Two weeks in the Emerald Isle
By Avila Almeter | Staff writer
School. Work. Sleep. Repeat. Sometimes, the cycle seems to never end. Then, at the end of the semester, you find yourself exhausted from routine and in need of something new—an adventure to break up the cycle. I am a fan of adventuring, whether it be a new country, city or activity.
Let me tell you about my most recent excursion, a trip to Ireland, and how I “conquered the country,” as a local said, in just two weeks on a student budget.
Get ready to learn some interesting things about Irish culture, some budgeting tips from a fellow student and some descriptions of what the Emerald Isle has to offer. Maybe after reading this article, Ireland will become your next adventure too.
Grandfather’s suggestion: Try Ireland
It all started out with me sitting in my grandparent’s living room, trying to decide where to travel to for a summer holiday, when my grandpa suggested Ireland. He knew a family who lived there and asked if I could stay with them. To my delight, they agreed to host me, and I booked my flight to Ireland to leave right after final exams ended, knowing I would be itching to travel at that point.
The author in Glenvegh National Park in northwest Ireland. (photo by Avila Almeter/the Bell Ringer)
As the plane descended over the county and into Dublin, the first thing I noticed was the luscious green everywhere and the vibrant yellow flowers (which I learned are called gorse) that speckled the landscape as far as I could see. With the coast nearby and billowing gray and white clouds, it felt like descending into a fairy tale.
Of course, with the craziness of traveling, I did not have as much time to gawk at the landscape as I would have liked because I needed to catch a bus.
While in Ireland, I saw many gorgeous places, some of them seen through the lens of an almost ever-present rain, but I will list just a couple of my favorites.
My absolute favorite place I visited was Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle, in County Donegal (in northwest Ireland). To get there, you can either walk on a long 40-minute pathway that goes between towering mountains and by a river to the entrance of the gardens and castle, or you can get a bus there—I chose the walkway (the obvious choice, in my opinion).
In Glenveagh, there are several gardens and trails, ranging from majestic statue gardens, a greenhouse with blooming flowers and ripe fruits inside, long treks to mountain lookout spots, a large and beautiful castle (which you can go inside but not on the day of the week that I visited), and a dainty tea room and gift shop. It is truly the place of dreams. I would go back to Ireland just to see it again.
A gorgeous beach in County Donegal
My other favorite place I visited was Maghera Beach (further southwest, but still in County Donegal). Looking like a postcard from Hawaii, its humongous green mountains and cliffs hold many caves for exploring that lead up to a white-sand, clear-water beach. The mountains actually back up to a farmer’s property and there are many sheep walking along the cliffs. It beats me how none of them fall as they walk and balance on the edges of cliffs just to reach some tuft of grass.
As for the expenses of the trip, staying with a host family reduced the costs, but there are other costs to consider as well when traveling, like transportation and food.
The author at Maghera Beach in County Donegal. (photo courtesy of Avila Almeter/for the Bell Ringer)
In Ireland, Leap Cards or cash are used to pay for public transportation. If you order one early enough, you can get a Young Adult or Student Leap Card which cuts down the cost of transportation. Unfortunately, I did not realize this in time and was not able to order a Student Leap Card but bought a standard adult one at the airport (the only Leap Card besides a visitor one that you can buy in person).
As for food in Ireland, I would recommend going to some local cafes and coffee shops. I found the food and beverages in those places—such as soups, pastries, coffee and tea—to be on the less expensive side while also tasting delicious and being presented beautifully.
In terms of cultural differences, nothing surprised me too much except for a few phrases some of the Irish people would say to me that, to me, made no sense.
Fun with language
One example is “What’s the craic?” which means “What’s the latest news?” or “How are you?” Another expression I heard was “I’m finally suckin’ diesel” which means that things are going well. Some other expressions I frequently heard were “wee” for little things, “grand” for doing well, and “no bother at all” said very quickly for no problem.
Overall, my trip to Ireland was a blast and I made many memories and friends in the two short weeks I was there. I hope this article has inspired you to add Ireland to your bucket list if it is not already there, but I warn you: once Ireland has been placed on your bucket list, it is extremely difficult to remove, even after visiting once. Truth be told, it still has not left mine.
I will just have to go back someday, I suppose. In the meantime, I will study more Irish sayings to be better prepared for witty comebacks and replies. I suggest doing likewise.
Contact Avila Almeter at aalmeter@augusta.edu.
The gardens of Glenveagh Castle in Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal, Ireland. At the top of the page, Maghera Beach on a gorgeous spring day. (photos by Avila Almeter/the Bell Ringer)
