5 Reasons why I will Return to Ireland

I hate to backtrack. This has been well documented over my years of travel. As time goes on and the number of countries I visit goes up, my desire to return to my favourite places has grown. This is been the case for loved places like Cape Town and New Zealand. Now I am itching to return to Ireland. I was lucky enough to spend eight awesome days driving around the country and an additional few days enjoying Dublin. I walked the Cliffs of Moher, saw tombs older than the pyramids of Giza, and had a creamy pint straight from the source at the Guinness Storehouse. I saw castles, drank whiskey, and explored Northern Ireland where I walked in the footsteps of giants and learned all about Belfast’s shipbuilding past.

Yes, it was truly an amazing trip…and yet I want more.

With that, here are five reasons why I will return to Ireland.

Pub Hopping

Fancy a pint? Ireland’s got you covered. I could (and did) spend hours relaxing in a pub and specifically travel from small town to small town enjoying live music and a cold Guinness along the way. Seriously, Ireland has some amazing pubs…but this shouldn’t be a shocker. What is surprising is the fact that I could literally return to Ireland just to bar hop.

Also, I really love Guinness. Getting it straight from the source is somehow so much better.

Enjoy Local Support

Although it felt like drinking was a sport while I was in Ireland, it was the collection of odd games that caught my attention. While touring the Cork countryside with a friend and his father, the most Irish thing possible happened. We drove into a bowling game, literally. No, we didn’t crash into a bowling alley. We stumbled upon street bowling, a game typically found in the Cork region. This odd sport puts two contestants against each other while spectators bet on their ability to throw a steel ball down the road.

Amazing.

Naturally, this peaked my curiosity into local sport. A little further down the road, a high school hurling match was underway. My friend stopped to watch it while I confusingly looked on. Turns out, Ireland has plenty of great local games including handball, football, and rounders.

Golf

Speaking of sport, I would return to Ireland just to golf its many beautiful courses. While road tripping around the country I passed course after course. Turns out, Ireland loves golf. So much so that golf vacations are not uncommon and even met a group of guys from Canada doing just that. Some of the courses I would love to try out include Portmarnock, Lahinch, and Ballybunion which is often listed as one of the finest in the world.

Complete the Ring of Kerry

I would also return to Ireland to drive the Ring of Kerry proper. On my last visit, I foolishly thought I could drive it all in a day. Fail. I made it a quarter way around before turning back. Although I did get to see the Muckross House, old stone forts, and the views from Molly’s Gap, I missed out on a lot. Next time I will slow down to enjoy some hikes and visit Skellig Michael, Derrynane Beach, and Innisfallen Island.

Castles, Castles, Castles

Although I saw my fair share of castles along my trip through Ireland, I want more. I wasn’t actively seeking them out yet there they were in every small town and random countryside location along the way. I would love to return to Ireland and seek out the country’s best and most notable castles such as The Rock of Cashel and Doe Castle. And even though I have little desire to kiss a well-loved rock, I would return to Ireland to visit Blarney Castle. At the very least it would keep the tourist in me satisfied.

Book me

There you have it. 5 reasons why I will return to Ireland and, perhaps, 5 reasons why you will make your first trip. From its green countryside to its countryside pubs, there is plenty left for me to explore in Ireland.

What say you?
Thoughts on these reasons why I will return to Ireland?
Let’s hear it!

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