherwise not get.
Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s most famous sights. Notably, these jaw-dropping vertical cliffs are 702 feet high and have the best views on a clear day. The Cliffs of Moher is a UNESCO Global Geopark site. I took a day tour from Dublin and unfortunately, the weather was overcast and rainy. Even though it was inclement weather, I was still able to appreciate the sights.
Giant’s Causeway
Giant’s Causeway, located on the Antrim Coast, is a nature preserve consisting of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. These columns were formed as a result of volcanic eruption. The name, Giant’s Causeway, originated from Irish folklore. According to this folklore, Finn MacCumhaill, a giant, built it as a causeway to the Scottish Island of Staffa.
This UNESCO World Heritage site is accessible via hiking which takes about 25 minutes (blue trail). You can use different trails depending on how difficult you want the hike to be. The blue trail is the most direct route as well as your starting point if you are on an organized tour. Giant’s Causeway was part of a day trip from Dublin which included a tour of Belfast (highly suggested). Another cool thing about this spot is that there is no entrance fee to access this preserve (as of Dec 2022).
Kilkenny
This castle is located in Kilkenny, a medieval town in the Southeast Region. Kilkenny is about 2 hours via public bus. I did not go to Kilkenny with the intent of visiting the castle but rather to visit the Smithwick’s Experience. Smithwick was bought by Guinness and is now being produced in Dublin, however, the original factory is still open.
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is a popular stop on a Cliffs of Moher day trip from Dublin. Located in Bunratty City on the Clare countryside, it is the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland.
