While there is a photo op around every corner in Ireland, here are four “must see’s.”
PHOTO MAURA LEWANDOWSKIEveryone has heard the songs and felt Irish for a day on March 17th, so why not immerse yourself in the grand culture this year? On a recent weeklong trip to Ireland, I discovered that the locals really aim to welcome every traveler, and that potatoes are a diet staple.
1. Giant’s Causeway
Giant’s Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Northern Ireland. The area is made up of about forty thousand basalt columns that were created by an ancient volcanic eruption. In true Irish fashion, there is a much more interesting fable about Finn MacCool, the giant who built the causeway to Scotland to challenge a Scottish giant. The Causeway is a great trip for everyone. Those who are more adventurous can climb onto the columns. There are paved paths there for those who prefer to see the history from the ground up. I saw the Causeway through a Railtour Ireland tour from Dublin, and it was a truly fabulous day tour.
PHOTO MAURA LEWANDOWSKI2. Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness Storehouse makes almost every “must visit in Ireland” list and with good reason. The Storehouse is seven floors of information that is entertaining to not only the beer enthusiast, but also any consumer. My favorite part was watching the past and present Guinness advertisements and learning where all of the various campaigns came from. Finally, after all of the hard work of reading and learning, every visitor gets to enjoy a pint in the Gravity Bar, which has a fabulous view of Dublin.
3. B&Bs
The best way to spend your nights (after a pint and some traditional music, of course,) is in the comfort of a bed and breakfast. It was wonderful to speak with the friendly owners, who were more than welcoming and were also very helpful. I have to recommend the Carranross House in Killarney. My stay was affordable and the owner even drove me to the bus station so I could make my bus to Galway!
PHOTO MAURA LEWANDOWSKI4. Stumble upon some traditional music
Anyone traveling to Ireland must go enjoy some good times in a pub. And if you can find one with traditional music, your experience will be even better. In the biggest cities in Ireland, (namely Cork, Galway, and Dublin,) it is easy to find a pub where you can eat dinner and then stay for a live music session every night. Every local has his or her favorite spot, so don’t be afraid to ask where the best pub for live music is!
