Every family has roots somewhere or another. For my own family, those roots are in Ireland. My dad’s side of the family is Irish…and has always been very proud of it! Growing up, I always heard them talk about how glad they were to have Irish roots. We were given pins shaped like a four-leaf clover when I was little at our family reunion. Yes, our heritage has always been important to that side of my family.
Rekindling the Desire to Visit Ireland
As the years have gone on, I have fewer ties to that side of my family. My grandmother died many years ago; since then, I have had a weak relationship with my uncles and cousins. Over time, we all just seemed to drift apart. Now that I’m older, I find that I want to visit Ireland more than ever. Perhaps I have this desire as a way to feel closer to the family I no longer have in my life…. or maybe I want to go there to see what all the fuss is about! Whatever the reason may be, I know one thing for sure:
I am desperate to go.
My Ireland Wish List: River Shannon and The Wild Atlantic Way
What is on my Ireland wish list? First, I would love to take a boat trip along the River Shannon. It inspired my name, so that is a must! This cruise along the river is supposed to be beautiful and relaxing – something I would enjoy. I dream of taking in the fantastic views that Ireland has to offer. Speaking of excellent views, The Wild Atlantic Way is another place I dream of visiting. If you haven’t seen pictures from this, you need to look it up! This stretch of land starts on Ireland’s west coast and continues to the south. It is known for its incredible views and stunning coastline. From what I’ve seen, it looks absolutely breathtaking.
There are a few other things on my Ireland wish list. They include visiting The Blarney Stone (a traditional part of any Ireland trip!), going to Cork, Ireland (I have relatives there, somewhere), and partaking in a Dublin pub crawl. A few different pub-crawls are popular in Dublin, like the music one. However, the pub crawl that I am most interested in is the literary crawl. This tour includes eight different pubs with performances of the work of some famous authors. Talk about a fun way to get a little reading in!
Why Visiting Ireland is Important to Me
As you can tell, I’ve given much thought to my next trip. Visiting Ireland would be a really special experience for me. It is definitely a place that I would remember visiting for years to come. Not only do I have family connections there, but I am also eager to enjoy all of the sights, sounds, and culture it offers. I may not have gotten there yet, but I know I will one day.
Mike