May 2024
Tour: Insight’s “Best of Ireland & Scotland”
Ireland Tour Hotels:
Clayton Hotel Charlemont (Dublin)
Kingsley Hotel (Cork)
Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa (Killarney)
Galmont Hotel & Spa (Galway)
Clayton Hotel Sligo (Sligo)
- Okayyyy. I am writing this re-cap nearly a year after I took this trip. Whoopsies. So it will be less of a detailed re-cap and more of a “here’s where I went and some pictures.” But because of who I am as a person, I have some things to say about the trip overall and about Insight.
- This was my last Insight trip. Morocco wasn’t great and I blamed that more on Morocco than Insight. But this trip wasn’t great either. Insight, you’re losing your magic. Come on!
- I took this trip with my momma and we had a perfectly lovely time together, saw beautiful sights, and have zero regrets about taking this trip. But for a bit more money, I think we could have had a better experience with a different tour company.
- The hotels were just okay. I was not expecting the Four Seasons on an Insight trip, but I also didn’t expect to stay overnight in a formal insane asylum. No joke. True story. And yes, it was creepy and we all hated it. Cause you could absolutely, 100% tell that it was a former asylum converted into a hotel.
- We covered three countries: Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. I loved them all for different reasons, but Northern Ireland really stole my heart. I’d love to go back there in the future and spend more time on their beautiful coast.
- Our tour guide was just okay, but our bus driver Gerry was the highlight. Everyone on the trip loved him and I wish nothing but good things for him and his entire family.
- I am also entirely convinced that a hilarious TV show could be made about travel tours – cause man oh man, you spend time with some real characters. Like one woman in our group who thought that a polar bear really did live on the coast of Northern Ireland. Ma’am. Come on now.
- Jeanne and I made friends with Ann and Tommy, a sweet couple from Florida. We loved them and their absolutely brutal-but-comical criticisms of the trip.
- Anyway, I don’t remember much of the specifics anymore, but here are the photos from Ireland.
Dublin
We took a bus tour around the city and visited Trinity College. Jeanne and I also arrived to Ireland a few days ahead of the start of our tour, so we had plenty of time to shop and see the sights on our own. Dublin is not a glamorous city, but it’s friendly and easy to navigate. One of the best things we did on our own was visit the Irish Emigration Museum. Fascinating and so, so well done!
There are palm trees in Ireland. Did you know that?
My lifeblood.
Jeanne in the rain. Oh nooooo.
We ended one of the tour days with an Irish dance show. Kitschy but fun, not gonna lie.
Kildare & Cork
We stopped at the National Stud Farm on our way to Cork and it was unexpectedly fascinating. I was initially unenthused because I’m not into horses, but it really was gorgeous and interesting and 100% worth the trip. We didn’t see much of Cork because we were only there for one night, got into our hotel past-dinner, and we were tired.
Adios, Dublin.
Welcome to the world of thoroughbred horse breeding. I was unenthused until I wasn’t.
To start things off, you should know about Colonel William Hall Walker. A rich guy who never had to work a day in his British aristocratic life. He started the farm in 1900.
He was in a lifelong believer in ASTROLOGY, insisting that the date and time of birth were the key to determining the destiny of his horses. He employed an astrologer to draw up charts of all his foals and to predict their prospects on the race tracks. And he fired his trainers when their horses did not deliver what the astrologer had predicted. Cool. Cool.
The facility is now owned by the Irish government.
So we learned a lot about horses. And the stars.
And fun fact: the horses breed naturally. No artificial insemination here! AI could lead to fraud whereas the old fashioned way is a guarantee.
So if you own a mare and have WAY too much money (Horse Racing Money is a whole different stratosphere of insane), you can pick your stallion from the list above, pay up, and bring your mare here for a rockin’ good time.
But what if your girl arrives and she isn’t in the mood? Common. That’s where Tommy comes in. A pony whose sole job is to get these mares in the mood. He is legendary for his ability to get cranky, unenthused mares rarin’ to go. And he’s a pony… so there’s no chance he’d be able to have sex with the mare due to the size difference. Once the mares are ready, Tommy exists stage left and the stallion of choice comes in. Tommy: the Ultimate Wingman.
