Throughout my four months abroad in Dublin, it was inevitable that I would feel a little homesick. Luckily, my friends became a second family to me. But, as the holidays rolled around the corner, my family could no longer hold back from visiting me for the first time in months. My parents gathered the troops (my big brother and little sister), and hopped on a red-eye from Boston to Dublin.
Upon their arrival, and a brief period of insurmountable jet-lag, my family was ready for me to show them around Ireland… and I could not disappoint.
I began by bringing them to Howth, a coastal town in Co. Dublin, just a little under an hour bus ride from the city center. This Howth cliff walk is a perfect way to feel the ocean breeze, take a hike with a beautiful view, and explore the quaint town center (with some of the best Fish and Chips).
It wouldn’t have been right if I didn’t at least show them a bit of Irish history, so we also went to the Trinity Library to see the Book of Kells!
After giving them their taste of Celtic history and relaying some information I learned from my Dublin: It’s Museums and Collections class at University College of Dublin, they were ready to embark inwards to the Temple Bar area. (They made sure to get their classic photo-ops).
We then took a scenic train ride down to the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland: Cork. Since my Grandma’s side of the family has its roots in Cork, it was a “must-do” on our list. Of course we stopped by Blarney Castle, where we were absolutely blown away by its beauty, but we also stopped in Cobh.
Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic, formerly known as Queenstown. It was also the home of the first migrant to pass through Ellis Island. Her name was Annie Moore.
We made our way back to Dublin, and flitted around trying new foods and adventures, and soon they made their way back to the USA. I was absolutely elated to get to see my family while I was still in Dublin, and though it gave me a taste of home, I was even more excited to continue traveling throughout Ireland for another month.
Thank you for reading! I can’t wait to share more.
