Exploring Ireland the Emerald Island
Irish Pasture Land
I can see why Ireland is called the Emerald Island with miles and miles of rolling green pastures; an abundance of cloud cover and rain keeps the island covered in a luxurious green velvet blanket.
Glenn and I spent 10 days exploring Ireland. We began our Ireland journey in Dublin where busking* is famous and pub crawling is a favorite pastime.
Busking on Grafton Street
Grafton Street is alive with the music of the buskers and it is filled with shops and pubs. Of course there are tons of historical sites to visit as well. The Book of Kells and Trinity College were highlights for us.
Book of Kells
We loved the Conrad Hotel; it was absolutely fabulous. The staff was so attentive and helpful; President Biden stayed there a few weeks before us so we were in good company. I can’t recommend it enough. The hotel is right across from Saint Stephen’s Green Park and is a must to visit.
St. Stephen’s Green Park
Our next stop was Galway for a two day visit. Galway is a lovely college community where we met up with an exceptional tour guide, Eva Deegan. The Cliffs of Moher was absolutely magnificent and the zenith of the entire trip. We also got to experience a shepherding demonstration and visited a medieval burial site.
Cliffs of Moher
Of course, being a renowned foodie, our trip would not be considered complete without some type of foodie experience! We visited a couple of fabulous cheese making and a whiskey tastings!
Cheese Maker
Our next stop was Limerick where we had the privilege of visiting the International Rugby Experience Museum which will open sometime this month!
International Rugby Experience
Cork, Audmore, Dungarven and Waterford were all lovely, and unique small cities and villages that we visited along the way; all of them are worth exploring.
St. Fin Barr’s Cathedral, Cork
When you see grass fed beef in Ireland, you know 1000% that the cows, goats and sheep are eating some of the best -and likely the most delicious- grass in the world. Needless to say, this makes for exceptional cheese and dairy products.
Ireland was a perfect place to start our year abroad. The people we met in Ireland are some of the kindest and nicest people we’ve met.
Galway, Ireland
Despite the lack of sunny days, the Irish are happy, proud, generous and open hearted people who love their beautiful Emerald Island! They open their hearts and country to many refugees looking for a new place to call home.
Audmore, Ireland
We are heading towards the sun now and I am really looking forward to getting acquainted with my new home – but Ireland stole a tiny piece of my heart – gray skies, cool weather and all. The smiling faces we met brought their own sunshine to the gloomy days and the fog was no match for the joy of the Irish.
* Busking – the activity of playing music in the street or another public place for voluntary donations.
See more pictures from Ireland below!
Credits
I want to thank my dear friend, Barb Goldsmith, for being the best editor ever and for Cody Polland for all his help and managing and administrating this blog.