Travel with Elizabeth — Ireland Beyond The Stereotypes + 5 Tips For An Authentic Irish Getaway

Perhaps more than any other country, Americans are drawn to Ireland. Most likely, it’s because 1 in 4 U.S. adults have Irish ancestry! There’s also something about the fighting Irish - their love of beer, the green shamrocks, and little Leprechauns that we just love. But Ireland is far more than its clichés (though you’ll see plenty of that if you stick to the tourist routes) and those in search of it will bring home a far better treasure than the so called pot of gold.

Here’s What To Expect On Your First Visit To Ireland.

When we think of Ireland and Scotland, we tend to loop them together. While it’s true they were both founded in the Middle Ages, and both countries share a similar history, their capital cities are very different from one another. By comparison, Dublin feels much younger than Edinburgh. Having reached its heyday in the 1700’s, the city’s architecture is predominately Georgian. Even Dublin Castle will leave you scratching your head. This certainly came as a surprise to me! Like most European cities though, Dublin is a very walkable city, and relatively easy to navigate if you remember that the River Liffey divides the city into north and south, and make note of major landmarks.

If you’ve visited before, odds are you’ll find that much has changed in Dublin, thanks to its recent economic boom. Dublin now has an incredible food scene, plenty of shopping, world class museums, and over 700 pubs (some more authentically unpretentious than others). Dublin is Ireland’s largest city by far. In fact, 39% of the entire population lives here. It’s a fantastic city, but in truth, Dublin is the least Irish city in Ireland. You’re just as likely to come across people of all nationalities here, as you are Irish.

To experience the authentic side of Ireland, you have to leave the city.

Unlike other European countries, Ireland is not easily traversed using public transit. Trains connect only a few major cities, and you’ll waste precious time waiting for buses. Excepting guided tours, which offer their own list of benefits, Ireland is best explored by car. Thanks to The International Monetary Fund, European structural funds, and some wise investing, Ireland’s infrastructure has drastically improved since the 1990s. You’ll still experience some traffic in tourist towns, particularly during peak season, but otherwise, you won’t have trouble hopping from city to city. The drive from Galway to Dublin, for instance, only takes about 3 hours.

From Dublin, heading south, you’ll come to the Wicklow Mountains of Co. Wicklow, known as The Garden of Ireland. Along with mountains, you’ll find fertile lowlands, rolling hills, and early monastic ruins. Along the coast, you’ll find colorful towns, lovely beaches, and Ireland's second-largest city, Cork. Continue west, driving through the Irish countryside, you’ll begin to see the quintessential Ireland you came for. From the mountains and lakes of Killarney to patchwork farmland and the rugged cliffs along the entire western coast.

There are many worthwhile stops throughout Ireland, so many in fact, that you’ll find it difficult to narrow down the list! An expertly planned itinerary will save you time and help you connect the dots with ease! Visit the ruins of abbeys and monasteries, generational farms, mountain lakes, and majestic manors, dotted between one picturesque town after another. You can even visit filming locations used in various movies, including Star Wars! You’re sure to work up an appetite, so grab a seat at the local pub, enjoy the warm atmosphere, a pint of beer, and freshly caught fish and chips, or a bowl of Guinness Stew.

Pubs are a quintessential part of Irish culture!

Short for “public house”, pubs are where locals meet to catch up on sports and the latest “craic” (that’s an Irish term for news, gossip, and humorous conversation). Notable figures throughout history regularly frequented such pubs, many of which are still around today. Just think, you can visit the same pubs that Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker once did!

The Land of Saints and Scholars

Ireland is very proud of their long list of writers, musicians, and philosophers! The list also includes W.B. Yeats, Jonathan Swift, and James Joyce, just to name a few. To enrich your experience in Ireland, I recommend reading at least one piece of work by these renowned authors. If you love Ulysses, stop in for a book reading at Sweny’s Pharmacy in Dublin or join a literary walk.

Many famous musicians got their start in Ireland as well, like U2, Bono, Van Morrison, and the Cranberries. Traditional Irish music, however, is still played throughout the country, and the best place to hear it is in the pubs of smaller towns like Doolin or Dingle where local musicians gather and play together purely for the enjoyment of it.

To know Ireland, you must understand its history.

The turbulent struggles of Ireland can be found in both ancient and modern history. From centuries of invasions, 700 years of tyrannical rule of England, and the Great Famine and emigration of the 1800s, to its long battle for independence and the civil wars of the 20th century. To learn about Ireland’s ancient past, you can visit any number of historical sites throughout the country. If you plan on visiting many of these sites, I recommend purchasing a Heritage Card. The Heritage Card gets you into 42 different sites across the Republic of Ireland for roughly half the price, and this includes guided tours.

To learn about Ireland’s more recent struggles for Independence, I recommend a walking tour around Dublin and a visit to numerous sites relating to the famous uprising of 1916.

The best way to experience Ireland is through its people!

The Irish people are, without a doubt, the treasure of Ireland. Known for their “gift of gab”, the Irish are natural-born storytellers and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet! You can find beautiful scenery anywhere around the world, but the Irish people are what you’ll bring home with you.

5 Tips For An Authentic Irish Getaway

Visit several pubs throughout your trip. 
Grab a seat at an open table or belly up to the bar and order a drink. Strike up a conversation with those around you, or even the wait staff! Many pubs offer live music, which usually begins around 9 PM. I recommend an 8:00 dinner reservation and then you can stay for the music.
Visit the EPIC Museum in Dublin. 
Walk through the history of Ireland and the story of its people with a visit to this interactive, award-winning museum. The EPIC Museum aims to show who the Irish are, beyond the stereotypes, and how they’ve influenced and shaped the world over.
Take a Guided Tour 
Guided tours are offered at all the historical locations managed by the Public Works Office. Expert guides are passionate about the history and true stories behind these sites, and they do a wonderful job of bringing those stories to life. Guided tours are highly educational and much more interesting than reading the information yourself. (You’re more likely to remember it too!)
Go Beyond the Tourist Routes .
The tour buses generally visit the same sites: The Book of Kells in Dublin, The Guinness Brewery, Blarney Castle, the Ring of Kerry, and the Cliffs of Moher. That’s not to say these sites are to be avoided. There’s obviously a reason they’re so popular, but to experience the more authentic side of Ireland, I recommend visiting lesser-known sites and towns as well. The Burren National Park, for instance, is typically overlooked, but this incredible geologically oddity is certainly worth a visit.
Let A Professional Plan Your Travel Itinerary! 
The truth is, there’s no one way to visit Ireland, and every traveler has their unique list of needs, desires, and preferences. Travel agents get to know you, and use your list as a guideline for crafting a custom experience that checks all the boxes. Imagine all the time you’ll save, not having to comb through all the options yourself! Travel Advisors know which hotels or B&B’s give you the best bang for your buck, plus we’ll arrange for immersive, cultural experiences for you and your traveling party. To online booking engines you are just a number, isn’t it better to connect with a real person? You have someone that does your hair and someone that does your taxes, why not have someone that books your vacations too?

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