Ierland - exploringhighlanders

Ireland, the green pearl of Western Europe with its own Celtic culture

Ireland, in the west of Europe you will find the beautiful green island of Ireland! People often underestimate the beauty of this green country. Twice as large as the Netherlands, but with 6.5 million inhabitants, this island is largely natural. Where the big cities such as Dublin, Belfast and Cork are worth a trip in themselves. The interior of Ireland is incredibly green and charming! Ireland is therefore very suitable for both a city trip and a tour through this beautiful country!

Ireland quick facts:

The island of Ireland is divided between 2 countries, the Republic of Ireland. And the British part of Northern Ireland. They cannot be called really good neighbors, more about this later.
Ireland has developed its own strong culture for hundreds of years. The Celtic one, which draws a lot of inspiration from mythical creatures and folk legends.
During the 19th century, a mass famine left much of the population to starve. In combination with a time when there was a lot of emigration to the USA, this has meant that Ireland is one of the few Western European countries that has never increased in population in 200 years.
In addition to English, the language "Gaelic" is also an official language.
Halloween comes from Ireland. It was therefore a Celtic ghost story.

We have been to Ireland twice, the first trip with a trip to Northern Ireland to see the divided city of Belfast including some sights along the way. Also made a city trip to Dublin. A 3rd time is probably possible, and then especially for the hinterland! The special landscapes that are somewhat reminiscent of Scotland in combination with the wonderful Irish culture will certainly draw us back again! In this blog you will find tips about Dublin and Northern Ireland so far!

Dublin, great Irish capital perfect for a city trip!

There were quite a few years between my 1st and 2nd trip to Ireland. I was positively surprised as soon as I landed back in Dublin! The friendly people and great pub culture immediately came back as a recognizable surprise! The warm atmosphere and the incredibly hospitable, sometimes incomprehensible, but very funny Irish people make Ireland that little bit more unique! You soon discover that people here are very proud of their country. History was not always easy for Ireland, famine and British oppression left Ireland with a lot of scars. Somehow this is noticeable in the city of Dublin that there is a fresh energy here where the own Irish culture is strongly worshiped!

Highlights Dublin

The city center of Dublin is not very big, 2 full days should give you more than enough time to properly explore the city center. With more time you also have the opportunity to explore the nature in the area.

Start your walk in the central part of the city, at the unmissable Spire. This enormous knitting needle is quite a recognizable point in the city. From here you can actually walk in any direction to the highlights of Dublin. Start your day, for example, in the beautiful Trinity College. This centuries-old university quickly gives you the feeling that you have ended up in, for example, Hogwarts University from Harry Potter. In addition to the beautiful complex where you can wander around, the library of Trinity College is really fantastic! You almost feel like continuing your studies here.

The Guinness Brewery

From here you could take the bus to the Guinness Storehouse. Guinness is probably the most famous brand from Ireland. This delicious dark soft beer naturally comes from Ireland. Even if you are not necessarily a beer lover, the brewery tour is great fun! And of course you get a Guinness on the nice rooftop bar with a beautiful view of the city.

Explore the vibrant Temple Bar district.

Without a doubt, this is the nicest neighborhood in Dublin. Perhaps the most famous pub in the world is located here, the Temple Bar Pub. We went inside, and although of course touristy, this was a fantastic pub! Live music, a nice Guinness and enjoy the atmosphere. In addition to this pub, you will also find all kinds of other super nice pubs in the various side streets! Warm up inside with a good glass of Whiskey and a savory snack, and enjoy what the Irish are so good at. Running vibrant pubs!

Explore the city center around the Spire.

From the Temple bar you can actually walk straight back to The Spire. In the main street, O'Connell Street, you will find several shopping streets such as Henry Street and Mary Street. Walk to the south side of the River Liffey and walk to the well-known Grafton Street. Yes, that song by that red singer is also about that. In the old town you will find all kinds of great shops, as well as small studios that have fully embraced Celtic culture. It also gave us the feeling of being a bit in the older neighborhoods of New York and Boston. The architecture here is slightly different from other countries in Western Europe.

St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

Pretty much the holy grail of Ireland is here. This church has been the headquarters of the Irish Church since the 12th century. Both because the church has traditionally played an important role in Ireland in the past, and also because of the opposition to the British church. The story of the Protestants and the Catholics, which still causes a lot of misery in Northern Ireland. Bishop St. Patrick is a national symbol for the Irish and is celebrated every year on March 17 in several countries by the Irish and people with Irish roots.

The cathedral that now stands there is of great significance to the Irish, a visit to the cathedral gives a nice insight into Irish culture and at the same time it is a beautiful building that stands in a beautiful park, as you would actually see from a movie. can see.

Although the city of Dublin is not very big, there are still enough sights that can keep you busy for 2 full days. Although the best thing about Dublin is the fantastic pub culture here. Immerse yourself in a pub for a day and enjoy the indescribable conviviality that only the Irish can provide.

If you have more time, dive into the surrounding nature! For example, a short trip by train to Howth takes you to the beautiful coastal area of Ireland where you will find beautiful beaches and rugged coastal areas.

Just south of Dublin you will find the fantastic Wicklow National Park. From here you can follow various walking routes to quickly reach a rugged landscape that quickly reminds you of the landscapes in Scotland. But on the green Irish island!

Belfast, Northern Ireland's split capital.

A few hours by train or bus from Dublin you will find the British part of the island of Ireland. I myself have been to the capital Belfast. I found the capital Belfast to be very impressive because of the enormous contrasts you find in this city. In hardly any city in "safe" countries have I felt such tension between two population groups. Throughout history, the island of Ireland has been split into two countries, the independent republic of Ireland with a predominantly Catholic population. And the part that belongs to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland. Which in turn has predominantly Protestants. During the 20th century, a bloody civil war took place in Northern Ireland, mainly between the Irish and the British. The Irish believe that the British are still wrongfully occupying their country.

After a lot of bombings, murders and countless explosions of violence, a peace agreement was signed after the Good Friday Agreement. This does not mean that the tensions have disappeared. The Irish, predominantly Catholic, largely live in their own neighborhoods. Just like the British in predominantly Protestant neighborhoods. Although there is a peace agreement, in minor conflicts both groups still face each other, which regularly leads to injuries or worse. To partly solve this problem, a kilometer-long fence with barbed wire has been placed through the city to separate neighborhoods. As tensions rise, this even leads to a regular curfew being imposed so that people cannot walk freely through the city of Belfast.

The Irish population in Northern Ireland would prefer to see the British leave yesterday, but the British in Northern Ireland see this differently and believe that Ireland belongs to the United Kingdom. Mix this with a lot of extreme Nationalism and you have a not very healthy city to say the least.

If you do come to Belfast, take the Black Cab tour. This tour takes you in a black taxi through the different neighborhoods. To tell the story, show the extreme forms of street art that can be seen here in Belfast.

In addition to all this, Belfast is also an incredibly interesting city. The city center exudes a completely different atmosphere, which, due to the differences with the Republic of Ireland, really gives you the feeling of being in the United Kingdom.

Practical tips Northern Ireland after Brexit:

Since Brexit, traveling to Northern Ireland has become something different.

Your EU SIM card probably no longer works, buy an Esim or see if the UK is included in your bundle.
You need British Pounds instead of Euros. In fact, it has always been that way.
You can no longer travel to Northern Ireland with your EU ID card, you need a passport.

Visit the Titanic museum in Belfast!

Another real highlight in Belfast is the Titanic museum! The Titanic was built in Belfast. The largest passenger ship at the time was built in the Harland and Wolff shipyard, which had not proven to be a complete success on the first voyage to the United States. Are you curious why Rose and Jack couldn't have just sat on a rescue boat, and therefore had to float on a door that was much too small? Well then you've come to the right place!

Practical tips for your Ireland trip!

Flights to Dublin are incredibly cheap, partly because Ryanair has their base here and has many flights to Ireland for maintenance.
Don't forget your world plug adapter, and otherwise travel is like any other EU country. With the exception of Northern Ireland
The weather is never really nice. Rain, fog, wind and cold do not make it a sunny destination. Then head into the pub to warm up.
Good command of the English language? Nice. You still hardly understand them. Or is this because we always spoke drunk Irish?
Accommodation in Dublin can be expensive, so it is best to book well in advance.

Ireland, whether you go there as a city trip or for a tour. Both the cities and nature are fantastic! Especially outside Dublin it still feels very authentic, partly because it is less visited than other Western European countries! Partly because of the beautiful nature, you are actually doing Ireland a disservice by only going to Dublin. It is perfect for a road trip with a beautiful combination of city and nature!