Exploring The Emerald Isle With Authentic Ireland

*Guest Post By Shaida K*

Shamrocks, Guinness and the potato famine. Until my recent visit to Ireland, that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge about the country. Thankfully, with the help of Authentic Ireland, I was able to immerse myself in the diverse landscapes, rich history and delicious food scene via the perfect 10-day, self-guided tour. My dedicated and knowledgeable personal planner worked with me to create, what I like to call, my travel bible! Yup, three pages filled with everything I needed to know about tours (that they helped us book), nearby bus/train stations to take us to our stops and additional sightseeing recos (this came in handy when we had free time). Sigh, the benefits of working with a company that’s been around for over 25 years. The wealth of expertise these guys have is incredible and really helped me understand Irish culture! Here’s a recap of the unforgettable, bucket-list worthy trip they brought to life…

Guinness Storehouse – Dublin (approx. time spent: 3 – 4 hours)

Feeling a little jet-lagged, we did what any exhausted traveler would do when we arrived: we hit the Guinness Storehouse! Shaped like a giant pint, the old fermentation plant is dedicated to telling the story behind the internationally-loved brew. Even more exciting was sampling the Guinness and learning how to pour the perfect pint. PS: it’s not as easy as it looks, but I was able to master it and have a certificate to prove it! If you have enough accomplishments under your belt and don’t feel like pouring your own complimentary pint, you can head up to the Gravity Bar, grab a drink and enjoy 360-degree views of Dublin.

Old Jameson Distillery Dublin (approx. time spent: 1 – 2 hours)

We decided to continue our alcohol education by visiting the Old Jameson Distillery. Originally built in 1780, the facility was once considered one of the largest and best distilleries in the world. All visitors are taken on a tour that starts with an audio visual presentation followed by Jameson 101 where an expert walks everyone through how the whiskey is created – from malting and milling to distilling and maturing. The tour ends at the Jameson Discovery Bar where you can sample three shots of whiskey and a complimentary glass of Jameson. Oh, and just like Guinness, you can get certified as a “Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster.” I left feeling inspired and educated.  Tip: make sure to have your Authentic Ireland consultant book your spot in advance as tours fill up quickly!

Mystical Newgrange and Tara Day Tour – Departs from Dublin (approx. time spent: full day)

In my opinion, the Mystical Newgrange and Tara Tour is the perfect day tour out in the countryside. After meeting our guide in central Dublin, we began our journey exploring Howth – a town just outside the city with beautiful scenery and a flourishing market scene where we found some tasty local fish…

Following our mini adventure into Howth, the mystical part of the tour began! On our way to the passage tomb in Newgrange, we saw many beautiful monuments and castles, but the most awe-inspiring was the tomb itself, which is said to be from 3,200 BC – predating the Egyptian pyramids! The spiritual grounds are filled with megalithic art where people used to spread the ashes and bones of their loved ones…

During the winter solstice, the rising sun shines directly along the long passage into the chamber for about 17 minutes and illuminates the chamber floor. The sun shining its way through was considered to be the Sun God entering into this sacred space (you get to see this re-created artificially during the tour). It was an unbelievable and indescribable feeling visiting a space with so much spiritual significance. This experience is only available through a tour and can have long wait times – booking the tour with Authentic Ireland guarantees that you’ll get in!

We ended our tour on the ancient grounds of the High Kings of Ireland at the Hill of Tara. Being one of the largest Celtic monuments in Europe, I highly recommend visiting this site with a tour guide because there isn’t much information on the grounds. We were fortunate to have a knowledgeable guide who shared the enriching past behind the historic remains. We also had time to explore the statue of St. Patrick, church and gravestones (the earliest date back to the 17th century).

Blarney Castle – Cork (approx. time spent: full day)

Another tour we enjoyed was one where we headed into the township of Cork to visit the historic Blarney Castle. Famous for its stone, which is said to provide the gift of gab after kissing it, there was so much more to the site than I expected! From the Poison Garden (don’t worry, you’ll know when you see it), the Wishing Steps, Witch’s Kitchen and Druid’s Cave the entire estate was breathtaking. I highly recommend setting aside a full day just to relax and hike through the grounds – it really was a breath of fresh air.

Rings of Kerry Day Tour – Departs from Killarney (approx. time spent: full day)

We took a day tour recommended and booked by our Authentic Ireland travel planner to see the Rings of Kerry. Circling Macgillycuddy’s Reeks (Irelands highest mountain range), the area is filled with unspoiled nature and can only be explored via vehicle. After experiencing the tight roads and sharp turns my personal reco would be to skip driving and take a tour! Oh and it’s not just about the scenery: the tour stops through a bunch of beaut villages, such as Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem. There is also an optional shepherd demonstration where you can see different breeds of sheep (I had no idea there were so many!) and watch sheepdogs do their thang! The tour also stops at Ladies View, the famous Lakes of Killarney and the Oakwoods of Killarney’s magnificent National Park. This is a truly Irish and unique tour that I’d highly recommend!

Cliffs of Moher – County Clare (approx. time spent: 4 – 5 hours)

Leading into to our final days in Ireland, I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone. Afraid of heights and deep water, I naturally had the  brilliant idea to perch myself on the edge of a cliff that is 700 ft tall overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Yup, I headed to the legendary Cliffs of Moher. We were super lucky as the day was warm and the sky was clear so we could see Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins & Maum Turk Mountains. And and and… we also snapped some epic pics sitting on the edge of the cliff. If you’re not too keen about hanging out on the edge (I know I sure wasn’t at first), then the Atlantic Edge Interpretive Centre is a fun place to go – there’s even an animated video that takes you on a quick tour up and around the cliffs! The dome also has an exhibit organized into four themed areas relating to the cliffs: ocean, rock, nature and man. That being said, I would strongly encourage everyone to enjoy the views from the cliffs (approach the edge with caution) – it is a remarkable sight and I am soooo glad I conquered my fears!

How is that for a first-time visit to Ireland?! To be honest, I am not much of a planner and had no idea where to start when we decided to explore the Emerald Isle. With so much to see and do, I really benefitted from the expertise of the team at Authentic Ireland. If you’re thinking about heading to Ireland, I highly recommend reaching out to them via online chat or telephone. They will help you plan and book everything: accommodations, sightseeing, dinners, transfers, pickups from the airport and more! Most importantly, they are passionate about creating authentic experiences that will give you a better understanding of their country’s beauty, culture and history.

All sightseeing and day trips were planned and covered by Authentic Ireland. As always, all opinions are my own.