My grandfather, James Noon, had Irish lineage. His great grandparents emigrated from Ireland to America in 1839. My mother and her eight siblings are proud of their Irish heritage. We look forward to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, attending regional Celtic festivals and listening to Celtic music during family gatherings.
For many years, my mother has wanted her immediate family to experience Ireland together. After saving and planning, she made that dream a reality. My mother Linda, father Michael, two brothers Matthew and Daniel, and I traveled to the Emerald Isle this past June.
Planning Pays Off
In the fall of 2011, my mom began her research. She spoke with family and friends who had traveled to Ireland, read books and searched online. We also discussed places we'd like to see.
Having an itinerary in mind, in January, 2011 she visited AAA Travel in Wyomissing and made all the arrangements, including car transportation, flights, hotels and a house rental. Most of the details were taken care of and paid for before we touched down in Ireland. This helped to avoid stress during the trip itself.
We rented a townhouse for several nights. This provided a great cost savings and a “home base” where we could prepare meals, do laundry and relax. This is definitely worth considering when traveling abroad for an extended period.
I researched the weather and talked to other people who had been there at the same time of year to properly pack for the climate. (For other tips, check out the “Pre-Travel To-Do List.”)
Here We Go!
A car service drove us to Newark Airport. We flew red-eye and arrived in Dublin early. A car took us to our hotel, The Callaghan Mont Clare, and we enjoyed a traditional Irish breakfast.
We explored Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, beautiful illustrations of the Gospels by monks dating back to the 9th century. We walked through St. Stephen’s Green and explored Temple Bar, Dublin’s trendiest neighborhood with shops, galleries and restaurants.
The next day, we visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, toured Dublin Castle and had lunch at The Brazen Head, built in 1198–Ireland’s oldest pub. One of the highlights of the trip was touring the Guinness Storehouse and learning how this famous brew is made.
Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
Most cars in Ireland are small, as are the roads. We had arranged for a van to fit the five of us and our luggage. Danny was the first brave soul to drive. The trip to Galway was mostly highway, and once he got his bearings, Dan did a great job! Galway was a fun town with shops and pubs. We visited Thomas Dillon’s–the original maker of the Claddagh ring.
The next day we made the trek to Killarney. Matt was the driver and I somehow was named navigator. This was probably one of the most stressful, yet amazing, days wrapped into one.
Our first stop was Dunguaire Castle, and along the way we saw homes with thatched roofs, which my father was anxious to see. We drove through a region called the Burren and got lost. The GPS was not much help. Then we encountered a bike race. Matt navigated around hundreds of bikers on very narrow roads in the rain! He was quite the navigator, and we finally found our next destination, Poulnabrone–an ancient portal tomb dating back to 1500 B.C.
The next stop was Kilfenora to see the carved high crosses from the 12th century before experiencing the breathtaking view of the Cliffs of Moher, which overlook the Atlantic. That site alone was worth the trip!
Killarney–The Quintessential Irish Town
We finally arrived in our next destination, Killarney. The streets are lined with shops, restaurants and, of course, pubs. It was a great place to call home for a week!
Our townhouse was located in a “holiday village” a few miles outside of town right across from the beautiful Killarney National Park. Our first day there, I ran through the park. I came out of a wooded area to a spectacular view of a lake and mountains. As I ran a few more yards, I saw a group of Kerry cows. As I continued on the trail, I encountered an old monastery–not my typical scenery on a run at home. It was a memorable experience.
As a family, we took jaunting car tours through Killarney National Park and saw the sites including the lakes, Muckross House and Gardens, Torc Waterfall and Ross Castle.
My brothers and I spent a day on the links at Killarney Golf & Fish Club, an awesome course! Throughout the week we had great meals. I enjoyed delicious seafood including smoked salmon and seafood stew. My family members tried lamb and beef stew. Evenings were spent at various pubs listening to Irish music, watching soccer and drinking Guinness, as well as trying some other Irish brews.
Day Trips
From our base in Killarney, we drove to Kenmare. That was another interesting drive on narrow mountain roads while navigating around buses. Another day, we took a bus tour around the Ring of Kerry.
One of my favorite days was at Blarney Castle. The estate was “brilliant!” We toured the medieval castle and kissed the stone. My brothers and I explored the druid gardens and made our wish as we walked backwards, with our eyes closed, up and down the witch’s steps. We also visited the city of Cork that day.
Our final day, we drove to Shannon and had a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. That night we saw a rainbow–the perfect end to the trip. We flew from Shannon Airport early the next morning back to the U.S.
The time and effort my mother put into preplanning truly paid off–both financially as well as in the overall experience.
Pre-Travel To-Do List
PASSPORT. If you have one, make sure it’s current. If you are getting one for the first time, allow a few months.
MAKING CALLS. Planning to use your cell phone abroad? Be sure to contact your cell phone provider prior to your trip to adjust texting, data and call usage. You can save money by adjusting your settings during the trip. You can also purchase calling cards to contact family/friends in the U.S.
MONEY. You can arrange in advance to have currency from the country where you are traveling. Order through AAA or contact your bank. Also, notify your bank and credit card companies to let them know you are traveling abroad and may be using your cards.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY KRISTIN KRAMER
