Being invited to a destination weddings has so many perks, not only do you get to have a great day with old and new friends but you also get to make a holiday out of it, and that’s exactly what we did when we went to Ireland.
Some of you might be thinking “but what about the weather?”, well my answer to you is, when you living in a country where in the summer months it can get up to 50 Degrees Celsius during the day and only as low as 35 Degrees at night, then some cool, rainy weather is exactly what we needed.
With my only experience of Ireland, being in Dublin a couple of times for work, to attend a Bon Jovi concert, a German boyfriend with an Irish accent and many of the Irish I had met telling me, ‘you cannot judge all of Ireland for what Dublin is’, (or a German story teller for that matter), I didn’t know quite what expect from this trip.
Arriving into Dublin airport we promptly picked up our hire car and drove directly to Limerick, for a suit fitting, before driving down to Six Mile Bridge for a couple of drinks with the boys old work colleagues. We then went back into limerick to check in at our lovely little hotel, The George, located pretty much in the center of town.
After freshening up we quickly familiarised ourselves with the hotel bar, where we met another friend, from here the night turns into a blur of Blumers, gin and tonics, four different bars including Nancy’s and curry chips. Needless to say I had a pretty sore head the next morning.
Struggling to get out of bed, I finally manage to shower, re-pack my case and make myself look presentable for the adventurous day ahead. We set off from Limerick and headed to the Cliffs of Moher
At a maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) this spectacular sight in County Clare, is not to be missed.
Knowing that in Ireland you can expect to experience 4 seasons in one day, I should have known we would be in for a shower at some stage. Note to self; always carry an umbrella.
Our next stop on the road trip was to Ballyvaughan to Monk’s Pub for some lunch.
As you can imagine, by this stage I was desperately in need for some hangover cure, of fish and chips, thankfully they did just that.
I would also have to recommend the seafood Chowder, although I cant eat it (being sensitive to lactose), but I am told by my other half that it is one of the best Chowders around.
From Ballyvaughan we made our way to Kilkee, taking in the picturesque scenery on the way.
Not steering from the Irish culture at all, our first port of call on arrival to Kilkee is one of the towns many pubs, Scott’s.
After a few pints with some friends we quickly check into our B&B and head to dinner at the Kilkee Golf Club. The food and the views were just stunning.
The next morning, feeling fresh as a daisy, we went for a scenic walk to take in the natural beauty of the town.
Soon after our walk we were back on the road headed for Dingle, crossing the river Shannon by ferry.
Due to us being on a schedule, we weren’t able to stop in all the towns we passed, but to anyone who is thinking of road tripping around Ireland, I would recommend it. There are hidden gems in every little town, so stop and have a roam around.
To get to Dingle we drove over The Conor Pass. This narrow, twisting road is the highest mountain pass in Ireland, and provides the most dramatic, scenic way of entering or leaving the town.
The views from the road are breathtaking, and as the landscape of mountains and corrie lakes come into view the higher we drove, it was even more breathtaking. Arriving at the scenic carpark, it was just a small climb up to the lake where there are views as far as the Aran Islands off County Galway (on a clear day that is). 
From the summit it’s just a short drive to the center of Dingle. Once cited as ‘the most beautiful place on earth’ by the National Geographic; was voted among the top 100 destinations in the world by Trip Advisor; CNN recently recommended it as a very favourable winter destination; it is listed as one of the top 10 places to be on New Year’s Eve. I must say, I can see why, this small town has a lot to offer.
Making ourselves comfortable at the Ballintaggart holiday homes and then later in the week moving into Ballintaggart house, we started to venture around the area, in between helping out with wedding preparations and hanging out with the bride and groom.
The Slea Head Drive is a circular route, beginning and ending in Dingle, that takes in a large number of attractions and stunning views on the western end of the peninsula.
Amongst all the scenery you must take time to check out Dingle’s pubs, which are known for great character – and great characters, as well as nightly sessions of traditional music and lots of fun times.
Some of these must see Pubs in Dingle are;
Dick Mack’s – probably Dingle’s most well-known pub. Named after the late leather-craftsman Richard MacDonnell (the current owner’s father), this family pub carries on a cobbler’s tradition, with a small leather shop still on the premises and an array of handcrafted leather boots, belts, and key fobs still on display. The walls are lined with old pictures, family memorabilia and books. Outside there is a Hollywood-style pavement with star slabs showing the names of famous people who have visited such as Sean Connery and Julia Roberts, to name a couple.
James Flahive – was a tailor shop for over 100 years, this old pub has put away the needles and threads but it still displays many of the trappings of the trade. The walls also show pictures of many favorite customers over the years as well as photos of the town’s resident dolphin. There’s no food nor music here, just good company and a good pint.
Foxy John’s – a bastion of home town atmosphere. This place is a combination of traditional hardware store (on the left) and vintage pub (on the right). Step in and shop, or sip. And just for good measure, you can also rent a bike at the back of the pub.
So as our fabulous trip was drawing to an end, there was still a wedding to attend and I can one hundred percent say that everyone had an amazing time. The Bride (and groom) looked stunning, the venue was lovely, the music was fab and there was loads of singing and dancing.
As reluctant as we were to have to come back home to Dubai, Ireland didn’t making it any easier, being as picturesque as ever on our drive back to the airport.
Nevertheless we had to say goodbye,
So, to anyone who is thinking about a trip to Ireland, what are you waiting for? The people are beyond friendly, the landscape is beautiful and the Bulmers…..
C. x
