Has a destination you’ve never traveled to before ever felt so familiar and so comfortable that you just know deep down in your heart, when you do finally get to visit, that it will feel like home? I’m not talking about just knowing that you’ll have a good time. That’s different, almost a given. No, this is so much deeper than that. Can a place capture your heart if you’ve never been there? I definitely think it can.
I’ve spent the better part of my life being obsessed with everything British and Irish. If you know me well, you’ll know exactly how true that is. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time learning everything I can about these places. Sure, that’s conveniently helpful for my day job but that’s not why I do it. I do it because it makes me happy.
Travel advisor educational trips can be a bit intimidating. You get on a plane by yourself and travel across the pond to meet up with a group of people you’ve never met before and spend the whole week together. I’ve done this before and this was definitely the farthest I’ve gone on my own but I wasn’t nervous. I think it was because Ireland has been that place for me. The place that has been so comfortable, and so familiar, for so long that I knew once I got there, I’d be alright. As soon as I sat down at that fish and chips restaurant in Belfast and officially joined the group, I instantly knew I was home.
I didn’t know a lot about Belfast before this trip. I knew about the Troubles experienced throughout all of Northern Ireland and I knew that the Titanic was built there. I also know that it is starting to become more of a “destination” and now I can definitely see why. They have such a fascinating history and while they relatively live in peace now, the divisions in the city are still very much there and I am so intrigued by this dynamic. Belfast was a bit of a blur. Nothing like being thrown right into the whirlwind while running on no sleep! But I could tell right away, this was going to be a great group of girls. Looking back on this day, it’s honestly wild that we were all still strangers at this point. That would change very quickly.
As much as I love getting to know all my fellow American travelers on trips like these, I also knew that Ireland was too important for me not to get to know every Irish person we interacted with as well. I didn’t want to miss a single thing. I wanted to hear every side conversation uttered by each guide as we walked from one point of interest to another, not just what was said to the group when we stopped. I wanted to hear every word from the tour director on the bus, over the microphone or not. If there was an option to explore anything at all, even if it was a walk after dinner in the dark, I wanted to be there. This could be attributed most to FOMO but can we just call it soaking it all in?
While I am a city girl at heart, it’s Ireland’s countryside that has the real beauty. I always knew this would be the case but the cozy vibes are SO real and you all know how much I love being cozy. It was all foggy and rainy when we arrived at Glenshane Country Farm and the sheep out in the fields, in the mist, is probably the most Irish thing I’ve ever seen. It was a chilly morning but my heart was all warm and fuzzy. Watching the dogs excitedly herd the sheep, holding lambs (still dying at how massive the lamb was that I was handed), petting Moss while he looked up at us from his pile of wool, and the delicious scones (oh my god, the scones!) made for such a perfect start to the day.
I learned very quickly that the Irish people are the sweetest, kindest, people on the planet and they love to share stories about the history of their country. Our afternoon with the lovely Mark at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was a perfect example of this. Sadly, the weather did not allow us to physically go beyond the bridge and hear Mark tell stories inside the fisherman’s cottage which I know would have been the coziest thing ever but, he still made it worthwhile. It was a lovely day learning about the land and the people who used to live there, topped off with our first bit of Irish whiskey and some crisps. An Irish charcuterie board I’ve been told.
Getting a second day with Mark was truly grand. And what better way to start off your day than with a tour of a whiskey distillery? When in Ireland I guess! The mist was still very much in the air this morning which made for a very eerie visit to Dunluce castle. Once again, Mark made it worth our while and I actually thought the weather really added to the overall vibe. After the most amazing Irish stew (always keeping it cozy), we were ready for an afternoon at Giant’s Causeway. If I had learned anything about the weather in Ireland by this point, it was definitely that rain is pretty much guaranteed; however, just as quickly as the rain can come, the clouds can disappear on a moment’s notice, giving way to the sun. This is exactly what happened as soon as we walked down to the causeway. Golden hour at Giant’s Causeway is honestly one of the most stunningly beautiful things I’ve ever experienced. This was definitely one of my favorite days, not just of the trip, but in life. It was a beautiful day filled with so many wonderful highlights and the point at which we all really started to form friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.
Like Belfast, I didn’t know a lot about (London)Derry before this trip. I had watched Derry Girls and I knew they too had experienced a lot of violence during the Troubles. I also knew it was an old walled city with a love for Halloween and I was very excited to be greeted with so many Halloween decorations upon our arrival. Once again, felt right at home! I actually learned so much history walking along the old walls. We had a lovely afternoon exploring all the cute local shops and lunch at a cozy pub with new friends. Watching the city begin to come alive with Halloween preparations right outside my window definitely made me want to come back for the festivities in the future.
