St. Paddy’s Day and Irish Pubs
I’m curious why Saint Patrick’s day gets celebrated so much outside of Ireland. Each year there are festivals and events across the world, and the United States is a hub of these celebrations. In Chicago the river is dyed green, and the parade in New York gets attended by over two million people each year (undoubtedly not this year, but usually).
We’ve just spent a month in La Rochelle France, and out of all possible nationalities, the Irish are well-represented in this gorgeous town—there’s two Irish bars and one Irish shop. We spent our last night in town at the Irish pub called The Jolly Sailor, and the decoration leprechauns had adorned it with balloons, banners, and Saint Patrick’s Day bunting. Now that France is on lockdown, they won’t be able to celebrate with the usual spirit and raucousness of previous years. But why is it that wherever we seem to be in the world, we’re never more than staggering distance away from an Irish Bar?
Despite my confusion about the popularity of Saint Patrick’s day and the prevalence of Irish pubs around the globe, Ireland is a country that has been on my list to visit for years. I would dearly love to travel extensively through Northern and Southern Ireland but wouldn’t know where to start. So I reached out to my fellow bloggers in the Not So Young Female Travel Bloggers Facebook group and asked them to share their favourite blog posts about Ireland—here’s their response.
Where to go in Ireland – Ultimate 14 day road trip
Faith is an avid house sitter which allows her to spend longer at her chosen destinations and enjoy immersion into the local culture. She explored Ireland’s nooks and crannies during her 14-day road trip, which can be started from Shannon, Dublin or Belfast—whichever you fly into.
Read Faith’s article to discover:
- Dublin, North Newgrange and Boyne Valley, Belfast, Causeway Coast Tour, Derry (Londonderry), Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway City, Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty County Clare, Dingle Peninsula Drive, Ring of Kerry, Skellig Michael, Blarney Castle and Kilkenny
23 Exciting Things to do in Dublin
Jen is an aspiring world traveler who wants to travel without going broke, she put together this list of 23 things to do in Ireland’s historic capital of Dublin.
Read Jen’s article to discover:
- Dublin, Giants Causeway, and the Cliffs of Moher
Top 20 Irish Experiences Along the Wild Atlantic Way
Heather left her 9-5 job to become a digital nomad and travel full time, her post features the tourism trail that runs along the west coast of Ireland.
Read Heather’s article to discover:
- Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Slea Head Drive, Dingle, and Inch Beach.
Exploring the East Coast of Northern Ireland
Jan is a serial travel addict whose favorite way to travel is to rent a car and drive to remote, scenic places, avoiding big cities and highways, and taking the smaller inner roads.
Read Jan’s article to discover:
Belfast, Larne, Islandmagee, Carnfunnock, and Torr Head.
Are you looking for road trip inspiration to explore the Northern Ireland? Join Jan from @leisurelydrives as she tours the east coast of the Emerald Isle #SaintPatricksDay Share on XThings to do in Bray
Sinead started her blog to document our family travels and encourage and inspire other families to explore together. She writes about the pretty coastal town of Bray, County Wicklow which is a one hour drive south of Dublin city centre and around 45 minutes by DART train.
Read Sinead’s article to discover:
- Brey
6 cool things Ireland is Famous for
Read Talek’s article to discover:
- Dublin, Blarney Castle, Mizen Head, Cliffs of Moher, and the Wild Atlantic Way.
12 Fun Activities for Kids in Dublin
Elizabeth believes that learning doesn’t have to be dull, and can easily be wrapped up in the adventure of a day’s travel without the kids even knowing their trip is educational as well as fun. Where better to start than Dublin?
Read Elizabeth’s article to discover:
- Dublin and Waterford
Top 5 Things to do in Donegal
Corinne and her husband Jim have traveled the world together for more than 35 years. Their travel philosophy focuses on the journey being part of the adventure. Join them as they visit the rugged and sparsely populated Donegal County.
Read Corinne’s article to discover:
- Donegal
The Ring of Kerry, A 3 Day Self-Drive Itinerary
Sue blogs to inspire other women to grab life by the balls! Here’s her itinerary for a 3 day road trip around the Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way, so you can do some grabbing of your own.
Read Sue’s article to discover:
- Killorglin, Cahergill, Leacanabuile, Valentia Island, Skellig Michael & Small Skellig, Kenmarem, St Finian’s Bay, Ballinskelligs, Kenmare, Killarney, Torc Mountain, and Muckross Abbey.
