Éire
Ballyjamesduff
As one of many interns at Collette, I worked part time while I was enrolled in college. During my spring break I was fortunate enough to travel to Ireland and I came back with only positive reviews. Here’s a fast-paced account of my trip.
Immediately upon arriving at the Dublin Airport, I make sure to grab a hot coffee to get ready for what Ireland has to offer. Dublin is a city that boasts both beauty and history. Filled with young, energetic people it is easy to stay entertained. As I take a stroll down Grafton Street on its cobblestone pathway, I find myself distracted by the many storefronts and enthralled by the street performers. I enjoy a traditional lunch of soda bread and Irish stew at a local restaurant overlooking the street and people-watch the throng of tourists and shoppers. In the afternoon, I stop by Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral – famous landmarks that showcase Dublin history. I even feed the pigeons at St. Stephen’s Green.
The Emerald Isle
Once you leave Dublin, the rest of Ireland is just how you picture it in your mind – beautiful shades of green. Next on my trip is Ballyjamesduff (ever heard the Irish song “Come Back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff?”) Located in County Cavan and just a quick one hour trip on the M3 motorway from Dublin, Ballyjamesduff is a quaint town where everyone knows everyone. In fact, before even revealing my American accent, everyone knows I am a guest to the town simply because they don’t know me. Despite this, everyone is extremely nice and they go out of their way to make sure I enjoy my stay.
The nightlife in this town is limited, and most locals gather in the same bar come nighttime. Interestingly, all of the bars in Ballyjamesduff are located in the back rooms of town stores.
As I walk through a hardware store to get to a bar, I am surprised to see a dog sitting at the bar eating a bone! Apparently, this is the owner’s dog who everyone in town also knows. At last call, each bar in Ireland plays the National Anthem and everyone stands to respect their country – I am very impressed by this patriotic practice.
Moher Ireland, please!
Next, it’s off to the Western coast of Ireland to visit County Clare, home to the famous Cliffs of Moher. Unlike most tourist attractions around the world, I find the Cliffs of Moher to be tranquil, which upholds Ireland’s serene reputation. There are no large crowds of people, which make the experience even more memorable. I climb up the dirt-steps of the large cliffs until I finally reached the top. Here, I am amazed to see the views of the Atlantic from the 700-foot cliffs. It’s an experience to hear the ocean crashing against the gigantic cliffs. After this stop, I make my way south by train, enjoying the picturesque views of Ireland.
I didn’t know it at the time but I am about to visit a town that quickly makes it to my all-time favorite list! Dingle, in County Kerry, is a beautiful town that is very old-fashioned. Located on a peninsula, Dingle has a beautiful landscape and a big fishing industry. As I walk through the small town I feel like I have gone back in time between the old fishing boats, the charming parish churches, the friendly locals, and the smell of peat that keeps the fires going in the buildings on cool afternoons. Traditional Irish music wafts out of just about every Dingle pub and adds to the festive atmosphere.
Fungi the Dingle Dolphin – now that’s one main attraction in Dingle you won’t read about in any guide book. Since 1984, Fungi, the bottlenose dolphin, regularly makes an appearance to welcome visitors. Normally, bottlenose dolphins travel in groups but Fungi prefers human interaction rather than swimming with other dolphins and visitors love seeing him swim right up to their boat to say hello!
As you can see, Ireland is a very unique place and it never fails to get visitors coming back. Whether it is the green hills, the remarkable coast, or the history, Ireland will always be a top vacation spot. I cannot wait to book my next trip back!
posted by Shelbee
Shelby Doherty, Marketing Intern
Collette Vacations
Tags: Collette, Collette Vacations, Dublin, Ireland
