Of the many destinations we have traveled to, Ireland was definitely a land that left a lasting impression. During our stay in 2015, we were able to experience Dublin firsthand. As the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, we believed it was the best place to start our adventures. Established by the Celtic people in the 7th century, and later expanded under Viking rule, it is now a thriving metropolis full of art, culture, and industry.
Since our lodging was in the heart of the city, we found everything to be within walking distance. We were able to see several amazing attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Temple Bar area, the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin Castle, and the National Leprechaun Museum in only a few days.
Our expedition of this intriguing city started with a walk to Dublin’s center, where we had a fun time exploring the many shops selling various souvenirs. Since we’re part Irish, we purchased matching Claddagh rings in honor of our heritage and as a way to remember our time in this wonderful country. Even four years later, we still wear these beautiful pieces of jewelry daily.
Dublin is said to be the driest place in Ireland, but we experienced more than a few summer thunderstorms during our time in the city. Rainfall is abundant in this lush part of the world and, as we walked around, we survived varying bouts of intense stormy weather. There was even one day that we were caught in the middle of such a strong combination of wind and rain that both of our umbrellas broke! Luckily, most of the shops in Dublin sell umbrellas, so we were able to pick up new ones in no time.
Our next stop in Dublin was to the National Museum of Ireland, which proudly displays Viking and Celtic objects. Our ancestors are from Ireland and Norway, so we were very interested to learn about the eventful histories of both countries. One of the greatest items we were able to view in this museum was a Viking sword that had been retrieved from the River Moy in 1963. Archeologists and historians think it was made sometime during 900 AD. Since it’s such a well made sword, it’s believed to have belonged to a very wealthy and important warrior. Even though it’s now corroded after being submerged in water for over a thousand years, it’s still a wonderful example of ancient Viking craftsmanship.
As we continued our journey around Dublin, we strolled into the National Leprechaun Museum, which took us on a fantastical adventure through time using the ancient tradition of storytelling. We were captivated for hours by the different tales of Irish folklore and mythology as our guide enthusiastically led us through a complex maze of rooms. These areas were full of amazing decorations like enormous giant’s furniture, full-length colored streamers that represented a rainbow, and a stone wishing well set in the middle of a forest. There was also a dimly lit room with an incredibly large detailed map of the island during ancient times. The experience truly captured our imaginations and we left the museum completely fascinated by the many legends of Ireland.
During our time in this extraordinary country, we were happy to find that the Irish are friendly, generous, and gregarious. Their accent is wonderful to listen to, even though we could only understand it some of the time. A few were even kind enough to point us towards the oldest pub in Ireland: The Brazen Head. Located in the middle of the Temple Bar area, this pub was historically used as a meeting place for rebels. Adorned with brick walls and lit inside by iron lanterns, it’s now frequented by tourists and locals alike. It was in this timeworn and happy atmosphere that we enjoyed our first ever Guinness, which was a wonderful experience in and of itself. 
Overall, our first trip to Ireland, with the combined locations of Dublin and the other Celtic Heritage Sites we visited was incredible. The vast quantity of things to see and do in this fun and lively country left us breathless. It spoke to us in an extraordinary way and we’ll always remember our time there. We fully intend on returning to Ireland again soon! 😀
For additional photos, please see:
– Ireland 2015: Celtic Heritage Sites
For more information about this country, please see our other article: