DUBLIN AND GALWAY ROCK ADVENTURE!
Our Dublin and Galway rock adventure started in the rowdy Irish capital and took us cross country to the vibrant city of Galway on the west coast. Castles, scenic coastal cliffs, and a rock concert by one of the biggest bands in the world would make this vacation a magical one for us. It was made more memorable by what we had to go through to even get to Ireland! That is where I’ll begin our story.
U2 Superfan
I need to give you some background and context for this trip. My wife is a huge fan of the rock band U2. A super fan if you will. She has all the cassettes, all the albums, all the CDs, and also all the songs on Itunes. She also doesn’t miss any shows when they tour and perform in Houston (except that one time I screwed up and didn’t buy the tickets in time 😩). Yes she still brings that up to me.
Given her level of fandom, when U2 announced they would be touring for the 30th anniversary release of their iconic Joshua Tree album, I quickly subscribed to their fan club to get early ticket sales codes. When they went on sale I bought the Houston tickets but then I wanted to surprise her so I bought the Dublin show as well. Okay full disclosure, it wasn’t just for her. I wanted to visit Ireland for the first time (she had already been) and this was the easiest pitch in the world.
Me: Babe, let’s go to Ireland for vacation this summer.
Her: It sounds expensive. I don’t want to spend too much money on travel this year.
Me: I bought tickets to the U2 show in Dublin already. But I can sell them if you don’t want to go.
Her: OMG! Are you serious!? We need to go so you can experience Ireland. We can afford it 😁.
Was easy like Sunday morning. I then found a steal of an airfare deal, booked it, and was quite satisfied at my planning thus far.
Travel Day – So about that steal of an airfare deal…
Flying to Europe is an expensive affair if you’re traveling during the summer peak season. It cost even more if you don’t live on the east coast. I’ve known this for some time, so when a start-up Norwegian airline was promoting super cheap flights from NYC to Dublin non-stop, I jumped on it. I couldn’t believe the deal that I had just landed. I would use my United miles to get us to New York and the super cheap flight on the start up to get to Ireland. Man that was easy, I thought to myself at the time.
Our departure date arrived and we took off from Houston without any hiccups. The drinks at the airport were going down right and we didn’t experience any delays on this leg. Speaking of those expensive ass airport drinks, they just taste so good when you’re traveling for vacation don’t they? You know the prices are jacked up to ridiculous levels and it doesn’t even matter. Hit me again please!
Our excitement was ramped up a notch when we landed in New York. We were one step closer to Dublin. A 6 1/2 hour flight was all that stood between us and and stepping foot on the Emerald Isle. The layover was going to be about 3 hours so as the plane made it’s way towards the gate, the conversation was about where we were going to eat. And then, we turned our phones on. 😭
Your flight has been cancelled
What. In. The. Actual. Fuck. No freaking way is this happening to us. It was approaching 7 pm, we still had to deboard, get our luggage, and try to find another flight. My wife was in shock and I tried my best to reassure her that everything would be okay and I’d figure it out.
I honestly thought either it was a mistake or I could just call the customer service line and get on the next flight. Wrong on both counts. The rep on the line told me they had no crew, there were no other flights with them that night, and next one would be in 2 days! She basically said, “best I can do is give you your money back” like they say on those pawn shop shows.
Finding a plan B
We quickly got our laptop out and started to frantically search for new flights. The clock was ticking and the concert was in 2 days. It was getting close to 8pm and things were looking bleak. Every single flight on other airlines were either sold out or charging an arm & leg. I called United’s customer service line since I was a platinum member at that time and explained the situation. She listened and empathized with us. She would be our last hope. “I have 2 seats left on the last flight out tonight. It leaves in 1 1/2 hours so you need to buy them now and get to the gate in a hurry!” Charge it please.
Ready, Set, Go
Now the mad dash began. Of course the damn terminal and gate would be as far from us as possible. My wife and I were on the move like those race walkers in the Olympics. At some points we were borderline jogging like you sometimes see people do. I remember I used to always talk shit about people running through the airport looking crazy. Muttering ignorant comments like, “that’s why they should have left the house earlier”. Well now we were those people and never again would I judge those running to a gate.
