I found myself in the land of lush rolling hills, Guinness, and the birthplace of the greatest girl band in history – B*witched – a few months ago and I am already ready to go back. Being in Ireland feels like being in your favorite hometown bar. You’re surrounded by people you “know”, the drinks are flowing, the live music never ends, and the bartender suddenly becomes a close friend.
So whether you are making a quick trip over the pond or taking a full Irish vacation, these were are the top highlights of our trip (a little Irish cheat sheet):
Pour yourself a glass of Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse.
You can’t go to Ireland and not have a glass of Guinness. So you might as well pour yourself a glass of Guinness AT THE Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.
As far as big name tours go, this was the best one I’ve visited. The history behind Guinness is fascinating, and you’ll be surprised how involved the Guinness family was with the growth of Dublin – and just how many Guinness commercial you’ll recognize. I would recommend allotting 3-4 hours here. There’s a lot to see, a lot to do, and some beer to be drank — and that’s not something you want to rush.
The highlight of the tour is the tasting room on the top floor. You are able to enjoy a glass of Guinness with a 360 degree panoramic view of Dublin. With that, I would recommend taking the tour in the morning, as the Storehouse can get quite busy.
Beer isn’t your drink of choice? Be sure to plan yourself a trip to the Jameson Distillery (and have a tasting – or two!)
Feel like a Hogwarts Student at Trinity College.
This was our absolute first stop in Ireland, as in straight from the plane to Trinity College. This campus brings all the old charm of Ireland to life. Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I and has numerous notable alumni, including Oscar Wilde and Ernest Walton.
Trinity College Library contains over 6.2 million printed volumes, including the Book of Kells, which is on display. No pictures are allowed in this portion, but I cannot stress how astounding it is. The illustration and detail of the book is unimaginable for something that is completely hand-drawn (it is believed to have been created in 800 AD).
After the Book of Kells, I recommend moving along to the Long Room in the library. It could be mistaken for Hogwarts, absolutely magical. Floor to ceiling lined with books – it even smells of books!
Make a pit stop at the Barack Obama Gas Station.
Yup, that’s right. A gas station in the middle of nowhere dedicated to our 44th president, Barack Obama. This gas station is one of the best kept secrets of Ireland.
It is located on the outskirts of the village of Moneygall, where President Obama’s great-great-great-grandfather lived. We simply stopped for gas on our way to the Cliffs of Moher and found ourselves Barack Obama Gas Station.
IF you think I am bluffing — on May 23rd 2011, President Obama and his wife Michelle arrived in Moneygall, visited the Kearney ancestral home, and drank pints in Ollie Hayes’ bar. You can learn all about this and more at the museum located on the top floor of the gas station.
Stand at the edge of the world at the Cliffs of Moher.
Very rarely does a destination COMPLETELY exceed expectations. But there’s a reason that the Cliffs of Moher are the most visited location on the island. Rising over 702 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, the view is unmatched. Almost impossible to put into words.
In true Ireland fashion, the day we visited was a wet one. However, this allowed for the “green” of Ireland to pop against the dark, dreary sky, only adding to the Irish charm.
You’ll start your visit at the Visitor Center, but you can stay as long as you want. You’ll be surprised how long you’ll want to take in the view — and there are lots of paths to explore. Be sure to pack a raincoat for this excursion — the weather changes quickly!
Note: You do need tickets to access the cliffs, I recommend doing this in advance for a discount (sometimes up to 50 percent off!)
Enjoy live Irish music over a glass of Guinness (in Galway).
Are you starting to see a theme? You can expect to drink a lot of Guinness while in town and the rumors you’ve heard are most certainly true — Guinness tastes better in Ireland! One of my favorite nights of our trip involved us sitting at a (very) small pub, in Galway, listening to live music – pipes and fiddles included. It was the perfect way to relax after a cold, rainy day of exploring the Irish countryside.
Which pub to choose? We followed the sound of the music from the street!
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Luckily for you the best part of Ireland is everywhere – the people. It was nearly impossible to go anywhere without striking a conversation with the person next to you. Irish people are lovely. They are lively, sarcastic, and they just want to have a genuinely good time.
If you have been debating an quick Irish getaway – now’s the time! Flights to Ireland are at an all time low AND most major carriers have a route. It’s also one of the SHORTEST flights to Europe form the USA (always a plus)!
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