Travel

Travel Inspiration | Ireland

     Ireland are our neighbours just across the water from Great Britain, and I think there is a certain affinity between them and us Scots, with our shared Celtic heritage from way back when. We’re both fiercely proud of our countries and culture as well. I visited for the first time last year, with a long weekend trip to Dublin, a vibrant, energetic city. I managed to squeeze in some day trips to other parts of the country too, taking in historic castles, small fishing villages, rolling green hills, and spectacular clifftop ocean views. There’s plenty more details in the posts from that trip, but here are my photo highlights, including some I didn’t share the first time…

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, Ireland

Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

Molly Malone, Dublin, Ireland

Jim Larkin & The Spire, Dublin, Ireland

River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland

Ha'penny Bridge, River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland

Oscar Wilde statue, Dublin, Ireland

Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland

Yeats memorial, St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland

St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Book of Kells exhibit, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Long Room in the Old Library, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has so much to explore, from historic locations like Dublin Castle and Christchurch Cathedral, to the prestigious and beautiful Trinity College Dublin, home to the Book of Kells, and plenty more in between, including the Ha’penny Bridge, St Stephen’s Green, and the lively Temple Bar district.
Rock of Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland

Rock of Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland

Rock of Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland

Rock of Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland

Blarney Castle, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland

Blarney House, County Cork, Ireland

Rock Close, Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland

Rock Close, Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland

Rock Close, Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland

Rock Close, Blarney Castle gardens, County Cork, Ireland
Venturing out of Dublin, head to County Tipperary to visit the Rock of Cashel, seat of the ancient Kings of Munster. Then continue to Country Cork to see Blarney Castle, famous for the Blarney Stone, which bestows you with the ‘gift of gab’. There’s plenty more to see in the castle and its grounds besides this, including some mystical Celtic locations!
Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland

Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland

The Burren, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

The Burren, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland

Cliffs of Moher, Wild Atlantic Way, County Clare, Ireland
Head to the west coast of the country to experience the Wild Atlantic Way, a coastal driving route full of incredible clifftop scenery. The Cliffs of Moher are the most famous, and the most spectacular, especially if you get lucky with the weather and have a clear, sunny day to soak in the views!