My trip to the United Kingdom in 2013 included a trip to beautiful Ireland. I couldn't wait to be around fellow redheads - and wow there are heaps of them! I flew from Edinburgh across to Dublin on a little Aer Lingus ATR (Ireland's flagship carrier); it was a quick and comfortable flight. Before I go on, it is important to note that Ireland is part of Europe, whereas Northern Ireland is part of the UK. I could feel a dramatic difference between the two.
(The aircraft I flew over to Dublin on)
I enjoyed walking around Dublin - I felt its atmosphere was different to other large cities in the UK and Europe. The city was dark and full of mystery. I stayed at the Roxford Lodge Hotel which was well situated and offered fantastic services and amenities. When in Dublin I enjoyed various landmarks/attractions, such as the old library, St Stephen's Green, Newgrange, Dublin Castle and the National Museum of Ireland to name a few. As someone who absolutely LOVES castles (thank you Harry Potter), I completely recommended visiting the Dublin Castle. It is a fantastic piece of architecture that is not to be missed on a trip to Ireland.
(Myself out the front of the Dublin Castle)
Dublin was another city that I managed to get around purely by foot - I don't recall catching any public transport, as everything seemed to be within a 30 minute walk of where I was staying. It has a very laid back atmosphere - no one seemed to be in a rush to get anywhere. I recall watching 'The Bling Ring' in a cinema there as well. The cinema was fantastic. The movie... not so much. Emma Watson doing an American accent was wrong on many levels. On another note I did also observe a larger amount of homeless people in this city (compared to other capital cities in Europe), but perhaps this was just the particular part of the CBD that I was walking around. I have no idea if this is still the case as it has been quite a few years now since my visit. This didn't cause any issues to myself on my visit at all, it is merely an observation.
(The bus that I caught from Dublin to Belfast)
The highlight of Ireland for me was actually Northern Ireland - Belfast. I am a huge fan of the Titanic. It is such an epic tragedy, but yet fascinates me greatly. Belfast is where the Titanic was built, so it is very fitting for there to be a museum/exhibition there. I travelled up to Belfast on a day trip - the bus left from Dublin and was very convenient and easy, as I had booked this online in advance. The journey took around 2 hours, but the destination made it well worthwhile. The Titanic Exhibition was everything I hoped it would be - insightful, grand, detailed and very impressive overall. Even if you're not a fan of the Titanic, it will still impress. There are many interactive galleries inside, as well as all other facilities a large exhibition centre should have (such as dining options, gift shops etc). Make sure you visit Belfast if you're travelling to Ireland!
(Myself in the Titanic Exhibition, Belfast)
Overall, my trip to Ireland and northern Ireland was enjoyable. I would love to go back sometime in the future, however it may not be quite as high up the priority list as perhaps some of the other countries I have visited in the UK and Europe.
(Myself holding the 'heart of the ocean' necklace)
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