Ireland had been on our travel list for years, and finally experiencing it as a family made the journey even more meaningful. From lively Dublin and the rugged coastlines of Northern Ireland to the green landscapes of Galway, Connemara, and the Burren, we found a country filled with history, natural beauty, welcoming people, and unforgettable experiences. Our Irish roots may come from only one branch of the family, but this trip gave us a deeper connection to that heritage and left us wanting to see even more of the Emerald Isle.
Places We Visited
During our two-week journey, we used Dublin and Galway as our main bases and explored destinations across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
- Dublin: Trinity College, Book of Kells, 14 Henrietta Street, Temple Bar, Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral and Celtic Nights
- Counties Tipperary & Cork: Cahir Castle, Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel
- Northern Ireland: Belfast, the Peace Wall, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle
- Kilkenny & Wicklow: Kilkenny City, St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny Castle, Wicklow Mountains, Irish Working Sheepdogs, Lough Tay (Guinness Lake) and the P.S. I Love You Bridge
- County Offaly: Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
- The Burren & County Clare: Dunguaire Castle, Hazel Mountain Chocolates, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Cliffs of Moher and Kilfenora
- Connemara: Patrick Pearse Cottage and Kylemore Abbey
- Aran Islands: Inis Mór, Dún Aonghasa and the Seven Churches
- Athlone: Sean’s Bar
