Grey clouds float across a gloomy sky, preventing the sun's rays to peak through. Below on the ground, a herd of sheep tries desperately to find shelter from the approaching rain in a barren, treeless landscape of rocky hills, bogs and still lakes. No sounds other than that of the first raindrops and the wind pierce through the deafening silence that characterizes this seemingly uninviting region ... Read Full Article
Hiking Ireland’s Scenic Gap of Dunloe
The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow, scenic mountain pass in County Kerry, a perfect seven-mile walk for those who want a close-up look at western Ireland's green beauty. It's nothing short of entrancing, and I'm grateful to our Irish friend Dan for arranging an outing through Gap of Dunloe Tours. Another great way to see this stunning area would be to rent a car in Ireland. That way, you can stop ... Read Full Article
Three of Ireland’s Best Hotels
Three of Ireland's best hotels have just one thing in common: superb hospitality. Otherwise, they're as different as chalk and cheese, as the saying goes. These are upscale lodgings with highly individual character. If you are looking for something truly special, also consider spending a night at one (or more) of Ireland's best Castle Hotels. Ireland's Best Hotels The Falls Hotel and ... Read Full Article
Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
I stepped off our coach bus unsure of what to expect out of our first stop in County Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way - Irelands most famous Road Trip: 2,500 kilometers stretching from southern County Cork to the northwestern corner of Ireland. The weather was noticeably cooler than the hot September afternoons I had been experiencing back in Cleveland. Here, the winds were strong and the air ... Read Full Article
Visit These Top 5 Cities in the Emerald isle
Céad míle fáilte! The Irish saying that means ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’ is something that you’ll hear plenty of times when traveling around Ireland. It’s the unofficial slogan of the Emerald Isle, often considered to be one of the friendliest places on earth and renowned around the world for its iconic symbols: clover leafs, leprechauns, St. Patrick, whiskey and Guinness. Ireland’s ... Read Full Article
In Dublin’s Fair City You’ll find Guinness and Beer Aplenty
Faith and begorrah! Conquering Dublin’s renown Temple Bar pubs just can’t be done. To be sure, it’s not really the sort of place where you should attempt to stagger from bar to bar, slugging back a quick beer at each (although many have tried and failed). It’s more the place where you go to sit and enjoy the friendly ambience of an authentic Irish pub for an evening, before trying another on the ... Read Full Article
Exploring Inis Meain, the Lesser-known Aran Island
Visitors to Ireland's Aran Islands, located off the west coast from Galway, will undoubtedly know that the famous Irish comedy "Father Ted" is based on a fictional island fashioned after the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inis Oir (named Craggy Island in the television series). Likewise, the biggest of the three islands, Inis Mor, attracts the most tourists for its remarkable stone fortress, Dun ... Read Full Article
Ireland’s Ancient Burial Mounds
Older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza! My passion for archeology spikes with the thought of seeing 5,000 year-old-tombs! My husband Rick is a willing participant as we point our rental car away from Dublin towards the vast area of Brú na Bóinne. This complex Megalithic site in County Meath, Ireland is known for its three major tombs - Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth (together deemed a UNESCO ... Read Full Article
How Would You Like Your Shamrock? Ask the Ravenous Traveler
“How would you like your shamrock,” asked the bartender. It was my first trip to Ireland. I’d ordered a Guinness; I was seventeen; and I had no idea what he was talking about—confused as much by his thick Irish accent as by the question. “How would you like your shamrock,” he asked again. After receiving another blank stare, the bartender shook his head and handed me a perfectly poured Guinness ... Read Full Article
Sláinte! A Visit to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin
Guinness and Ireland are inextricably linked and no visit to Dublin is complete without a tour of the famous brewery on St James’s Gate. Only a twenty minute walk from the city center, this historic factory has been brewing Guinness on the site since 1759; though, the origin of the current building is much more recent. I didn’t know what to expect from a tour of the Guinness Storehouse. I thought ... Read Full Article