The pregnant mares give birth here as well. And their babes get to live the good life before starting their racing careers.
Happy to report that Jeanne surviving another damp Irish day.
The facility also has a world-renowned Japanese garden.
Then we made our way to Cork, stopping in Cashel on the way. Quaint and colorful town.
Then we made the last leg of the drive to Cork. Where our still not-quite-adjusted-to-the-time selves crashed and napped.
Cobh, Blarney Castle, and Killarney
We started our day in Cobh (pronounced “cove”), formerly known as Queenstown. Cobh’s claim to fame is that it was a major point of emigration and the last port of call for Titanic.
Sunny breakfast before leaving Cork.
Cobh
That street was STEEEEEEEEEP.
Annie Moore was an Irish teenager who was the first immigrant to pass through federal immigration inspection at Ellis Island in New York. She was only fifteen years old and arrived with her two younger brothers.
Irish palm trees.
What remains of Heartbreak Pier. Heartbreak Pier, as it was called by the locals, was the departure point for Irish emigrants from Cobh, including those who boarded the Titanic.
This building is the former site of the White Star Line office.
Blarney Castle.
Jeanne did not care to see it. “You’ve seen one castle, you’ve seen them all.”
Hotel arrival in Killarney.
Ham ‘n’ cheese sammich from Centra for dinner.
Killarney & Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is classic Irish beauty and Jeanne thought it was mediocre at best. Jeanne… always comin’ in hot with the hot takes.
Started the day with a ride through Killarney National Park. Our girl was named Polly.
Jeanne… in nature!
Phenomenal views.
Phenomenal hair.
Gorgeous. Green. Full of sheep. Not for those prone to carsickness tho.
Then we stopped in Sneem for lunch. This is Noell, the owner of this B&B.
Sneem is very cute, as is Jeanne.
This area of Ireland is known as “leprechaun country”, if you believe in that sort of thing.
Back in Killarney for the night, before heading to Galway.
Killarney is one of my favorite stops. I wish I could visit again and park myself there for a week.
Cliffs of Moher & Galway
The next morning, we took a ferry across the River Shannon and then headed to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway.
It was the smoothest ferry ride ever. I didn’t even realize we were moving.
beautiful Cliffs of Moher
Met the cutest little pupper!
Galway selfie.
Our lovely tourguide.
Galway fun facts: it’s the home of the Claddagh ring; it’s the largest Gaelic-speaking population of any Irish county; two medieval towers and a partial city wall are currently located on the ground floor of the Eyre Square Shopping mall; and it’s the festival capital of Ireland and named Ireland’s friendliest city.
Lynch’s Castle dates back to the 16th century. It’s the only medieval building left intact and is now a bank… of course.
In medieval times, Galway was ruled by 14 merchant families. These “tribes” are where Galway gets the nickname of the “City of Tribes.” The tribe names include: Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D’Arcy, Deane, Font, French, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martyn, Morris, and Skerritt — and each tribe as a flag displayed in the city square.
Galway is also known for its decorative bunting. Last time I was here, the colors flown were maroon and white, the colors of County Galway. This time, the colors are those of the Irish flag.
Do you know what the colors of the Irish flag represent? Green for Irish Catholics. Orange for Irish Protestants. White for peace between the two.
Remember a few pics ago when I mentioned the historic medieval walls and tower within the shopping mall? Well here they are. *In* the mall. Next to Claire’s Boutique.
Random teddy bear.
Sligo
This was probably my least-favorite day(s) of the trip. The drive to Sligo was a bore and Sligo itself was nothing special — and oh yeah, this is where we stayed in the former mental institution. Morale was low at this point!
On the road again!
I did enjoy the abundance of kitschy sheep.
Some tiny town we stopped at that I don’t remember..
But they had Coke Zero!
I try to visit the potato chip aisle of every country I visit.
The little dog paw prints!
The institution!
Our room.
The vibes were interesting.
A weird little area next to the elevator. Peace out, Sligo!
That’s all for Ireland.