Every year I make a vision board, and this year, Ireland showed up loud and clear! Setting an intention makes it 7,250 times more likely to occur, so this is my Ireland manifesto (I made up that statistic!)
Rolling green hills. Cozy pubs. Ancient stories stitched into stone. Somewhere between setting intentions and daydreaming with my coffee, I realized Ireland isn’t just a “someday” place for me anymore, it’s a this-chapter place!
A destination that represents adventure, friendship, history, and that deep pull toward places that feel meaningful rather than flashy. So yes, Ireland made the board. Which means it’s no longer a wish, it’s a plan in progress.
🍀 How My Irish Besty Made Ireland A Destination
This dream didn’t come out of nowhere. My besty Deb, the Irish realtor, is from Donegal, and through her, Ireland has slowly woven itself into my life. I’ve met her family when they’ve visited the States, heard the stories, absorbed the accents, and felt that unmistakable warmth that makes you feel like you belong even when you technically don’t!
Somehow, without ever stepping foot on Irish soil, I’ve become an honorary, adopted daughter of Ireland. Donegal in particular feels like the emotional starting point, not just a dot on a map but a place connected to real people I love.
That’s why this trip isn’t about checking landmarks off a list. It’s about visiting a country that already feels familiar, already feels personal, and now sits right there on my vision board like a promise waiting to be kept.
🍀 Myths, Folklore & Places That Feel a Little… Magical
Ireland doesn’t just tell stories, it is the story. Legends of giants, fae folk, and ancient magic are baked into the land itself. Take Giant’s Causeway for example. Either a giant built it to stroll over to Scotland without soggy feet… or geology did its thing. I fully plan to stand there and quietly vote “giant.”
photo credit Marian Florinel Condruz
Even the countryside feels enchanted. Places like Connemara look like they were designed specifically for wandering thoughts and dramatic inner monologues.
🍺 Pub Culture, Craic & Guinness-Fueled Conversations
Irish pubs aren’t just places to drink, they’re community living rooms. In many pubs music spills out, laughter echoes, and suddenly you’re best friends with the person next to you.
Yes, Temple Bar is famous and touristy, but I love that energy too. That said, I’ve learned the real magic often lives in tiny village pubs where the bartender remembers your name and someone’s uncle is playing fiddle in the corner!
And Guinness? I don’t even need to pretend I’m subtle about this... it was my beer besty throughout my 20's!
🌊 Scenery That Feels Peaceful
Ireland may be small, but she shows off. The Ring of Kerry, West Cork, and endless stretches of coastline feel like they were created to remind you to breathe deeper.
photo credit Jonathan Borba
I love that so many of these places aren’t crushed by crowds. You get space. Quiet. Time to actually feel where you are.
🏰 History, Castles & Layers of Time
Ireland wears her history openly. Ancient sites older than Stonehenge, reminders of struggle and resilience, and castles that look like they were designed for daydreaming.
Blarney Castle is high on my list, if only to kiss the stone and gain the gift of gab. Honestly, I already talk for a living, but I’m not saying no to upgrades!
📚 Trinity College & the Bookish Heart of Dublin
There are places that make you want to whisper automatically. Trinity College Dublin is one of them. The Long Room library, with its soaring shelves and centuries-old books, feels like stepping inside a memory. It’s calm, scholarly, and deeply romantic in a quiet way!
photo credit Clicker Happy
🍻 A Proper Pint of Guinness (For Research)
I fully support educational tourism, which is why Guinness Storehouse is the non-negotiable TOP tourist attraction in Dublin!
You learn the history, the branding, how to pour the perfect pint, and then enjoy it at the top with sweeping city views. Marketing, history, and beer? Yes please.
🌳 Phoenix Park, Deer & Slowing Down
photo credit - Mario Spencer
Right in the middle of Dublin, Phoenix Park offers space to breathe. Deer roam freely, history hums quietly, and you can people-watch or do absolutely nothing, which might be my favorite vacation activity! That said, lugging around your bags the whole time is a pain so make sure to check out Radical Storage for easy peasy luggage storage!
💚 Final Thoughts from Ireland’s Honorary Daughter
Ireland feels like a place that welcomes you in before you even arrive. Between the stories, the landscapes, the pubs, and the people, it’s the kind of destination that doesn’t just impress you, it embraces you!
And someday, when I finally land there with Deb and wander through Donegal like I belong? I suspect it’s going to feel less like a trip… and more like coming home.
