I is for Ireland (A to Z Challenge)

Ireland is without a doubt my favourite place in the world. I can't tell you how many people sent me Happy St Patrick's Day Messages because they know how much I love Ireland and the Irish.

When I first visited Ireland in December 2010, it was a somewhat reluctant visit because one of my besties and I were planning our first European trip and we agreed to a Contiki Trip in London and Paris. When it turned out that we had extra days between us I begged to include a trip to Liverpool so I could visit Anfield and she bartered with a four day trip to Ireland. I would have bartered 20 days in Ireland for one hour in Anfield so we agreed and Dublin, Ireland was our first destination and for me, it was love at first sight.

While I could write 100 blog posts about how much I love Ireland, but I doubt you would want to read that many. So I move along swiftly, when we arrived in Ireland, I instantly fell in love with the Country, The people, the sights and the amazing festive season.

Four days was not enough to get to see all that we wanted too but it didn't matter because before we left we already decided that we were going to return and I did return last year, you can read about it here.

The fear I had about whether I would be disappointment with returning to Ireland, was unfounded. My return to Ireland in August/September 2013 was so much more fun than I could have hoped and I met so many new people and got to reconnect with friends I previously made and that was incredible.  My second trip included Galway which was so picturesque.

Everyone who's ever been to Ireland has only said good things to me and I would agree. There is a warmth to the people that no words could explain the ambiance of the country and people.

Have you been to Ireland?  Where is your favourite place in the World?

Travel Post : Ireland ~ the final edition of EuroTrip 2013

I have been intentionally dragging on doing this post because this post, the last installment of this trip means it is officially over!

If you have been reading my posts you will know that I LOVE Ireland! On my previous trip, my friend, Alicia and I only went to Dublin and we did all the touristy things there and I left Dublin with a heavy heart. For the past 2 and a half years I have been holding a candle to it so it was obviously risky going back, I mean the way I looked at there would one of two scenarios:

1. I would be completely dissaappointed by it. I would think I was caught in the romance of my first trip and that the people and the place actually wasn't that great.

2. I would love it as much as I thought I did the first time round and would hate leaving it.

Well there is a third option which I hadn't anticipated, it would exceed my expectations by far and I would fall more in love with the place and the people. This is what actually happened.

When I got off the plane from Belgium, I was almost overwhelmed to be surrounded by such nice people, people who spoke English!!

On this trip I decided to go to Galway for a night so I could see the Cliffs of Moher however when I arrived the last tour bus for the day had left so I had the afternoon to relax in Galway.. this is when I met Aimee and Keeley, they were staying in the same Hostel as me. By the way this hostel was awesome :)

 

I sort of forced my way into lunch with my two new American friends and once we sat down we actually got along really well! Keeley had been to Galway before and loved it and she love's traditional Irish music which as you know.. I do :)

We decided we were going out that night and to say it wa EPIC would be an understatement.

The next day we were off to the Cliffs of Moher which were breath-taking to say the least. The entire tour was unbelievable...

Saturday night we went back to Dublin for another night out. While not as epic as Galway it was loads of fun!

Sunday I got to catch up with two friends I had made on my previous trip (Thank you Facebook!). If I am honest, I was scared that it was going to be strained or awkward but it was so easy and time just went way too quickly. They gave me an unorthodox one of a kind tour showing me things you would only know after living in a city and I loved it!

That evening I didn't have anyone to go with me to listen to some traditional Irish music so I decided, " Who Cares?! I'll go alone!" It was truly one of the most scary and liberating things to do. I went to O'Neill's in Suffolk Street.

The next day I spent the day just taking in Dublin City because I had previously been to Dublin I didn't have any tourist things to do I just got to enjoy the culture.

I saw this sign while walking around Dublin City

 

In the evening I managed to get all but one of the ladies from my room (Room 17) to go back to O'Neill's that evening and it was so much fun.

Ireland was once again incredibly kind to me and I am definitely going back - sooner rather than later! I think it's wonderful to feel at home in a place which is clearly not your home. The Irish are so warm and made me feel very welcome, once again.

Have you been to anywhere in Ireland?