A Trip to Dublin and Galway
Okay, so my sister and I are HUGE Garth Brooks fans. I’m not kidding. To be honest, the obsession might be a little bit unhealthy. Or at least slightly concerning. But here’s how I see it. I don’t know ANYTHING about pop culture. Seriously. So, I just take all of the energy I would put into a normal amount of celebrity knowledge and channel it all into Garth.
Anyway, Garth Brooks announced that he would be including Dublin on his Stadiums Tour, and my sister and I decided we NEEDED to be there. I invited my husband, and he, in turn, invited his sister to complete the family trip.
We took this trip in September and spent a week traveling between Dublin and Galway. And let me tell you. Fall in Ireland is so pretty! We had some sunshine, some sprinkly rain, and plenty of daylight to explore.
Things to do in Dublin
Oh you mean besides obsess over Garth Brooks? Loads of stuff.
Guinness Storehouse: Definitely worth a stop if you’re into drinking Guinness. Or if, like me, you like to sip a Guinness Clear (what they call the water) and look out at rooftop views of Dublin after learning about the beer’s history and scientific brewing process (nerd alert).
Trinity College and The Book of Kells: If you’re into fun trivia facts, college, corny jokes, and want to go in buildings that only a guide can let you into, you MUST do a tour here. If huge libraries, the bible, and really old books are your jam, definitely go in to see the Book of Kells exhibit while you’re there.
Jameson Distillery Tour: Complete with an entertaining tour guide, exhibits you can touch, and a taste of three different whiskeys, this tour was surprisingly enjoyable.
Visit Churches Older Than the USA: I love walking around and looking at giant old churches, especially the ones where you can go downstairs to what may or may not have been a dungeon. So we ate crepes for breakfast and then spent a morning in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral.
EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum: If you have any Irish heritage or connection to Ireland, this is a neat museum to check out. It’s just stunning exhibit after exhibit about the history and culture of Irish people in Ireland and those who have emigrated and impacted the world elsewhere.
The Leprechaun Museum: The Irish are some of the best storytellers I’ve ever heard. Not sure? Just check out the Leprechaun Museum, a storytelling museum that offers family-friendly daytime stories and scarier, sometimes adult-only nighttime options. One of my FAVORITE stops when we’re in Dublin.
What we didn’t do in Dublin: Temple Bar
If you’re young and fun and looking to pay a lot of money to party, this is the scene for you. But since I am none of those things, we skipped this one. I’d been once before, enjoyed some live music, and had a good time, but I prefer not to have beer spilled on my shoes.
Things to do in (and around) Galway:
Cliffs of Moher: If you can stomach the drive, we suggest renting a car and driving from Galway on your own. It’s totally worth a stop, especially if you can go early enough to avoid the peak hours when it fills up with people.
Doolin: On our way back from the Cliffs, we stopped in a town called Doolin. It also attracted some of those large tour buses, but thankfully we were on our own schedule! We had lunch at a pub that served cauliflower wings and vegan shepherd’s pie, went down to the pier, and had a fun afternoon of exploration.
Have a Tea Party: So my sister who only stays at bougie hotels picked one that served afternoon tea. If you’re into tiny snacks, sweet treats, and tea, make sure to reserve a spot to have a cuppa at the G Hotel.
A long walk to the beach: If being outside and walking around is more your speed, there’s an app called GPSmyCity that gives suggested routes and landmarks to see. I used it to take a long walk along Salthill Promenade on a particularly sunny afternoon.
Live Music: It’s everywhere. Go grab a pint (or a cup of tea) and have a listen!
What we didn’t do in Galway: Guided Tours
We actually did sign up and start a guided bus tour from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher because we wanted to avoid driving on our own. But it was kind of terrible. So we got off at the first stop and never looked back.
What to Eat and Drink
Besides everything? We mostly spent our money eating and drinking in Irish Pubs. I’m a vegetarian, so a lot of traditional Irish dishes aren’t an option for me, but there were plenty of alternatives. There was always a veggie soup of the day served with Irish soda bread, plus a lot of places had options for things like vegan shepherd’s pie, or even vegan curries.
Dublin Pubs:
Galway Pubs:
Tigh Neachtains (FAVORITE!)
Where to Stay
In Dublin, we stayed in the Generator Hostel. If you’re young, fun, and like to party, this is a great place for you. Or if you’re old and your body can still handle the party, go for it. This was the hostel stay where I realized that I am neither of those things anymore.
My sister refuses to stay in hostels, so she booked a room at the Hendrick Hotel. It was lovely. I used her shower more than once.
Once we got to Galway, the hostel experience was much more our speed. It was only a few dollars a night (LOVE) and had a huge kitchen instead of a huge nightclub downstairs. We stayed at the Sleepzone Galway and if you’re looking for an affordable stay with fellow travelers, we’d highly recommend this place.
My sister stayed at the G Hotel, a beautiful spot about a 20-minute walk from us. I also showered there and it was delightful.
How we got around
Dublin to Galway
Oh the train is a magical thing. Our favorite way to get around when we’re in Europe, we just hopped on the train for a quick trip from Dublin to Galway.
Day trip to Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher
The only way we could figure to get around to these other sites was by car. Or giant tour bus, but that didn’t work out for us. So we rented a car, drove on the left side of the road and through the narrowest roads you’ve ever seen, and made it back alive.
What we read, because every adventure needs a good book.
I was reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on this trip and it did not disappoint. The small paperback book fit easily into my purse and traveled nicely. My sister and I also stopped into a local bookstore and picked up a couple books by Sally Rooney. I read Beautiful World, Where Are You as we were leaving. I didn’t enjoy that one as much, but it was still fun to read an Irish author’s work in Ireland.
My husband picked up a copy of The Provisional IRA and read it on the plane home. A little nonfiction work for those interested in learning about Irish history and politics.
Classroom impact
I always hope my travels impact my classroom in a positive way. I’ve been able to use this experience to talk to my students about how things that are different than we’re used to can be difficult, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong or bad. I tell them about how in places like Ireland, people drive on the opposite side of the road. I might tell a funny story about my husband smashing curbs or turning into the wrong lane in order to illustrate how hard it can be to get used to something new. I can teach them that, like my husband, if they persevere and accept the challenge, they’ll eventually get better, even if it isn’t always perfect.
How else could you use an experience like this in your classroom? On a non-teaching note, what activities or sites in Ireland excite you the most? Let me know in the comments!