We finally made it to Dublin! – Best area to stay
In short, the best area to stay in Dublin is anywhere close to O’Connell Street. You want to be as close to the city center as possible. There are tons of lodging options available for every budget level so it shouldn’t be hard to find something you’re comfortable with. So here’s the part where I’m supposed to tell you where we stayed and a link to it, etc… Well the honest truth is I don’t remember the name because I didn’t take any pictures with the name listed anywhere!
See picture below and maybe one of you can help me identify this hostel. All I know is that it was close to the Liffey river, near the center of Dublin, and a very short walk to the Guinness Storehouse. It was also very clean, safe, affordable, and well run. If I ever figure out the name I’ll come back and edit this post with the information because I would stay here again and recommend it.
Guinness Storehouse – Day one
After checking in to the unnamed hostel (I’m sorry but this shit makes me laugh. How the hell do I not remember the name of where I stayed?) we showered, ate, and took a 2 hour nap before heading out to visit the Guinness Storehouse. This place had to be stop #1 for us. The Guinness beer/brand is known worldwide and the dark ale is instantly recognizable by it’s dense creamy head (insert that’s what she said joke).
Guinness Tour
We went on the self tour but if you want to go on a guided tour or a combination tour that includes other Dublin hot spots then I highly recommend checking out the tours available at Viator. We learned quite a bit about the Guinness beer making process as we walked from room to room and floor to floor. There’s cool art pieces, old machines, and one of my favorite rooms was the grain room where you could actually grab and hold the grains. It reminded me of back in the day when grocery stores had the pinto beans out in a big bin with big scoopers so you could fill your bag. I used to love running my hands in the beans and burying the scoopers so people had to find them, lol.
This piece made me laugh.
Guinness Tour – Gravity Bar at the top!
The last stop on the tour is the super chill Gravity Bar at the very top of the building. Here is where you’ll finally get to drink the world famous Guinness pints. And let me tell you, they taste so much better there at the source. Just take a look at the picture I snapped mid-pour and you can just smell and anticipate that malty sweetness, the slight hoppy bitterness, and the notes of coffee and chocolate. It’s 7 am as I type this and now I’m craving one!
The Gravity Bar also has some great 360° views of Dublin. If you’re lucky to have nice clear skies when you visit, the views go on for miles. We spent our time here downing pints and taking in the views from every vantage point. We also met lots of chill people as we mingled among the crowd. Everyone was having a good time and after 3 pints each we were ready to head to our next stop.
Temple Bar – day one
The next logical place to visit after drinking at the Guinness Storehouse is Temple Bar. So this is an area and not one single bar (though there is a pub with the name). We were guilty of thinking it was one establishment that made it famous when people would tell us, “you have to party in Temple Bar” prior to my wife’s first visit. Think of it kind of like the French Quarter in New Orleans, but cleaner. So many bars and restaurants to choose from and you really can’t go wrong in picking. Expect good vibes and an awesome street scene as you go from bar to bar. Here’s a few pics we took before the sun went down and the real shenanigans began.
The Library of Trinity College Dublin – Day 2
Just an incredible place to visit is how I will describe this 430 year old library. This was high on my wife’s bucket list and I’ll be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect. But once we arrived on the campus and made our way towards the library and entered. OMG! I could probably google some fantastic synonyms to use but I won’t because OMG captures my initial raw reaction when I saw the long room of this most beautiful library.
Take the Book of Kells guided tour. You’ll learn lots of great historical facts about the library and what this cultural treasure has meant to the people of this region. We very badly wanted to grab some of those old books to open them up and get a physical feel but weren’t allowed. The entire library was beautiful and the tour was well paced. There’s nothing worse than a tour that is too long or too short.
Jameson Distillery – Day 2
After getting our fill of culture and history at Trinity College, it was time to get our pre-concert drinking on. We stopped by the Jameson Distillery for some Irish Whiskey drinks. They offer a whole tour there as well but we didn’t have the time. We had a couple of drinks here, bought some things, and then had to leave to get ready for the big U2 concert. It was a fun place and it’s worth at least a short visit when you visit Dublin.
U2 Concert at Croke Park Stadium – Still Day 2
It was now time to go to the main event. We took a cab to the stadium and the driver dropped us off as close as he could. What struck me as we were walking towards the Croke Park entrance was that this stadium is literally next to a neighborhood. There are houses that back up to it. Hell you could barbeque in your backyard in those houses and hear all the concerts.
