The Emerald Isle

from March 2023

Community Spotlight

Ireland has been one of my top multigenerational vacation requests for this year and may be a great destination for your next vacation. Since this is the month that we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to share my can’t-miss experiences for the Emerald Isle.

Ireland is comprised of two separate countries – The Republic of Ireland (commonly referred to as ‘Ireland’) is an independent country and Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland uses the Euro for their currency whereas Northern Ireland uses the pound sterling. It’s easy to move between the two countries but they are separate so make sure you have your passport on you if you are in the northern half of the country.

There is so much to see and do in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Here are some of my most requested experiences:

Cliffs of Moher – no trip to Ireland is complete without seeing this natural wonder and no photograph will do their beauty justice. Located in County Clare about 1.5 hours from Galway, this is Ireland’s most-visited natural attraction.

Ring of Kerry – this stretch on the Wild Atlantic Way should take you roughly 3 hours to drive but plan for longer because you will want to stop to see the breathtaking ocean and mountain views as well as visit some of the quaint villages along the way.

Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone – located just outside of Cork in County Cork at the Blarney Castle, legend has it that you must kiss the stone upside down while hanging over a drop off.

Visit a castle – there are so many castles to choose from but some of the more popular Irish castles are the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, Bunratty Castle in County Clare, and King John’s Castle in Limerick. Others include Ashford Castle, Cahir Castle, Dunguaire Castle, and Kilkenny Castle.

The Wild Atlantic Way – this stretch of road along the western coast measures 1,700 miles long and features over 1,000 attractions. The drive is broken into five sections and some of the most popular attractions in Ireland are located along the drive –the Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney National Park, Loop Head, The Burren, Killary Harbour, and more.

Aran Islands – comprised of three islands – Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer – this unique experience feels like taking a step back in time. Roughly 12,000 people live on the islands where Gaelic is spoken and the culture is quite different from the mainland. Make sure to visit Dun Aonghasa.

Dublin – eat and drink your way through the city and enjoy the local attractions by foot. Make sure you visit the Temple Bar District and Guinness Storehouse.

Giant’s Causeway – located in County Antrim in Northern Ireland, Giant’s Causeway is comprised of unique basalt columns formed by volcanic activity. On a clear day you can see Scotland in the distance. While you’re in the area make sure to check out Old Bushmills Distillery, the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle, and the seaside town of Portrush.

Belfast – the most popular attraction here is the Titanic Belfast. The shipyard where the infamous RMS Titanic was built has been transformed into a wonderful museum where you can see mementos and walk the decks of the ill-fated ship.

Have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day! Slàinte!

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