It was the beginning of spring, so why not visit Dublin and Galway, Ireland for a few days? Farmland was spread throughout the areas we drove through in Galway. 
Think of rolling hills of green with sheep, cows and occasionally horses. The city of Dublin reminded me of Ireland’s struggle against British rule of its land.
My initial impression of the tumultuous history between Britain and its occupation of Ireland was that its occupation lasted about 200 years or so. I was surprised to learn that it was actually 800 years. Having gained independence in 1922, it is relatively a young nation.
The castles across Ireland are a reminder of the British footprint there. The castle which I visited, Malahide Castle and Gardens is located in Dublin. As Malahide Castle and Gardens was both close to the airport and the hotel I stayed at, it made perfect sense to see it. Although I longed to visit the southern region of Ireland, I knew it would be challenging to make it down there within the amount of days I was staying. Next time!
Malahide Castle is about three-stories tall and dates back to 1185. It is nicely furnished inside and although I enjoyed walking around and learning facts about the castle ’s h
istory, the tour seemed short and had me wanting more. Nevertheless, there is quite a bit to explore of the grounds. I came to Malahide Castle on a very rainy and cold day. As I walked the back gardens, I relished the fact that I was alone amongst the quiet and the beauty. My time walking the Malahide grounds and castle was one of the few times in my Ireland visit where I could feel transported to another era. Due to time constraints this was the only castle I visited, however, I did pass by several other castles including Bunratty Castle.
O’Connell Street, named after Daniel O’Connell, one of the most famous political leaders
(whose fame is equivalent to Abraham Lincoln.), is situated in the center of Dublin. Along with being the widest street in Dublin, it hosts several statues which pay homage to the leaders who fought for Ireland’s independence. The Spire of Dublin is also impossible to miss, a silver long needle point sculpture brushing against the sky. There is a regular bustle of people in the city of Dublin yet, despite the crowds it is fairly quiet compared to a place like New York City.
I also have to point out that I loved regularly seeing the bilingual languages of English and Gaelic. When riding public transportation, each stop is announced in both English and Gaelic. The language had experienced a revival in the late 19th century after having not been spoken by the majority of the population for some time.
To reach the western coast of Ireland from Dublin is a two-hour ride. It was at the Cliffs of Moher where I enjoyed my favorite views (and photos) from the trip. The path to walk along most of the Cliffs is a natural path and a little stone fence only went for a short distance. 
With the path being both wet and a little muddy, the windiness provided a thrill that I might literally fly right off the cliffs with one simple slip. Fortunately, I am still here to write about it.
Video/slideshow I had to include my favorite artist as one of the background music… Enya of course! 🙂
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