A Taste of Ireland

Ireland is not the most obvious of August family tourist destinations, but it was a recent Top Gear episode shot from the majestic and rugged western Ireland coastline that lured me in. My wife, two kids, and I ferried across from Pembroke and were immediately taken by the unspoilt countryside and well-kept homes dotted along the roadside. Our first stop was two nights in the Park Hotel, Dungarvan, where we were conveniently located for the medieval town of Kilkenny. Ireland is full of some of the world’s best historical castles and Kilkenny is no exception. The 13th century castle is the central attraction of this quaint little town with its array of churches and windy back streets. We decided to take the small tourist train to see the main features as the kids were desperate for a ride. But it’s actually a great way to sightsee for its convenience and low cost.

Onwards we went to our second castle visit - Blarney Castle. Made famous not necessarily for its beautiful surrounding gardens and its history, but for the Blarney Stone! I have heard of it but I never really understood what it was all about until our visit. We queued from near enough the bottom of the castle’s spiral staircase, all the way to the top turrets as one-by-one the paying visitors laid on their backs to hang over the edge of the castle wall while someone held their legs to kiss the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that when you do this you inherit the gift of the gab. The story ensures that the paying guests keep coming, and actually it makes the whole occasion just that little bit more fun. My imagination wondered as I thought what our own 1000-year-old castle in Rochester would be like if it had a similar story behind it. What a great money spinner!

The evening was spent exploring Cork and chilling in the excellent hotel – The River Lee. With exquisitely designed contemporary communal areas and a great view from our room across the valley, it’s a hotel I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to others.

On to Killarney National Park and the Torc waterfall. Beautiful park and awesome waterfall - it reminded me of the Lake District. Well worth the stop-off as we proceeded to join The Ring of Kerry. On this famous ocean road which skirts the Atlantic Ocean you will find some tranquil beaches and some breath-taking vistas.

Our hotel in Limerick, the boutique Absolute Hotel, had a tough act to follow, but in fact the room was so large with such fantastic décor which hints towards the city’s industrial past, it just about trumps it and wins my nomination for one of the best four star hotels I have stayed in. Situated next to a canal, we dined in the Absolute Bar & Grill. The food was amazing! I’d recommend the salmon and beetroot starter!

The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s top natural attraction, with up to one million visits per year. And it’s not difficult to see why. At their highest point they drop 214 meters to the sea. It’s not until you leave the safety of the visitor centre boundaries that the adrenaline really starts to pump. You can walk right up to the edge of the overhangs to look at the sea far below. I must admit, a lot of ‘what ifs?’ went through my head.

Dublin, and the morning what spent in the Guinness Storehouse. I didn’t know what to expect really, but we all really enjoyed it…it was fantastic. We spent the best part of three hours discovering the story of Guinness. However, what I found most interesting was the positive impact that Arthur Guinness had on the city itself with social welfare projects and charity donations. He and his wife had 21 children, but only 10 of them made it to adulthood. How heart-breaking those times must have been? But what a legacy the man made after his business is still there, on the same site some 250+ years later. The water used is channelled in from the surrounding hills for its purity which has been the case since the start. And the site now covers a huge area of the city. Once through the taste experience and pouring mastery you can ascend to The Gravity Bar for a 360? view of Dublin, to be enjoyed, of course, with a pint of the black stuff!

The evening was spent wondering the streets of Dublin. It was a very lively night with the bars full of drinkers enjoying live music. We visited the world famous Temple Bar before dining at The Shack for some real Irish cuisine. Ireland requires more than one visit to do it justice. There were many places we didn’t get to experience, the Dingle Peninsular and Galway to name a couple. It truly is a beautiful country, with a mixture of medieval castles and interesting ruins which tells a story of its history. Lush green country side with some eye-catching modern houses, and some lively cosmopolitan cities.

Wherever you find yourself in the planet, you’ll never be too far from an Irish bar, and their music will always find a way onto your radio, which speak volumes of the impact this small country and its culture has had in this world.