Now, remember how I said that our day at Giant’s Causeway was a life highlight? It’s about to get 100 times better… So I’ve known about the amazing Ashford Castle for a long time. I’ve had clients stay there, I follow them on Instagram, and I’ve heard stories. But when I tell you that nothing can quite prepare you for how unbelievable it actually is, I absolutely mean it. A bagpiper literally escorted our coach in. I’m sorry, what?? You know that feeling when you’re a little kid and you open your big present on Christmas Day and you can’t stop smiling because it’s the happiest you’ve ever been? That’s how I felt when I opened the door to my room for the first time and had a wander around. Thinking about it now, I still can’t cope. How is this my life? To make things even more exciting, we had heard through the grapevine that Jimmy Kimmel may also be staying at Ashford at the same time. We didn’t necessarily make it a point to track him down but, after walking back from one of the best dinners of my life at nearly the same time, the opportunity arose to take a photo with him by the fire and you better believe we took it! Moral of the story, don’t skip out on an after dinner walk because you never know who you might run into. Needless to say, we absolutely needed a drink after that to get over ourselves. Thank god my room had the most comfortable bed I’ve ever laid on or I might have really struggled to sleep!
I’m not usually an early riser but Ashford Castle is too incredible to not enjoy every possible second. Plus, when you get to start your day walking the grounds with a bunch of dogs and a very sassy Irishman, you know it’s going to be a great day and a great day it was.
A coworker of mine told me about her experience doing falconry years ago and from the moment I knew I would have the opportunity to do it here at Ashford Castle, I couldn’t wait. Let me tell you what, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. These hawks were so calm and gentle, nothing to be scared of at all! And being able to walk more of the grounds of the castle while doing it was an added bonus. This was one of those once in a lifetime experiences that I’m just so grateful to have had. Really, this entire day felt that way. Even being shown around the castle which was technically “work” was a literal dream. In the spirit of wanting to experience everything, we also had to explore the tiny nearby town of Cong and every inch around the outside of the castle. I truly hope I have another opportunity to visit this place again sometime soon but until then, I will not stop thinking about it.
Sometimes on trips like these, you don’t always end up with the best group. But this time, we hit the jackpot. It was truly the most lovely group of women. While this last night at Ashford Castle wasn’t the last night of the trip, our dinner at George V felt like a true celebration of what I think we would all agree was the most amazing week. We all passed around our phones and shared photos of our families with one another, we gave relationship advice, and we talked about how we are all coming back to Ireland and Ashford as soon as we get the chance. It was such a beautiful end to the best two days of living like queens. I still say Giant’s Causeway day was one of my favorite days but this time spent at Ashford with this group of gorgeous ladies takes the cake. Truly two of the best days of my whole life.
No one wanted to leave Ashford Castle for very obvious reasons but leaving also meant that we were on our final day together as a group. This was thankfully made less sad by a quick “surprise” stop in Galway. Galway is peak cozy. The always wonderful Irish weather may have really added to this whole vibe which definitely influenced me to get my very own Aran Island knitted wool sweater. I had heard the history on why there are different patterns (to identify fishermen who sadly had drowned) and you know I love a cozy piece of clothing with historical significance on a rainy day.
I think overall spirits were a little low on our last night. None of us were ready to say goodbye to each other or to Ireland as a whole. It did help that we were staying in another beautiful, historic location and for me, I knew I had one more day ahead that I’d get to spend with some of the people I had grown closest to. But nonetheless, it was still a little bittersweet. This absolutely did not take away from how good the meal was though, ultimate comfort food. The actual dream.
You know I couldn’t leave Ireland without spending a day in Dublin. She was all cute and decorated for Christmas already so we were off to a great start. As a big beer lover, the only thing I had planned for my day in Dublin was the Guinness Storehouse and boy, it did not disappoint. They offer something called a “stoutie” which is literally the most “me” thing on the planet. They literally laser your photo onto the foam of the Guinness. Seriously so cool! Being able to try some of Guinness’ other products, not available in the US, while enjoying an Irish dance performance with new friends was definitely another highlight.
I am so glad to have had dinner and drinks on this final night with my fellow leo girls. It was a perfect bookend to a perfect week. The goodbyes at the end of the night were some of the hardest I’ve had in a while. In my defense, a lot of Guinness and a lot of wine was consumed prior to having to make said goodbyes which may have contributed a little bit… But sometimes you just connect with people. People that you feel like you’ve known all your life despite having just met a week ago. You don’t always expect that on trips like these but I’m forever grateful to have formed friendships that made saying goodbye so hard. How lucky am I?
I’ve known for a long time that when I finally got to visit Ireland that I would feel at home there. That’s a big deal for a homebody like me. I like my home comforts. I often can’t wait to get back to my own bed as the trip draws to a close. Not this time. I could have stayed in Ireland for so much longer. Very few places comfort me the way my own home does but I always knew Ireland would. It wasn’t something I hoped would be true. I didn’t have to. I just knew. So yes, a place you’ve never been absolutely can feel like home in your heart but I’m here to say, when you do finally get there, it will be beyond your wildest dreams. Until next time Ireland… Slainte!