A Dublin to Sligo Road Trip for Fans fo WB Yeats’ Poetry
Jennifer blogs to inspire people who have a demanding job to see that it is possible to achieve work-life balance and travel extensively, and this post is about the stretch of coastline along the Wild Atlantic Way that features prominently in the poetry of W.B. Yeats.
Read Jennifer’s article to discover:
- Lough Key, Sligo, Ballina, Northern County Mayo, Mount Falcon Estate, Easkey, Carrowkeel, Glencar Lough and Drumcliff
Irish beauty and wisdom in Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher
Travel is something Kathy does between stints at work, and on a recent road trip she found peace and wisdom in the broad skies, rocky cliffs and pastoral scenes of Doolin.
Read Kathy’s article to discover:
- Doolin
Reading through these articles has made me realize how much I need to prioritize a trip to Ireland. I know we’re in the throes of Covid-19, and who knows when we’ll be able to enjoy the freedom of traveling when we want and where we want, but when were can—let’s all do our bit to support the tourism industry. Ireland’s on my list, and I can’t wait. Where in Ireland would you like to travel?
Are you looking for ideas and inspiration for your next roadtrip around #Ireland? Here's plenty of ideas to get your travel juices flowing. #SaintPatrick Share on X
I am embarrassed to say that I have only ever spent 2 nights in Dublin but have not ventured further to the other parts of the Emerald Isle. This is a great collab using full blogs about the many places to visit around Ireland and I have pinned it for future reference as after reading just one of the blogs about the Ring of Kerry I feel I need to explore Ireland a little more.
I know what you mean! I can’t believe I’ve underestimated this destination in the past. It looks enchanting.
The best part of not being able to travel is reading about places you want to visit when this c-word is all over. Exploring Ireland has been on my wishlist for a long time. Been to Dublin a few times but never to the country. The Wild Atlantic Way is particularly appealing!
Yes I wasn’t aware of the Wild Atlantic Way before I did this post. It’s so great to get inspiration from other travel bloggers.
Reading your posts make me realize that I would not only like, but I need to see more of Ireland. I have only been to Dublin for a weekend of new year celebrations, and that does not really give the city justice since we only say the party-part 😛
Well better than nothing Ann … from what I understand, Dublin is a popular weekend party town.
Never been to Ireland before.This one make me yearn for it though. What beautiful monuments and landscape!
Yes I think the rolling countryside and rural landscapes, as well as the coastal parts of Ireland are what appeal the most.
Great collab post on St Paddy’s day! I love the choices from Dublin to Belfast and Donegal to Kerry. You have covered most of Ireland. I have to plan another trip to Ireland soon! 🙂
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There’s certainly a lot to see in Northern and the Republic of Ireland, I need to see both.
A brilliant collaboration post. Covering much of the breath and width of Emerald Isle. Bringing back memorable and joyous moments, having spent time visiting Ireland on three occasions; and seeing that there is still much more to see. Lots of wonderful inspiration here. 🙂 <3
Thanks Marilyn, it’s been a while since I did a collaboration post, and I enjoyed reading other people’s blog posts about Ireland. Plus I read their about pages and feel I know them all a little better now.
Like you I’ve not been to Ireland yet, but I am really eager to do so. There are so many great itineraries in this post that I will definitely use when I finally get that trip booked! I am especially eager to drive the Ring of Kerry–I’ve heard so much about that region.
Love this collab, all wonderful places about Ireland in one place. Makes travel planning easier.
Although I’ve lived in and traveled throughout Europe, I’ve never been to Ireland. Just that sweet fluffy sheep face makes me want to fix that immediately. What a great list of recommendations when I get the chance to go!
I loved my trip to Ireland. I was there solo for about 6 days a couple of years ago. I can’t wait to read through all of these articles because I would love to go back!
Wow! So many places, so little time. I spent a week in Ireland a few years ago and it wasn’t nearly enough time. I would love a week in Dublin alone. Thanks for all the great info.
Yes if you’re going to go, you have to make it an extended trip.
I’ve been dying to visit Ireland and see the Ring of Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher. Thank you for sharing this itinerary!
It’s great to get such varied input from other bloggers. There are a few places that pop up again and again, and they’ll have to make it onto our must-see list!
The closest I’ve got to see Ireland is Dublin on a boozy weekend! I had no idea it was so colourful! That pink cottage at the start sold it. What a great selection of places your writers in this article have suggested. This looks like the beginnings of a fabulous road trip – thank you for the inspiration.
I think a boozy trip to Dublin is where a lot of people’s experience of Ireland ends! 😉