Weekend Trip to Ireland
In these unprecedented times of quarantining and social isolation, global shutdown, and general uncertainty about what tomorrow will bring, I’ve decided to share a post about my trip to Ireland a month ago. Though it’s been a while (things have obviously been crazy for everyone), it was still very important to me that I get this post up. My trip was amazing, and I didn’t want to forget about it, so I’ve finally sorted through my photos, jotted down my experiences, and shared it all on Sunny and Sweet! Maybe reading this can offer everyone a little opportunity to escape the reality of self-isolation and step into a little adventure.
My trip to Ireland was the culmination of a lifelong dream I’ve had. My mom’s side of the family has always celebrated our Irish roots, and so I’ve wanted to travel to the country with my mom for as long as I can remember. When my mom and grandma came to visit Oxford, we took a very quick, yet extremely memorable three-day trip to the neighboring island.
To say that Ireland was everything I had ever hoped it would be, is an extreme understatement. Our flight was delayed, due to storm Dennis, and none of us thought we would make it. When we finally boarded the flight, it was a bumpy ride, and every one of us was relieved to be back on solid ground. Our spirits were high as we left the Shannon airport, which was the smallest airport I had ever seen and seemed more like a quiet bus station. Outside, it was so windy that our suitcases were practically blown away. We made it to the rental car and found ourselves in fits of uncontrollable laughter. The three of us together made the best of travel companions, always working one another into hysterics.
Driving in the storm was something of an adventure. Gusts of wind would shake the little car so much that it seemed likely we would blow right off the road. At times, turrets of rain would come out of nowhere making it almost impossible to see. Call us crazy, but despite all this, our first destination was the Cliffs of Mohr, about an hour drive from the airport. When we arrived, the rain had slowed, yet the wind was still in full force. My mom and I bundled up and braved the storm (my grandma chose to wait this one out in the car). We only had three carefully planned days in Ireland, and weather be damned, we were going to see the Cliffs!
The view was even more amazing than it looks in all of the photos. Through the dark clouds, the sun peeked out just for us. With the wind in full force, we could hardly walk at the top of the steps and took a number of hilarious videos of our attempts. To stay safe, we avoided any areas without walls to keep us from falling. At times, we had to literally grab on to the walls to stay in one place. My mom’s hat blew right off her head and into the ocean! Yet the chaos of the storm made the whole experience even more memorable. I wouldn’t have wanted to see the Cliffs on any other day. When the sun did eventually peek out, it was all the more rewarding.
After we’d taken our share of photographs and admired the view for a while, we headed back to the car for our next stop. Without very good cell-service, our directions were a little off, and we ended up driving down a gravel road, which my grandmother kept telling us was called “loose chippin’s”. The view was spectacular. To our left, only a couple of small fields separated us from the wild Atlantic. There was nothing out there aside from small stone cottages, some sheep and the ocean, so immense that it demanded our full attention.
Hesitant sunlight began to poke through the clouds once more, and the misty seascape slowly began to glow in stunning hues of red and blue and green. Every once in a while, we would pass by the ruins of an old castle, sitting unassumingly beside the sea. It was all so wild and natural. Driving down those Irish backroads, I could understand so much of my longing for a country I had never been to. Somehow, I had imagined Ireland with perfect accuracy before ever even visiting. To say that I was home is not quite right, but I was discovering a part of myself and my roots that I had always been fascinated by.
After the cliffs, we stopped for some dinner at a tiny Irish pub called Gus O’Connor’s Pub, situated just on the outskirts of Doolin, a little coastal village nearby. The people were just as friendly as my mom had always described them, and the food was fantastic. We filled ourselves up with traditional Irish dishes; mashed potatoes, stew, brown bread and a little bit of Irish Coffee to keep us going. It was such a strange feeling to recognize all of my family’s traditional recipes, made for us in the place where they originated. We even heard some authentic Irish singing, both impromptu performances by the locals, and traditional bands.
Since we only had three days in Ireland, it was important to us that we try to fit in as much as possible. After the pub, we drove to the Oranhill Lodge, our B&B which was near Galway. Without going over the top, I would just like to say how highly I would recommend this little place. The owners made us feel right at home, even driving us to the local pub that night!
In the morning, after an amazing breakfast, we headed into Galway. The city is colorful and charming, the perfect place to do a little shopping. Any pictures you’ve seen of Irish cities are probably pretty close to what Galway looks like.
It’s got the colorful storefronts, festive flags, and narrow walking streets with street performers. The three of us spent hours picking out the perfect woolen sweater to take home in the Galway Woolen Market, trying on so many sweaters that we lost track of which ones we liked and would have to start all over! The day was bright but cold. We enjoyed walking leisurely around the area for a little while, before heading off to our next destination.
Our last stop was Dingle, and yes, that is a real place. A little coastal town on a peninsula, Dingle was quiet and charming. We stayed in a place called the Milltown House, with views of the water and charming, traditional looking décor. Just like Galway, the streets were filled with color.
We spent our last day in Ireland wandering the little side streets of Dingle, taking a coastal drive down Slea Head, and discovering little gems in the area, like the old stone church in the center of town. It was such a memorable trip. We enjoyed a beautiful scenic drive back to the airport, along the Wild Atlantic Highway through the fields of stunning Ireland.
Writing about this adventure helps get me through these days of quarantine when the world seems to be completely out of control. As we make our way through these days of uncertainty, it’s important to remember happy times, and to look on the bright side whenever possible. Stay positive everyone!