Welcome to my story style travel blog, featuring my adventure through Ireland in the spring of 2026.
You can read the blog in order, or about whichever destination intrigues you! Within my stories, I’ll offer some recommendations and some tips and tricks for a smooth journey. In this blog, I’ve just finished a 6 day tour around Ireland, and now I’ll be ending the trip with 2 days in Dublin with my friend Ian!
This morning I have my last included breakfast at the hotel, and say goodbye to a few more friends from the tour. I hop in an Uber to head back to the city centre and over to the Maldron Hotel Parnell Square.
Ian has chosen this hotel for us. I met Ian in 2019 when I did a tour of Jordan. We’ve kept in touch over the years, so it’s super awesome that we can meet up again! He lives over in the UK, so it’s a quick trip for him.
Anyways, the hotel and rooms are nice and within walking distance to anything you want to do here in Dublin.The only thing is – it’s on the Northside of the river. Some of these parts can be a little dodgy, but just be careful and aware and you’re fine! Let’s call it more cultured! But actually, there’s a lot of really cool pubs over here that are way less touristy!
Dublin is a city where history feels woven into everyday life. Founded by the Vikings in the 9th century along the River Liffey, it grew into an important medieval trading centre before becoming deeply shaped by English and British rule. The city has been at the heart of some of Ireland’s most important moments, from the 1798 rebellion and the Easter Rising of 1916 to the fight for independence that eventually created the Irish Free State. You can still see those layers everywhere—from medieval streets and Georgian architecture to historic pubs, churches and landmarks that have witnessed centuries of change. And somehow, despite all that history, Dublin doesn’t feel stuck in the past; it feels like a city that has carried its story forward while still knowing how to have a good time.
We make our way over to the river, stopping by the Spire of Dublin, a 120 metre pointy thing.
The locals make fun of it, because it doesn’t really have any architectural or cultural connection to the city. It’s just there. Some of my favorite nicknames I’ve heard for it are the stiletto in the ghetto, the Stiffy by the Liffey, and the Spike.
It is located on O’Connell Street, which is one of the main streets in Dublin, and features a lot of restaurants and shops. Today the street is full of tractors and trucks, and workers who are protesting.
Well, I’m lucky enough to be here during the Irish fuel protests. The nature of this can be broken down into – the spike of oil prices since Ireland is reliant on imported fuel, economic instability of those who rely on fuel for their income, a resistance to environmental taxation and overall political frustration. Now we all know what happens when Ireland gets upset…… so we are hoping that everything stays peaceful. These protests actually had an impact on some parts of the tour, as we had to take alternate routes so we didn’t get stuck in any blockades on the main highways. And we can thank our awesome driver Sean for that – he was on top of it!
Anyways, we make our way over to Trinity College – it’s a bit difficult to have a look around the grounds and inside because they’ve got a bunch of areas blocked off and I’m very confused as to what’s going on.
But that’s OK. Our main reason to be here is to see the Book of Kells and the Long Room.
The Book of Kells is one of Ireland’s most treasured and fascinating pieces of history—a beautifully illustrated manuscript created by Celtic monks around the 9th century. Its pages are filled with intricate patterns, colourful artwork, mysterious symbols, and detailed drawings of animals and biblical figures, showing just how skilled and dedicated its creators were. Despite being over 1,200 years old, the manuscript has survived centuries of history and remains a remarkable glimpse into Ireland’s early Christian culture.
There are replicated displays of the pages on the walls of the museum. When you go to see the actual book, it’s behind glass so you can’t touch it or take pictures of it. They display two pages at a time and rotate every 12 weeks.
If you’re curious, there is a way you can view the entire thing online! I also bought a book from the souvenir shop at the college. Then we make our way over to the Long Room, and this place is super cool.
It’s a library that holds over 200,000 of Trinity’s oldest books, and it’s probably one of my favorite places in Dublin. I just keep wandering around, taking in the beauty and history.
Also located here is the original Brian Boru harp, the national emblem of Ireland. It never actually belonged to King Brian , but his name is tied to the harp from an 18th century legend. This thing is from the 15th century!
We leave the college and go for a wander to find a cool pub(not hard to find!). On the way, we pass by the statue of Philip Lynott, who was the lead singer for Thin Lizzy.
We roll up to Kehoe’s, a famous historic Victorian era pub that has been around since 1803.
It’s not very busy this afternoon, so we manage to find a cozy booth in the back and enjoy a very strong Irish coffee. Inside Kehoe’s, it feels like stepping back in time. The pub is a maze of little rooms, dark wood panelling, worn floors and cosy corners, with snug booths tucked away behind mahogany doors. The vibe is so cool that we could just sit here all day and drink, but we have other things to do. Haha 
Now it’s time for a little bit of nature, so we walk over to St. Stephen’s Green, a large public park that is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It’s a little chilly, so we don’t stay too long… would have been nice to have a picnic lunch though
But we do need lunch, so we pop into the Hairy Lemon, a quirky 19th century pub with vintage decor(and foreign currencies all over the walls, hanging from the bars,etc.). For all you film buffs, you may recognize it from the movie The Commitments.
Ian treats me to lunch; I go for the loaded fries with cheese and bacon. Perfect meal to refuel for the rest of the afternoon.
Next step on the itinerary is Dublin Castle, and we decide to go inside and have a look around. Playing a central role in Ireland’s history over the last 800 years, it was the seat of British administration before Ireland’s independence in 1922 with notable events being that transfer of power and the Easter rising. It symbolizes their complex past, and remains a popular and important landmark.
And here are more shots of the beautiful and ornate interior
From here we make our way over to Christ Church Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Originally founded by Vikings, it was rebuilt in stone when the Anglo-Norman’s took over. It’s definitely the coolest looking church in Dublin. I don’t enjoy paying to explore inside places of worship, so I have only a quick peek inside
And now we must head over to St. Patrick’s Cathedral…I’ve already seen it but Ian has not.
I don’t want to pay to go inside, but Ian insists. And he’s right. We do an audio tour and I love it!It is the largest cathedral in all of Ireland, standing on the site where St. Patrick baptized his converts at a nearby well. This place is full of medieval monuments, beautiful stained glass windows, and memorial and tombs.
Meet St.Patrick …
The stained glass….
This is the Door of Reconciliation. Two noble families were feuding over power in Dublin. The losing family locked themselves inside of the cathedral. The winning family wanted peace, so they cut a hole through the door in order to offer a handshake. The other family appreciated this bravery, and hands were shook, and everybody lived happily ever after!
And finally, someone very famous is buried here. You might know him from a book called Gulliver’s Travels….yes, Jonathan Swift! He got special treatment because he was the Dean of the church for over 30 years
And after all of this exploration, it’s finally time to wind down for the evening, with dinner and drinks. I choose Gallagher’s Boxty House.
You can’t visit Ireland and not try boxty! This place is a little fancier and pricier than I expected, but it’s a Dublin classic. Boxty are potato pancakes, with various fillings and toppings. I try the chicken boxty with chorizo and red pepper in a white wine sauce
And don’t ask for a Guinness – they don’t serve it here! Only their own house brew
And that’s it for the day!! If you’re wondering why there are no pics of Ian, it’s because he likes to take the photos not be in them. Haha. But I swear, he does exist!!!
One last cool pic of the Ha’Penny bridge before bed
Everywhere On Earth With Erin 