The Emerald Island does not disappoint with its natural beauty. We spent some time outside of the hustle and bustle of Dublin and explored what Ireland has to offer. From the Cliffs of Moher to the stunning castles that dot the southern countryside, Ireland has it all. The Traveling Kings will take you along our journey to the great Country of Ireland.
Quick Link to:
Transportation
With us living in America we are not accustomed to driving on the left hand side of the road so we didn’t feel like renting a car was a good option for us. Good thing we found a very reliable tour group called Irish Day Tours. We booked two different tours with Irish Day Tours that took us out of Dublin for each day. The first was the Cliffs of Moher Tour and the following day we took the Blarney Castle & Cork Tour. Irish Day Tours was very organized and had experienced guides to help us along the way. It was a plus to have a professional driver who drove very safe especially down some of the narrow roads.
Where to meet Irish Day Tours in Dublin
From our hotel, the Dergvale Hotel, it was not too far of a walk so we decided not to take transportation. We made our way early in the morning at around 06:00 am to the Molly Malone Statue in Central Dublin. This is the meeting point for Irish Day Tours so we saw multiple buses and tour guides around the area. We just listened out for the name of our tour to be matched with the correct group. This area felt very safe and we did not feel threatened while waiting for our tour.
Cliffs of Moher
As it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, we were thrilled to have done this tour. We paid 50 euros per person for the whole experience, which we thought was more than reasonable. We started our tour in Dublin where we caught our tour bus to the Western Countryside of Ireland. The trip took about 3 1/2 hours to the Cliffs of Moher, in which we stopped once at a gas station to grab breakfast and use the facilities. Once we got to the cliffs, thankfully the rain had stopped and it was the perfect time to get fantastic photos of the beautiful Irish Coast.
Travel Tip: Stay on the trails! This might seem like a silly tip but a lot of tourists climbed over the small barriers to try and get that perfect photo. So many people were doing it that even Jonah tried to get a great photo. With all of the rain that Ireland receives the ground is very muddy and unstable. Once Jonah climbed over the barrier he slipped in the mud, only feet away from the edge of the cliffs. Also we suggest you bring good sneakers or hiking shoes as even the trail can be rough.
At the Cliffs of Moher we also saw some beautiful wildlife. There were many wild horses and cows grazing the lush green grass. Ireland’s beauty is in full display and we think that the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center is probably one of the coolest visitor centers we have seen. It is built inside of a small hill and has a ton of history/information on the cliffs.
After we explored the cliffs and cleaned Jonah’s muddy pants, shoes and shirt, it was time for some lunch. Our tour bus took us 15 minutes north to the small town of Doolin and we were free to choose whichever restaurant we wanted in town.
We wanted authentic Irish food so we stopped by Fitzpatrick’s Bar. Of course during this time the floodgates had opened and the rain was hitting the ground hard. We went inside the restaurant, ordered our food at the counter and found a seat nearby to wait for our order to be called. This process was similar to fast food but inside had a laid back, bar style to it.
The food at Fitzpatrick’s Bar was very good as Sierra ordered the Seafood Chowder and Jonah had the Traditional Beef and Guinness Stew. Both were perfect for a rainy day in Ireland. We paid only around 25 euros for our food and Guinness.
After our lunch we hopped back on the bus to our next stop, The Burren National Park. The Burren which has some of Ireland’s best flowers and plants is famous for its limestone which borders the Atlantic Coastline. The Burren is also the smallest National Park in Ireland, but the beauty is truly amazing. We were able to spend a little bit of time looking at the limestone.
Travel Tip: When visiting the great limestones of The Burren National Park be very careful on where you step! The limestone has very large gaps which can break your ankle or get your leg stuck. Some of these gaps are so big that you might have to jump over.
Our last stop of the day was Galway, which was about an hour away from The Burren National Park. This city is on the west coast and is perfect for a nice stroll or window shopping. Shop Street is the perfect place for a walk as there is limited vehicle traffic and the street is more for tourists or locals who want to shop in peace. One shop we highly suggest you visit is Claddagh Jewellers. This is where you can buy the traditional Claddagh ring. We both got one and we wear it everywhere. Rings are very affordable and multiple styles are available. Claddagh Jewellers sells a variety of other jewelry if rings are not your style.
Once we finished our shopping, the sun was starting to go down and this meant it was time to get back on the the tour bus and head back to Dublin. We only had a 2 1/4 hour drive back to Dublin, but we were so tired that we took advantage of the opportunity to get a good long nap in. We did stop once at a gas station for gas and refreshments but we did not get off the bus.
Blarney Castle and Cork
Ireland is known for their famous castles and rich history that dot the southern portion of the country. We had to see these wonders for ourselves and this tour did not disappoint. The tour was around 60 euros per person and to start off our journey we left Dublin and made our way down south.
