My “Must Do” List of Ireland

Day 39: July 25, 2012

            I don’t think there is anyway that I can come up with a completely comprehensive list of everything you must do when coming to Ireland, but I will do my best. There are definitely things I wish I had done while here, and there are others that I could have lived without.

(From Top Left going clockwise):
                Seafood Chowder, Shepherd's Pie,
               Ox Cheek Pie, Gourmet Sausage

I think what’s most important is not necessarily going on a bunch of bus tours (though a couple are smart) or touring every museum or castle; but, you just have to make the most out of your time here, and do that however possible. If that means taking tour after tour along the curvy country roads of Ireland then do it! The stunning scenic stops will be worth the sickness you incur on the ride. Visit what castles and historical sites you want and imagine what life used to be like there and think about the millions of people who have walked the same steps you have. You also have to stuff your face! Drink the beer, eat the starchy food, and enjoy the company you’re in while doing it.

So without further adieu here is my short list of things you must do before you leave the Emerald Isle. (In no particular order)

The beach on Inishmore

Go swimming in the ocean! It does not matter how cold it is, you have to do it. At least for a few minutes! My experience with this was in Tramore in Waterford Co. and it literally took my breath away. The icy sensation shot up my body quicker than a bullet from a gun. I only stayed in for about five minutes but I’m glad I can say I did it. I regret not taking a bathing suit to Inishmore with Emily and Haley when they came because the water was extremely warm. I wish we had just jumped in anyway, but spending a day riding bikes in soaking wet clothes would not have been enjoyable. So whether warm, or icy cold, make sure you do a little “bathing” in the ocean as the Irish like to call it.

Our favorite Buskers

Talk to a busker/street performer.  Buskers are the musicians playing on the streets and they and the other street performers all have stories. We met a group of buskers on the island of Inishere and then when we got to Galway we saw them again. Turned out they were from Galway and a man just asked if they wanted to go to the island for the day. It was their first time there. They were a very quirky group. I didn’t talk to as many performers as I had hoped, but it is definitely something I recommend doing.

Watch an Irish sporting event in a pub. We watched plenty of the European Championship soccer matches in pubs when we were here during our first two weeks. Being able to watch those over here was a greater experience than watching them at home on my couch or in a bar in the states. But it’s something about the Gaelic sports that obviously gets the people more excited than watching soccer. Hurling and Irish football were great games to watch in the pubs. Talk to the locals and learn the rules. Pick a side to cheer for (whoever the majority in the pub is cheering for) and enjoy watching two great games while drinking a pint (or two).

Traditional Irish Music in Doolin!

Go to Doolin. I wish we had more time in Doolin. It is a small little village about a five minute drive from the Cliffs of Moher, and it is famous for it’s traditional Irish music. You will most likely need to be there at night to witness any of the music, but if you visit during the day there are things to do as well. We visited several of the shops around town and had great conversations with the people there. We walked down to the little tiny bay where Dusty the Doolin Dolphin lives and got beautiful pictures of the shore line and the Cliffs to the south. Doolin is a beautiful little village, and one that will always hold a little place inside me.

Our biker gang on Inishere

Ride bikes on the Aran Islands. It is a work out. But you have to do it. I rode a bike on Inishere (the smallest island) and Inishmore (the biggest island). It was definitely easier riding on Inishere, but I enjoyed riding on both. It takes you back to the years when biking was your main form of transportation. I just felt like a kid again riding around the streets in a biker gang! It allows you to enjoy the weather, fresh air, and ocean breeze on the island.

Visit a cathedral and say a prayer when you enter.  I had the opportunity to visit several cathedrals while here in Ireland. My absolute favorite one was St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh. It was absolutely incredible. I feel like it changed me. The magnificence was unbelievable! You must say a prayer when you enter. Some of the girls met an old man in a tiny church in Sandy Cove who told them that God listens to all prayers, but he specifically cannot ignore the first prayer you say when you go into an Irish cathedral. I did this every time I entered any cathedral. I’m excited to see how God responds to my prayer!

My Perfect Pint of Guinness

Drink a Guinness or a Baby Guinness. If you don’t drink then that’s ok! You can come to Ireland and not do these things. But it’s definitely an experience. I had heard Guinness tasted better in Ireland than it does in the states, but I had no idea it would be so difficult to return to Guinness in the states. I’m not looking forward to American Guinness! A Baby Guinness is a shot of Kalua with a head of Baileys on top. It looks just like a little baby Guinness (hence the name). It is delicious! More of a dessert than a shot! Also you have to take a visit to the Guinness Storehouse! It’s a Dublin Landmark!

The Full Irish Breakfast
at our hotel in Tramore!

Have a Full Irish Breakfast. Or at least try the black and white pudding. It is certainly not the most appetizing part of the breakfast but it is traditional Irish and it is a must taste! You also have to try all the other classic Irish meals such Shepherd’s Pie and Beef and Guinness stew. I have had an assortment of Japanese, Irish, Italian, and American food while being here and there has only been one meal that I was disappointed with (a burger with no bun, barely cooked bacon, and drenched in blue cheese) but other than that I have thoroughly enjoyed eating every single meal!

Kiss the Blarney Stone! This was something I was very hesitant in doing before I came because I had heard horrible things about it. I feel like if you don’t do anything else touristy while in Ireland you have to go to Blarney Castle and kiss the stone! Try to make sure you go on a nice day or else the climb through the castle will not be fun, but it’s so worth it! Emily and Haley both loved their trip to Blarney Castle!

The Greatest American Tour group ever.

Go on at least one bus tour. We were on busses for probably a solid 48 hours during my entire six weeks in Ireland. I could be perfectly happy never riding on a bus ever again. But the bus tours have a real tourist feel to them and sometimes that makes the trip fun! I went on a bus tour with Emily and Haley to the Cliffs of Moher and even though the weather wasn’t great the tour was still fun because our guide was joking around the entire time and the company was fun! Also a Hop On/Hop Off tour of any city would be a good way to see the sights!

Our first excursion as a group to Sandy Cove!

So there is my “short” list of Must Do’s while visiting Ireland! I hope everyone gets the chance to visit Ireland at some point in their lifetime. It is an absolutely gorgeous country, rain or shine! I could not have asked for a better study abroad experience, from the group of sixteen students, to our two and a half professors (Profs. Reynolds and Kutchins, and their daughter Ava). From our first group outing playing Jenga in Porterhouse to our Pub Crawl in Galway and every minute in between. I am so thankful I got to do this trip and would suggest studying abroad to anyone who can do it!