Discovering Ireland: Castles, Coastlines, and Culture

We had been planning this trip for eighteen months, and we were excited to finally embark on the adventure. We included a College Football game and a visit to Scotland in our itinerary. Eight family members joined us on this journey.

We met at the Atlanta airport for our direct Delta flight. We landed in Dublin at 8:00 am. A minibus transported us to our hotel in the Temple Bar neighborhood. We stayed at the Temple Bar Inn, one of the few hotels available when we booked eleven months ago. The location and service were excellent, but the rooms were disappointing—extremely small. The pictures on their website and travel sites don't match the unfortunate reality. Never again. As mentioned earlier, we were there for a football game, and with 28,000 Americans in the city, most hotels were sold out or unavailable when we made our reservations.

We set down our luggage, strolled around Temple Bar, and enjoyed lunch at the Quays, a classic Irish pub known for its lively atmosphere and delicious food. Later, we walked to Dublin Castle, situated at the highest point in central Dublin. While the castle isn't visually stunning, its historical significance makes it interesting.

The following day, we set out from the hotel and began our exploration at Trinity College, one of the seven historic universities in Great Britain and Ireland. The college is renowned for its library and the Book of Kells, though sadly, part of it was closed during our visit due to renovations, with many books temporarily removed. We returned to Temple Street via Grafton Street, a hub of shopping in Ireland since the Victorian era. This pedestrian-only street is lined with charming townhouses and ground-level shops.

We dined at the Thunder Road Café, an enjoyable spot for American cuisine right in the heart of Dublin. On our return to the hotel, we stopped at the Palace Bar, a renowned pub situated just opposite our hotel. It boasts a fantastic atmosphere and isn't overly touristy. Later, we all enjoyed live Irish music at the Oliver St. John Gogarty pub, which was great fun with a blend of locals and international guests.

On our final day in Dublin, we joined the Big Bus tour, which guided us through the city. We explored the Christ Church Cathedral and Dublinia, a museum dedicated to Viking and medieval history, situated where Dublin's Viking settlements were once located. Later, we strolled to St Patrick's Cathedral. The bus made stops at many renowned sites, including the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery. We reserved a table for dinner at Red Torch Ginger, a Thai restaurant near Trinity College known for its lively atmosphere and contemporary Asian cuisine.

We woke up early the following morning to catch our pre-booked train to Cork, which took a couple of hours. In Cork, we stayed at the Address Hotel, an older establishment that has recently undergone refurbishment. It is promoted as a luxury, four-star hotel. Our room was located in the older section of the building and appeared not to have been renovated. The restaurant was very pleasant. Overall, the service at this hotel is quite slow, from the front desk to the restaurant, but since we only stayed one night, it was acceptable. After checking in, we took taxis to the Blarney Castle, a medieval structure famous for the Blarney Stone, which is said to grant eloquence to those who kiss it. The stone is situated at the top of the castle, and it took us nearly an hour to queue and to finally kiss it. The experience was unique, but I wouldn’t do it again. It rained all day, so we took a taxi to have dinner in the city, about ten minutes from our hotel. Being a Monday night, most restaurants and pubs were closed. We dined at The Oliver Plunkett pub, which offered hearty food in a traditional Irish pub setting.

Our journey then led us to Galway. Since traveling from Cork would require two train transfers, we opted for a coach instead. We selected the Irish Citylink service, known for its modern buses and Wi-Fi access. After a three-hour ride, we reached our hotel in Galway, conveniently situated directly across from the coach station. We stayed at the Hyde Hotel, which boasts a prime location, a pleasant bar area, and attentive staff. That's about it.

We spent three nights in Galway. On the first evening, we enjoyed drinks at O’Connell, a pub established by the O’Connell family in 1862. The beer garden was once a stable yard where horses were fed and watered. For dinner, we went to the An Pucan pub, just a short walk away. We sampled the Thai Red Spiced Chicken and the Cajun Chicken Penne Pasta, which were so delicious that we returned the next night. The music and atmosphere were also delightful.

We had arranged tours through Viator for the following two days. The first destination was Connemara National Park, a natural site celebrated for its scenery and cultural significance, covering almost 7,400 acres. Our primary visit was to the Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery famous for its beautiful architecture, vibrant gardens, and rich history. Although it was a lengthy day on the bus, our driver and guide provided a wealth of information, making the tour highly enjoyable.

The following day, we had a shorter tour. They simply took us to the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland's most remarkable coastal landmarks. We spent a few hours there before heading back to Galway.

Our tours in Galway were both subcontracted to Lally Tours, a local coach company. They demonstrated great professionalism, and we felt secure on their buses, particularly given the nature of the roads they navigated.

On our final evening in Ireland, we dined at McSwiggan’s Steak and Seafood restaurant. The ambiance was excellent, and the steaks were cooked to perfection. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at this restaurant.

The following morning, we boarded the Citylink coach to reach Dublin airport, a journey that lasted 2 and a half hours. This bus is a quicker option since there are no direct train routes from Galway to Dublin airport.

We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Ireland. Everyone in our group had an amazing time. The scenery was stunning, the people were wonderful, and the music in the pubs was authentic.