Despite being just an hour and a half away from Dublin, the bus ride felt like a journey to a different world! When I woke up and looked out the window I saw open fields, lush green grass, and stunning mountain views, which was different from the usual industrial environment that people associate with Dublin. I was impressive by the views, but even more impressed by the driver’s ability to navigate a wide vehicle through the windy narrow roads of the countryside. Though the bus stopped often, the scenery made the ride worthwhile.
Our day consisted of visiting the Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice’s Cathedral, Wicklow Mountains, and a sheep farm where we got to hold little lamb and watch live demonstrations of how shepherd dogs heard cattle. Although the day was broken up into 2 hour intervals at every stop, it wasn’t nearly enough time to embrace everything the rural lifestyle had to offer.
In Kilkenny, we stopped at a pub called The Playwright to have a celebratory birthday lunch, where we ate traditional Irish food; bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie(MY favorite) and Irish beef stew. After walking through the Kilkenny Castle and Cathedral, we spent the rest of our time chatting up the locals running the sales booths in the mini “fair”. Typically, I’m hesitant to buy products from small tourist trap shops, but the genuine warmth of the locals encouraged me to invest in their homemade products and treats. Given that we spent most of our time in the touristy areas, I found that the local perceptions of foreigners were generally more positive compared to Dublin. Since tourism is a crucial source of income for local businesses, the locals tend to be more welcoming of visitors and are often more willing to share their recommendations for the best places to eat and sights to see. This approachable attitude not only encourages sales, but also showcases their transferable skills and entrepreneurial mindset.
Our second stop at the Wicklow Mountains was undoubtedly my favorite destination on the trip- so far. We went hiking in Glendalough and had an amazing time snapping hundreds of photos and videos of ourselves drinking from waterfalls, falling in the water while trying to skip rocks and cruising through the woods barefoot(peep Declan trying to be “Johnny Appleseed”). The food trucks waiting for us at the end of the trail was a great little treat for us to grab and go after returning back to the bus. Between the well groomed trails, fresh water, and a variety of food options, I could’ve easily spent the entire day there!
