Ireland is a frequent request from our clients, so I thought I’d offer a few thoughts about travelling this region.
Ireland is actually TWO countries, and I will speak to them both. The Republic of Ireland is home to 5 million people, the capital is Dublin, the President is Michael Higgins, and they use the Euro as their currency. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom (along with England, Scotland, and Wales). About 2 million people live in Northern Ireland, the capital is Belfast, their Prime Minister is currently Rishi Sunak, and they use British Pound Sterling as their currency.
So that gets the social studies lesson out of the way. What can you do in Ireland?
- Family Heritage Trips. It’s not a secret that in previous centuries, the Irish provided a ton of immigrants to the United States, so many people have no problem tracing their roots to this part of Europe (Hint: if your last name starts with “O’”, “Fitz”, or is “Ryan”, “Murphy”, or “Byrne” – do your family tree research in Ireland).
- Scenery. Ireland is one of those unique places on the planet where it difficult to find a place WITHOUT stunning vistas. There are cliffs that fall straight into the ocean, and rolling hills and countryside, too.
- Learn About the Drink. There’s a lot of bad jokes about the Irish and their love of the drink. You don’t have to be a big drinker to find a visit to the Guinness factory or an Irish Whiskey distillery really interesting.
- Castles. Every castle tells a story… and there’s plenty of stories in Ireland.
- Game of Thrones Tours — OK, much of it was filmed in Morocco, but there’s still plenty to see in Ireland for fans of this iconic production.
- Traditional Irish Dance & Music. You’ve undoubtedly seen this before – now go see it in its place of origin.
- Go to an Irish Pub with Music. The smaller the town, the more local… the better.
- Ring of Kerry – This 110-mile circuit, is probably one of the most scenic drives in the world. See it all: waterfalls, beaches, castles, and a Hermitage built by Christian Monks 1300 years ago at top of a jagged ocean crag.
- Learn From the Irish – There is no doubt the Irish have endured more than their fair share of misfortune in the past few hundred years – right up until the 20th century. They have lived in peace and relative prosperity for the past few decades, and there’s lots to be learned from them about how they achieved this.
The Republic of Ireland is about the same size as Indiana but has about 4600 miles of coastline. This means you’re never far from the ocean, and a cruise ship is a good way to sample several different places in this fascinating country. Later, you might want to go back to the places you loved the most and stay for a while.
See below a for few suggestions as to how to see Ireland.
Today’s Travel Opportunities
Azamara departing Dublin for London on June 13 (or Aug 29) – 12 days
- Visit Dublin (overnight), Warrenpoint, Belfast (overnight), Londonderry, Killybegs, Donegal, Galway, Foynes, Cork.
- Oceanview from $2298 per person; Veranda Suites from $6842 pp.
Oceania Riviera departing Belfast (round-trip) on June 21 – 9 days
- Visit Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Bantry, Galway, Killybegs, Londonderry.
- Oceanview from $3549 per person; Veranda Suites from $4199 pp. Air add-on: $1200.
- See our Riviera ship tour video here: https://youtu.be/KvgJJ2bE1OU
- See our video about Oceania’s Culinary Program here: https://youtu.be/O0Que9codHo
Ultimate Ireland LAND Tour departing Dublin on June 20 (or July 11) – 15-days
- Visit Dublin (3-days), Belfast (2 days), Giant’s Causeway, Derry, Donegal (2 days), Enniskillen, Galway (2 days), Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Kilkenny (2 days).
- $4599 per person, double occupancy.
- Includes all breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners, guided walking tours of Dublin and Derry, as well the services of a professional guide that travels with you throughout your journey.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