After 1 1/2 hours we first stopped at a gas station called the Barack Obama Plaza. Yes, this gas station is dedicated to the former United States President Barack Obama. The story behind this is that Obama’s 3rd great grandfather was from the nearby town of Monegall, and his cousin actually owns the gas station. This gas station has a museum and statue that is dedicated to the former president. Of course we had to take some selfies!
Once we were finished with our pit-stop, we made the journey south to the Rock of Cashel, which took about 45 minutes. This castle was built around 12th century and is a stunning castle. The Rock of Cashel is on a hill overlooking the town of Cashel and the Irish Countryside.
This was a great start to our day as we spent time here at the Rock of Cashel. We were basically the only group there and it was nice to take in the beauty of the castle and countryside.
On our way back down the trail that leads to the castle, we saw some sheep grazing in the green grass of the nearby pasture. Before getting back on the tour bus, we made a stop in the Cashel Woolen Store, which sells fabrics made from the sheep’s wool. Many of the items are handmade from the locals of Cashel. It was definitely worth the stop and we recommend checking it out.
After hopping aboard the bus again, we drove south for another 1 1/4 hours, past the town of Cork to visit one of the most well known castles, Blarney Castle. The Blarney Castle was originally built in 1210 and was later rebuilt in 1446, since the castle was destroyed. The property is full of stunning gardens, structures, with amazing views. The castle is known for the famous Blarney Stone which is at the top of the castle.
Travel Tip: Peak times to visit the Blarney Castle can create a hectic experience. During peak travel season you can wait over two hours to climb the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. The journey to the top is not for the faint of heart as it has a steep and narrow passage. Not a place where you want to be with thousands of other hopeful tourists. We visited in mid November and had a very easy experience with only a handful of tourists roaming the grounds.
Once we got to the top of the Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone we were in for a little surprise. In order to kiss the Blarney Stone you have to lay on your back, hang off the edge of a 90 foot drop, and kiss the stone. Easy enough right? Luckily there was someone up top to help us get the gift of eloquence, along with a few bars that would have prevented us from falling all 90 feet down. We are thankful that we didn’t fall though as we’re positive it would have hurt with just that short distance down.
The climb up to the top of Blarney Castle was absolutely worth it and we took in the amazing views once we caught our breath. After heading back down the winding steps, we went to explore all of the castle’s gardens. The first one we stumbled across was the Poison Garden, which has many deadly plants.
Another beautiful place we ventured to was the Blarney House. Built in 1874, this mansion is now owned by the family who oversees the Blarney estate. We were unable to go inside but the outside was beautiful to look at with its amazing architecture.
We walked a little more around the grounds, going around the gardens and old rock formations. The paths are well kept with good signage and we were the only tourists exploring these trails which definitely made the experience more serene.
After we finished exploring the grounds we said goodbye to the Blarney Castle and headed to the town of Blarney to eat lunch and shop a little.
We enjoyed our lunch at Christy’s Bar, a traditional Irish pub where we both ate some delicious fish & chips and enjoyed a Guinness Beer with our meal. While we were eating we were able to chat with some tourists from Alaska who were also enjoying what Ireland has to offer. Our meal was around 30 euros for the food and drinks.
After lunch, we stopped by the store next door, the largest Irish shop in the world! Built in 1823, Blarney Woolen Mills is mostly for tourists but did have some floors dedicated for locals. We went around the entire shop and bought some souvenirs to take home. The shop has multiple floors with items ranging from furniture, Christmas items, wool clothing, and much much more!
To end our day we took the tour bus 1 hour north from Blarney Castle to Cahir Castle. Built in the 13th century, this castle is really well preserved and was recently restored. Cahir Castle was built for defending and this is seen in the details of the old traps and cannons that can be seen all around.
The Cahir Castle is also surrounded by a small moat and has tall walls protecting the inside. Next to the castle we saw a small stream with some beautiful geese which made for an excellent photo opportunity.
Once we finished exploring Cahir Castle we made the journey back to Dublin which took around 2 hours. We again used this driving time to sleep as we were tired from walking around exploring some of Irelands most treasured landmarks.
Overall, we really enjoyed Irish Day Tours as we were able to explore the country in a small amount of time. We saw all the sights we wanted to explore and we didn’t have to break the bank as the tours were very affordable. The nice thing about Irish Day Tours is that you are not stuck in a group while you explore these sights. They allowed us to do our own thing when we went to each sight and they explained the history while we drove in the tour bus. We highly recommend you try out Irish Day Tours!
Again, very nice travel blog. I could see Ireland all over again. Thanks for postin
Yay, we’re glad you enjoyed it, Ireland was one of our favorites! As always, thanks for your support!