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!
After a jam-packed day yesterday, we’re having a more chill one today as we head over to catch a trip with Paddywagon tours, which basically offers a comfort ride to this destination. We are headed to the Wicklow Mountains, and more specifically Glendalough. It’s an hour drive to get there and then we have 2 hours to explore. Which is enough, because it’s cold and windy and rainy and at this point in the trip, my tolerance for shit weather is at a low. Haha
Glendalough means valley of the two lakes, and it’s famous for the ruins of an early medieval monastic settlement from the 6th century.
Like genuine ruins- Untouched and having survived Viking raids and many conflicts before its decline.
The whole area is surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains and two spectacular lakes. There are a few walking trails to take but we don’t have a ton of time so we manage to get to only one of the lakes
I look relatively happy in this pic, but it doesn’t last long because now we have to head back to the bus and it starts to rain and it’s windy and I am just miserable and over it. The scenery is beautiful, and I am grateful to be here, but I am not happy right now. Haha. And to top it all off, we head back to the visitor center before the bus comes to pick us up and the guy that works there is being such an idiot. He won’t let us stand inside and out of the rain.
And not soon enough, we’re back on the bus to Dublin and this afternoon we are in for a treat…a tour of the Jameson Distillery. Founded by John Jameson on 1790, it’s grown to be Ireland’s most famous whiskey. This location no longer makes whiskey but it is a historic site to visit.

Fun fact – the family motto was Sine Metu, which means without fear. You can find this all over their bottles and branding!
We have a 45 minute experience which details the history of the whiskey, and how it is made. The price includes one drink; I get a whiskey ginger.
Our guide for the day is James, and he is fantastic. Like probably one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had in all of my travels. He has this rockstar look about him, and I confirm with him after the tour that he is in fact, a musician. Haha.
In the tasting room, we’re able to sample three different types of Jameson.
Of course my favorite is the exclusive one that you can only get at the distillery; it’s very expensive and I cannot possibly bring back a huge bottle like that in my suitcase. Now, normally I don’t like Jameson at all. Like even the thought of doing a shot of it would make me wanna gag. But James shows us how to properly enjoy the whiskey. I don’t think I’m gonna like it at all, but once I have the whiskey in my mouth and I let it swish around and I taste the flavors….. This is a huge difference. And now… I love it!!!
Now we’re on a roll and not ready for dinner yet, so…..beer! We pull up to the Brazen Head..marketed as “the oldest pub in Ireland since 1198”.
Technically, the current building has only been there since the 18th century, but it was a spot in ancient times where people crossed the river Liffey at low tide, and an inn developed at this location to serve the travelers. Inside the pub, the decor is so cool and there are many rooms to have a drink, plus live music
The plan is to do some pub hopping on the north bank , so the next stop is the Cobblestone. It’s way too busy and there is nowhere to sit so we continue on to the Wooly Shed. It’s more like a sports bar and I’d heard they host karaoke, but not tonight so we only stay for one pint.
We head back towards the hotel before dinner, and I’m feeling like having pizza, so we find this cute place by the hotel called Wood Fire cafe.
And now we are ready for more beer. Haha. Next stop is The Celt, a very popular place and it’s packed.
We grab a beer from the bar and find a place to stand. We’re waiting for the live music to start but they are having technical difficulties and we don’t want to wait around. And also, the beer tastes like shit. What makes up for this…..the decor in here is sooooo cool. So much detail it’s hard to notice everything!
We’re just about to call it a night but as we’re leaving the Celt, I can hear music coming from a pub across the street and I convince Ian that we should go check it out
It’s called the Morris Bar. It used to be a wallpaper shop in the 1920’s, and apparently, the walls inside are covered in the antique wallpaper!! The beer tastes better here too.
There is a table of 4 older men and 1 young guy. And they’re just having a jam session, playing whatever they want. No mics, no equipment.
One guy is even “playing” his beer glass.
It’s completely awesome and an authentic and perfect way to spend my last night in Ireland. We don’t stay out too late though because I have to catch an early flight in the morning and I don’t want to bring an Irish hangover home with me! Dublin has been amazing, everything and more!
Everywhere On Earth With Erin 