Ireland is a special place. There’s not doubt it’s green. The landscapes are breathtaking, and others calming.
It’s not the soil or the wind or the rain that makes it a magical place. It comes down to the culture of the peoples who have settled in Ireland over thousands of years.
The culture of Ireland is the culmination of stories, music, and dance from over the ages. By speaking its language, playing or listening to its music, you’re making a deep personal connection with Ireland’s past and present.
Traveling to Ireland
You may have grown up outside of Ireland, but always with a longing for Ireland. A longing to come home.
Are you traveling to Ireland in 2014? I want to hear from you below in the box “Leave a Reply”. Tell us when you’re traveling, for how long, and what you hope to see.
Plus, if you have any practical questions about traveling to Ireland, or what to do when you get here, also leave a comment.
24 thoughts on “Traveling to Ireland in 2014? Tell us your plans”
I hope to go in September – used to live in Ireland, North and South, and although not born there I do consider it my spiritual home.
I haven’t been back for a long time, and have lost touch with a lot of people, plus most relatives I knew were elderly and have passed on. Finances dictate that I shall not be hiring a car! I hope to be in Waterford, Dublin and Belfast, with a couple of side trips. Would love to go back to Connemara, but might have to save that for another time. Have been looking (seriously) for a new man, one with a Celtic soul, who either lives over there , comes from there, or wants to go – so am going to trust he will show up at some point in the not-too-distant future!
Stay safe in your travels and stay safe!
Phyllis Bitesize
I will be taking my third trip to Ireland this summer, to Galway. My first trip was 3 weeks, to Ros an Mhil, and the 2nd was 3 months. My trip this summer will be for 3 months as well – as long as I’m allowed to go. Next Spring, my mother and I will visit Ireland together. I’m not sure how long that trip will be because my mother is 80 years old. Her father was born somewhere in Ireland, but he died when she was 6 years old, so we’ve had trouble tracing him.
My greatest wish is to move to Ireland. <3
I actually took a trip to Ireland in mid-January, and had an amazing time. Considering the winter we’ve had here in New England, the weather in Ireland wasn’t bad at all! I started in Killaloo and worked my way up the west coast: Galway (amazing craic), spent a rainy and windswept night by a peat fire in a pub on Inis Mor, practicing my Irish with the locals. On along the coast to Westport, (more craic!). Climbed Croagh Patrick, explored Achill, stayed with friends in Ballycroy (cut turf in the bog with a slane) and explored Blacksod and Belmullet. The people are amazing, the country is beautiful. Alas, the short visit did nothing to slake my thirst to spend more time in my ancestral homeland. It was only whetted!
Daibhi O’Cahan
Big thanks to all for sharing their plans above for Ireland 2014. If you’d like to contribute your own story, just leave a reply below.
Going on my first trip to Ireland in the end of July, and really, really looking forward to it. Have met a few Irishmen through my job here in Denmark, and they are all so nice I just have to go and see what kind of a country produces such nice people! And of course seeing photos I expect it to be breathtakingly beautiful. Travelling alone I have booked a 6 day tour of the south with Paddywagon and hoping it will be fun as well as interesting – pubs and scenery, what could possibly go wrong? And since I am a bit of a nerd with languages, I have started to learn myself Irish, even though I have no family relations in Ireland…looking forward to trying that out too!
Going to the Dublin Feis of irish dancing in march and to Ronan McCormacs Rince in summer! Great fun to be had on both occasions.
We’ll be heading to Ireland for a couple of weeks at the end of May beginning of June and we can’t wait! We’re planning on really getting to know the South East this time as we haven’t spent any time in the area so far. All the highlights to be included—Glendalough, Hook Head, Saltee Islands, Kilkenny and more. 🙂
Very cool, hope to hear more about your trip!
I’d love to share! I feel like we are always in planning mode–but it is best when you have a specific trip to plan for. We can’t wait!
If you are visiting the Northwest area … Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Fermanagh … contact me and I’ll offer you a place to say at a price you will not believe … your location will be in a secluded spot yet only 100 yards distance from the famous Belleek Pottery … You’ll have a three bedroom cottage with stunning views of the River Erne and the Donegal Mountains and with a stretch of the neck you’ll be looking up at majestic Ben Benbulben. (808)-366-5632 Ask for Brian.
