DiscoveryClub

Trim Castle, Ireland

I know I should probably be reserving this post for sometime closer to St. Patrick’s Day, but in honor of one of my oldest friends coming back to Victoria for a visit after being in Ireland for the past 2 ½ years, I just had to write it now! He chose to follow his heart and move there, while his girlfriend waits to be able to move to Canada permanently. Over the past 2 ½ years I’ve seen his photos, received his email updates and gotten a pretty good idea of what life in Ireland is like. From what I’ve seen and heard it seems like a beautiful country with a ton of heritage. That, in combination with having a free tour guide when I go there, is why it has made my Travel Dreams list.

It rains in Ireland…A LOT. So there’s no real good time of year to go. Whatever time of year you go, you’re going to get rained on. As long as you prepare yourself, then you’ll be fine. If I could choose any time of year to go it would of course be March! There’s no way I’m going all the way to Ireland and it not be St. Patrick’s Day while I’m there! To be involved in the festivities in the country where it all began would be awesome!

My vision of travelling to Ireland involves staying in a cozy thatched roof cottage in the countryside, as opposed to a hotel in the city. I imagine myself visiting the local farmers markets everyday where I would pick up fresh baked goods, produce, cheeses, meat and fish. With so much local food everywhere you turn, there’s no need to eat out a lot. I’d make amazing dinners with all of the goodies I bought at the market, and then cozy up by the fire and enjoy a delicious warm Bailey’s and coffee…that’s Irish right?

Giants Causeway, Northeast Ireland

Of course I’d have to do some sightseeing as well. Giants Causeway is number one on my list. It’s an area on the northeast coast where you can walk along over 40,000 interlocking volcanic rock columns. Because the columns are hexagonal in shape and are so neatly arranged, they have long produced stories and legends of giants. The legend states that the great Irish hero and giant, Finn McCool, began to build the causeway in order to reach his enemy, a giant called Benandonner, who lived on an island just off the Scottish coast. The reality is the causeway was formed some 60 million years ago by a massive volcanic explosion. The explosion spurted up lava, which then solidified to form the columns that make up the causeway. But I like the legend much better than the real story, so we’ll stick with that.

The River Liffey and Ha'penny Bridge

Other places I’m told I have to visit are the River Liffey and the Ha’penny Bridge. This river flows right through the middle of Dublin and the bridge allows over 27,000 pedestrians per day to cross over it! St. James Gate is the brewery where Guiness, is produced. This brewery was founded in 1759. Can you believe they have been producing Guiness for over 250 years?! Too bad I don’t like it at all! There’s also Trim Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, Grafton Street, The Spire, Croke Park, The Boar’s Head, the General Post Office and Trinity College. Wow…that’s a lot of sightseeing! My trip will have to be at least a couple weeks long to fit all of this in! No trip to Ireland would be complete without a stop at a local neighbourhood pub! I’ve been told that Walsh’s Pub in Rush is the place to be. I picture live celtic music, an order of bangers and mash and a pint (or two!)…now that’s Irish living!

Unfortunately I think this trip is definitely a few years away still. I just hope that one day, I’ll make it there and it’s everything that I imagined and more. And hopefully my free tour guide will still be there as well!

May all your travel dreams come true…Kyla

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

** A special thanks to my good friend Mike J. for the use of his photos**