Anchor:
The anchor for this trip was Phase 2, spending a week with Ben, Kait, Greyson, and Emmett in Dublin and at Kilkea Castle. First and foremost, I LOVE spending time with them! Forging silver rings with Greyson, chasing and snuggling Emmett, exploring Glendalough and Kilkenny with Ben, and chatting and laughing with Kait – definitely highlights of this adventure! Deciding that I wanted to spend some time pre- and post-Dublin/Kilkea, I chose the next phases of this Irish expedition around this anchor.

Irish people:
So fun! So friendly! So talkative! Nearly everyone I met – service people, pub customers, fellow travelers – were helpful, kind, and entertaining. The only somewhat “surly” ones that I had contact with were a few of the younger people working at tourist locations. I’m sure they would much prefer to be elsewhere. Everyone else, though, including most of the other younger people, were terrific.

Music and dancing:
If I had the energy, I could have listened to music and danced every night! As it was, I often went to sleep before the music began. Regardless, I had several nights of music – and a couple nights of dancing. All great fun!

Transportation:
I avoided driving a car for several reasons. First, as a solo traveler I didn’t want to navigate and focus on driving on the left-hand side of the road. Second, I prefer looking out the window and seeing the landscape rather than keeping my eyes on the road or on a map. During this adventure, I took taxis, busses, and trains – and Hillwalk Tours booked rides for me when my accommodation was not near my trail. Also, for my Aran Island excursion, I traveled by ferry and rode an e-bike. Only once was the transportation not as smooth or as quick as I would have liked. When I arrived in Ennis, instead of waiting two hours for the next bus (reduced scheduled on Easter Sunday), I treated myself to a taxi to Liscannor. Learning public transit systems frequently necessitates focus and frustration; in Ireland, I found the systems quite easy and clear.

Beauty:
The natural beauty of this country delights me. Although there are some of the rolling hills with grass and sheep that I imagined, there is also a much more rugged beauty and gorgeous shores, lakes, and rivers. All of this coupled with the rustic archaeological monuments made for a visual feast.

Politics:
Maybe because I started this adventure in Belfast or because politics intrigues me, but I can’t separate the political from the non-political in Ireland. The Troubles/Conflict (depending on one’s perspective) combined with Brexit have created, in my opinion, a tense situation which could erupt under certain conditions. It worries me.

Highlights:
After every trip, I’m asked what was your favorite part or top three favorite parts? That’s always so hard to answer! Below, I share some of my most treasured moments.

Phase 1:
It’s true that I learned a lot during my political murals tour and loved exploring the Giants Causeway. Nevertheless, the most fun I had was Saturday night at a pub listening to trad music and dancing! Since I have no photos from that evening, instead I’m sharing a pic from the Giants Causeway, my first excursion.

Phase 2:
Forging silver rings with Grey, singing (including creating a nana verse for Wheels on the Bus!) with Emmett, day tripping to Kilkenny and Glendalough with Ben, and watching the joy on Kait’s face when she held an owl – these are four of my favorite things!

Phase 3:
The natural beauty of the Burren, along with the sense of accomplishment in completing the trek, created powerful moments for me. Unplugging from podcasts, books, and music turned this walk into a spiritual journey.

Phase 4:
Wandering around Galway, Connemara, and Inis Mór with my camera and lots of relaxed time allowed me to focus on my photography skills. In fact, throughout this trip, I’ve had a blast taking the time to capture images that grab me. Every evening, often in lieu of going out and listening to music, I enjoyed reviewing and editing photos and updating my blog. It’s been one of my cherished memories from my Ireland adventure.