My husband and I are taking our 14yr old daughter and her friend for 12 days in July. Looking forward to Galway (staying in Oughterard) and Connemara, a few days in Doolin as always,Ventry and Adrigole for the first time. We will be meeting cousins in Inchegeelah, my daughter met them last summer. I’m looking forward to showing the kids the Ring of Beara,one of my favourite spots. We will be revisiting a lot of places the kids haven’t seen. Of course we will finish up in Dublin, top on my daughter’s list. She wants to study at Trinity. Dreaming of this trip is what is getting me through this long New England winter.
I may visit Ireland this summer as part of a larger trip including England and Scotland. We, my sister and I, want to drive down the west coast and stop in each Irish dialect region (Donegal, Connemara, and Dingle). Besides seeing beautiful landscape and hearing great music, we really want to hear Irish being spoken and try to speak it ourselves 🙂
We’ll be visiting Ireland for 2 weeks in early May 2014. Plan to land in Dublin, and drive clockwise around, staying at various B&Bs. We did something like this in 2009 with Globus Tours, and it was excellent. We’ll revisit many of the same places, and spend more time in the pubs.
Dia daoibh! I’m planning to visit Ireland this summer. I’d like to spend a week in Glendalough village and discover all the natural beauties, and a few pubs as well 🙂 And someone might can helo me: how can I find cheap accomodation? I don’t need a five star hotel, because I’ll probably spend most of the time somewhere in town or in the woods, but I still need to sleep somewhere :)Go raibh maith agat!
Le meas,
Lawrence
We book through Enchanting Ireland and do b&b vouchers. It seems to be a low cost alternative and has worked well for us. Good luck.
The husband and I are traveling to Dublin this August to attend a very special science fiction/fantasy convention. Ireland hosts the 2014 Eurocon in Dublin. (This year they’re calling it Shamrokon.) My buddy Seanan McGuire, the author Guest of Honor, has used Irish language in several of her books. She’s also a very talent singer/songwriter, so we make up part of her backup band, Dead Sexy. http://www.shamrokon.ie/
I’m actually working on my masters in Dubin at the moment. I’d really like to see the rest of the country though.
Hope to travel “home” in August for a month. First stop will be a one week Irish course in the Donegal Gaeltacht. After that, I would love to go to Lough Derg for a one or maybe three day retreat.
Once all that “business” is finished, I intend on visiting mother’s side of the family in Killala, Mayo; then on to Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim for the father’s (and mother’s) side; finally to Dublin and Kildare for more relatives.
Sometimes I think that I’m related to half the island! It gets to be a chore particularly since each one puts on the Irish hospitality of a full meal. I will be sure to bring lots of Pepto Bismol! No matter, it’s fierce craic!
Finally, if I can pull it off, I may go on a birding trip with Eric Dempsey. Did that last year and it was brilliant, particularly Avoca and Glendalough which are two of my favorite places on earth.
I plan on staying in Dublin a couple of days then Galway for a week. Right now the plan is to go late September or October. I want to catch the things I missed during my visit during Christmas and New Years. If there is time I’d like to stay in Cork again but if not this journey, then the next.
Just realised I said my daughter lived in Co Meath. Should be Co Longford. She did stay in Mullingar for a short while. Regards
My wife and I intend retiring to our small farm outside Portglenone N Ireland from Durban South Africa. I know it’s not the South, although my daughter, son in law and two lovely grand children live in Longford Co Meath. We have travelled through both North and South often. My favorite memories are of County Clare & Lisdoonvarna/Kilfenora and the music. So much so, I am learning the tin whistle and bohran!! I have enjoyed your free course taster which has been most useful in giving insights to the very colorful and expressive Irish language as well as understanding lyrics to the music. Best regards Charles van Niekerk
Yep. At least once, maybe twice! Our goal is to drive the Wild Atlantic Way. All of it! With a side trip into Limerick to visit a few friends, of course!
If we do one trip, it will be about 4 weeks in early October. If we do 2, they will be 3 weeks each, with the first beginning in early July and the second in early October.
Hoping we can arrange a meetup for sure!