Ireland has always been on the top of my must see list due to films and photos showcasing the green rolling landscapes against blue shining sea. I wanted to see if it was true in person or just clever editing. When a cheap fare showed up to Knock, Ireland I figured why not spend a weekend exploring the West Coast.
Since we were planning on spending our time in the smaller villages and towns we needed a rental car instead of public transportation. Upon arrival to the small international airport of Knock we found the rental car stands very easily, but that was one of the last easy moments of the afternoon.
Our keys were handed to us with a good luck attached and a car color of gray. I was confused why luck would be needed to find a car. After walking to the lot I realized all the rental car companies use the same lot with no numbers and very minimal signage for which cars belong to which company. Roughly 80% of the cars were gray which really helped narrow down the field, and sadly our car did not make any noise when locked/unlocked, and the rear hatch would not open. After more time than I care to admit we found our set of wheels for the week and we were off with Max driving a manual with his left hand – a deeply impressive task since it is typically opposite for us Americans and I can’t drive one with either hand.
We chose to drive through Galway which is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland with origins as a prominent trading port. The cobblestone streets are lined with bright color store fronts and pubs that encourage you to leisurely stroll even during rainstorms. Our favorite shop was the local cheesemonger which had excellent advice on creating a charcuterie board for our late lunch/early dinner.
While exploring downtown Galway we came across Lynch’s Castle or better described as a medieval house. It was built between the 15th and 16th century by the Lynch family. Currently a bank utilizes the building, which is a great place to go to an ATM if open. Prior to walking into the bank lobby you pass through a small room with a large old fireplace, large posters on the walls regarding the history, and an old map.
A recommended tourist site is the long walk which showcases the colorful houses in postcards and photos while promoting Galway. The walk is actually only 314 meters long and can be completed in a few minutes. I recommend walking around the Claddagh Basin to the Nimmos Pier which shows off the houses with water in the foreground. As you walk to the pier there are informative signs for the area. My favorite fact was about the colony of mute swans that whistle and hiss at passerby’s. Irish folklore says swans hold the souls of the dead, so if the swans ever leave the Claddagh, the city of Galway is doomed. Thankfully we did see quite a few swans swimming so we felt safe to continue exploring.
After seeing multiple different shops advertising local knits we decided to enter one. Prior to entering a knitting shop I did not realize that the Irish stitches have specific meaning behind each one. Along the wall in the shop they displayed four different stitches along the wall which is fascinating – at least to me. Below is the honeycomb stitch, trellis stitch, zig zag stitch and cable stitch.
The honeycomb stitch is a lucky stitch after the hardworking bee, reminding us that hard work brings its own reward. The trellis stitch symbolizes the fields with borders of hewn stones with protection from the winds. The zig zag stitch symbolizing the coastal paths leading to the sea, and also the ups and downs of a marriage. The cable stitch is the most common symbolizing the fishermans’ rope parting good fortune and safety for those who wear it. There are many others not displayed that I discovered after further research.
After leaving Galway we started our road trip down to Doolin where our accommodation was located. We spotted the Dunguaire Castle from the road which was closed but made for a great photo opportunity especially since the rain had stopped momentarily.
Despite the rain and wind in the forecast we figured why not have a beach day. Max drove us down to Lahinch. The small town is made up of cafes, ice cream shops, and stores. After a tasty second breakfast to follow up our morning pastries I found a walk to go see a castle that went along the water. The wind was strong but it made watching the kite boarders enjoyable as they caught huge air and mostly landed.
The hike quickly turned to a struggle once we reached the sand portion with the wind whipping the sand and rain straight into our faces and eyes. I kept telling Max the castle views would be worth it. All we had left was to climb this small hill.
Turns out the Dough Castle is on the golf course and this is where the trail ended, so not necessarily worth the stroll. You can get the same view if you pull over on the road we drove in and out of the town.
Dough Castle is a fortified tower dating back to the 14th century as a two story tower house with a house adjoining the tower. Now this is all that remains.
After our beach excursion I attempted another hike, this time to the Cliffs of Moher from the town of Doolin. As we got to the section off the road it began hailing with strong head winds accompanied by intermittent fog. So I conceded to try again the following day.
Finally on our last day in Ireland Mother Nature gave us some sun, with a side of gale force winds. The winds were blowing us onto the cliffs which made the hike along the Cliffs of Moher feasible. Currently in 2025 there are sections closed due to unsafe trail conditions so we hiked the open 5 km from Doolin, and later the open portion at the visitor center.
Since we went out early in the morning we had the trail to ourselves with the horses, cows, and birds to keep us company.
Prior to this hike I did not realize puffins burrow in the Cliffs of Moher, but Max spotted them halfway down the cliff. After doing a happy puffin spotting dance we continued to take way too many puffin photos.
After this peaceful experience we ventured to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center. I would not recommend visiting the center, it reminded me of Disney World with peak crowds and lines for food, restrooms, and viewing areas. The peace of the morning had quickly evaporated and drained us.
The education at the center did help provide insight into the animals who call the cliffs home. The puffins are my favorite, with the Cliffs housing the largest mainland puffin colony in Ireland. The puffins return every year to the same burrows or nest sites during their breeding season from April to August. The remaining part of the year they are at sea. The best part of the visitor experience was a nice volunteer who did loaned out his binoculars as he pointed out the puffins in the cliffs, but overall I would skip this section if other areas are open.
Overall I recommend venturing to the West Coast of the Republic of Ireland, we had four days total which I did not feel like was enough time to explore all the different Castles, pubs, and hikes in this area. The only thing I would change about our trip is to be within walking distance to a pub in order for your driver (cough Max) to experience live Irish music accompanied by a nice cold pint.