Dublin & Galway, Ireland

Before COVID hit Europe like a a hangover after a Saturday night bar crawl (you're in denial at first but then right around 11am when you finally step into direct sunlight you're like "oh no...this is definitely a big problem), I ran away for 5 days to Ireland for St. Patrick's day. Growing up in Boston, I always had friends going on casual family vacations to the "Irish countryside" and seeing windy snaps of the Cliffs of Moher is as common as seeing a brunch snap. After so much hype and many years as a Kerry Gold loyalist, I was excited to see Irish green for my own eyes.

We checked into The Shelbourne on Friday which was very boujie. JFK stayed in a room on our floor and they served (unlimited) high tea downstairs with the best gingerbread and scones around. The Boston College Dublin campus is around the corner and some guests are lucky enough to get rooms that look out onto St. Stephen's Green. After strolling through the garden, we walked towards Trinity College and continued to wind our way through town before making it back to the hotel for high tea (hiiiighly recommend this despite it being $$$).

The Guinness Storehouse was closed due to COVID (a frequent theme of this trip) which was a huge blow to our morale. Other places that were recommended to me were:

- Brother Hubbard (153 Capel St, North City, Dublin, D01 V9V0, Ireland) or (46 Harrington St, Saint Kevin's, Dublin 8, Ireland)

- Ryan's of Camden St (Camden Street Lower, Saint Peter's, Dublin 2, D02 KT51, Ireland)

- Copper Face Jacks (29-30 Harcourt St, Saint Peter's, Dublin 2, D02 XV58, Ireland)

After just a day in Dublin, we decided to take the train across the Emerald Isle to Galway. The train ride was so quick and I loved seeing all the villages we passed along the way. When we arrived in Galway, it was definitely less crowded than a normal St. Patrick's Day weekend would be, but there were still groups of people milling around.

One of my coworkers is lucky enough to call Galway his hometown. These are his favorite places to grab grub:

EAT

- Ard Bia at Nimmos (Spanish Arch, The Long Walk, Galway, H91 E9XA, Ireland)

- Cupan Tea (8 Quay Ln, Galway, Ireland) This place is adorable and had delicious teas and scones. The only downside is that they "reserve" seats/ ensure social distancing using dolls and it has the creepiest effect.

- Cava Bodega (1 Middle St, Galway, Ireland) Spanish tapas in Galway!

- The Dough Bros (Cathedral Buildings, 1 Middle St, Galway, Ireland) Famous pizza in Galway

- Handsome Burger (49 Dominick Street Lower, Galway, H91 P08F, Ireland) You can't go wrong with the original "Handsome Burger"

- La Collina (169 Upper Salthill Road, Galway, Ireland) Good steak and seafood

- Brasserie on the Corner (25 Eglinton St, Galway, H91 CY1F, Ireland)

- Sheridan's Cheesemongers (14 Churchyard St, Galway, H91 X2R5, Ireland) Really cool cheese shop. They have a wine bar upstairs with good charcuterie

- Pizza & Pasta Napoli (15 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 ANH9, Ireland) Hole in the wall pizza shop serving slices

- Electric Arcade (36 Abbeygate Street Upper, Galway, Ireland) Coffee & food

- Moran's Oyster Cottage (The Weir, Roymore, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, Ireland)

- Tigh Nora (8 Cross Street Lower, Galway, Ireland)

- Java (17 Abbeygate Street Upper, Galway, H91 C6A0, Ireland) - Creperie with really good coffee

BARS

- The Quays Bar (Quay Ln, Galway, Ireland) for fish & chips and an ice cold Guinness.

- Barr an Chaladh (Daly's Place, 3 Woodquay, Galway, Ireland)

- O'Connor's Famous Pub (Salthill House, Upper Salthill Road, Galway, Ireland) This is the bar in the Galway Girl music video!

- The Front Door (8 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 YY06, Ireland)

- O'Connell's Bar (8 Eyre Square, Galway, H91 FT22, Ireland) Really popular, has a huge beer garden

- An Pucan (11 Forster St, Galway, Ireland) Beer garden

- Tribeton (1-3 Merchants Rd, Galway, H91 AT0V, Ireland) Great for cocktails

- Tigh Neachtain (17 Cross Street Upper, Galway, H91 F9F7, Ireland) Old school pub. Great in the summer when everyone sits out

- Caribou (31 Woodquay, Galway, H91 P5K8, Ireland) A lot of nice beers, board games and really good food

Most of these places were closed, but we were able to have a tapas dinner at Cava Bodega, gorge ourselves on burgers at Handsome Burger after walking to Blackrock, and have tea at Cupan Tea.

If I look freezing cold in all these photos it's because I am. Also, hi @EdSheeran! Please cast me in the remake of the next Galway Girl music video (fast forward to 3:05 for this scene).

SEE

- The Spanish Arch (2 The Long Walk, Galway, Ireland)

- Cliffs of Moher (Lislorkan North, Liscannor, Co. Clare, V95 KN9T, Ireland) Closed to visitors the day before we arrived...

- Blackrock Beach (Salthill Rd Lower, Galway, Ireland) Go kick the plaque at the end

- Thomas Dillons Claddagh Gold Jewellers (1 Quay St, Galway, H91 CP22, Ireland) Replaced my ring from South Shore Plaza with an original!

There's so much in Dublin and Galway that I wasn't able to do so I will definitely be making another trip soon! Sláinte