An Exploration of Ireland

By Jessica Kieleszewski

After spending a couple of months in what’s dubbed Central “Eastern” Europe, I was excited for our nine day break in November.  I, along with a fellow classmate, Kathy Kryj had chosen to visit Ireland.  On our first sight of Ireland from the plane, we knew we were far from Poland.  There was water everywhere, the landscape was entirely green, very little concrete and pavement, if not just scatterings of it.  We based our hotel in Limerick, and spent our full seven days there, while taking bus trips to other cities using the Bus Eirann transportation system (wonderful by the way, and cheap).  After our arrival, on the next day, we spent our first official day in Ireland just getting to know Limerick, buying maps, and of course, having traditional fish and chips at a restaurant recommended by a security guard at the Hunt Museum. While walking the city it was interesting to see all of the signs both in English and in Gaeligh.  Walking in one direction, the ground would say “STOPLOOK”, walking in another it would say “STADFÉACH”.  Walking In Limerick, along the river Shannon, you see these little red ring buoys with a motto on the case, “A stolen ring buoy - a stolen life”, my companion and I laughed when we later saw one stuck in a tree on the side of the river near one of the bridges.

On day two we made our way to Cork, similar in size to Limerick, only slightly more touristy, we saw Blackrock castle, really more of a fortress which was restored and converted into a science museum and café.  We then preceded to attempt to find a place called Dundanion Castle, ruins to be honest… and ruins they were.  We had to cross a mucky meadow, technically a park, and climb up the side of a hill just to see a part of what still existed inside of the barbed wire fence filled with debris, my companion slipped down the hill three times on our way down from the castle, but wasn’t seriously injured.  

The third place we visited on our trip was Dingle, a beautiful, small, quaint harbor town on the west coast of Ireland, located on Dingle Peninsula, Irelands west-most point.  Dingle was once stated by the National Geographic as “one of the most beautiful places on earth” and when we got there and walked around, we could see why.  Unless you’re driving, it’s hard to get around the peninsula, but from what we were able to see on foot, it was well worth the journey, as was the bus ride through Tralee Bay. 

Our final official journey was to Blarney Castle, one of Irelands oldest and most famous castles, and yes, we both kissed the Blarney Stone.  And yes, it was terrifying.  For anybody unaware of what the Blarney Stone is, it’s a stone placed at the bottom of a wall set off of its foundation at the top of a tower on the castle.  While we were at Blarney Castle we ventured into the Grove, a beautiful place with waterfalls and rock formations, even more than the castle, this was my favorite part of the estate.
After experiencing Ireland and its vast difference from Poland, it was a nice change in the semester.  The people were friendly, happy to have a chat and help you find your way, I look forward to visiting again some day.