We arrived very early so we hung out by the beer area and made small talk with fans from all over the world. As the stadium started to fill in you could just feel the energy building up, and when U2 hit the stage it was pandemonium! They played all the hits and of course the Joshua Tree Album. My wife was over the moon and I was happy I could give her this special moment. She more than deserved it. 💓
Malahide and Caislean Castles – Day 3
It should go without saying that this day got off to a very late start. After the U2 concert we of course partied with everyone and their mother in Temple Bar. We had a full Irish breakfast around noon and this helped with the hangovers. There was only one thing on the agenda for today and that was a visit to Malahide and Caislean Castles. The weather could not have been more perfect for a day outdoors. We finally got good weather on this trip!
To get to these castles you need to take a train at the Connolly station. Trains from Dublin Connolly to Malahide depart every 20 minutes and cost between $7 – $9. It takes 27 minutes to get there so it’s not bad at all. The castles were cool and all but this day called for being outside.
After touring the castles we went into town and had a simple lunch. We grabbed some fish and chips, found a nice spot on the open grass, and had ourselves a picnic. A lazy Sunday in Ireland with my beautiful wife and perfect weather to boot. It was a fitting end to our Dublin leg.
Road Trip! Driving across the country to Galway! – Day 4
We actually drove across the entire country from the east coast to the west coast (west side!), lol. Okay it’s not exactly driving from New York to LA but it’s still a cross country road trip 😎. I rented a car from the airport and made the whole trek to Galway in under 2 1/2 hours!
We had booked a room for 2 nights at a bed and breakfast and I have to tell you that I don’t know the name of that place either because (again) I didn’t take a freaking picture of the name! Anyway, it was a cozy place and located in a good spot where we could get in and out without issues. Again, if you recognize this place, send me a message so I can link to it. Thanks in advance.
The city of Galway – Day 4
Galway is a fun city with a history that goes back some 800 years. If you’re visiting Ireland and wanting to tour the west coast, making Galway your home base would be ideal. I found the city fascinating and vibrant. We could only stay 2 nights because of commitments back home. We had to be back by the weekend and had to make the most of it. After checking in and dropping our luggage off at the B&B, we had breakfast in the city center, and headed straight towards the cliffs.
Dungaire Castle – Nice little stop on the way to the Cliffs
Along the route to the Cliffs of Moher is a nice little pit stop just 37 minutes outside of Galway. Dungaire Castle should be on your list of spots to visit as you travel south. It’s almost the midway point between Galway and the cliffs and is definitely worth a couple of hours of your time. We took the tour and had a good time taking pictures of the castle during the low tide. You can see the waterline in one of our pics below. I’d recommend you look up when high tide is for your visit and try to go then. There are some spectacular pics online of this place at high tide.
Cliffs of Moher
One of Ireland’s top tourist attractions and it’s not hard to see why once you get your first glimpse of the rugged coastal features. Technically you don’t have to pay to see the cliffs but you do have to pay for parking. There is an official parking lot and then there is a family owned one a very short hike away that charges less.
There are three main viewing platforms at the Visitor Experience. The main platform, and one North & South. You can also view the Cliffs from the top of O’Brien’s Tower. Entrance fee is included with your admission ticket
We couldn’t wait to make our way towards the edge. We were also fortunate that the weather was decent which allowed us to have a clear view. Some unlucky visitors get overcast, rainy, or foggy weather on their day. So check those weather forecasts!
The Wild Atlantic Way – Scenic route back to Galway
Leaving the cliffs, we wanted to take a scenic route back to Galway that hugged the coastline so we made a detour and took the Wild Atlantic Way to The Burren. I had read up on the area prior to our trip and we wanted to have a look at the moon like landscape ourselves. You can see our route there on the interactive map I shared at the beginning of this post. We left our car at the visitor parking area and began exploring.
Galway Nightlife
At night this city really comes alive but is much less rowdy than Dublin. The people here are more chill and in control as opposed to Temple Bar which was wild AF. We had dinner and beers in the town center and the only available table was a little crooked one outside. We didn’t mind at all as being outside was where all the action was. Good beer, good food, and good people watching.
El Primo Raul!
After dinner and drinks we wanted to hear some live music so we went to one of the bars in the center. It was a great atmosphere and we quickly struck up conversations with the group sitting next to us. The live band was jamming and the hookers had me feeling good (the beers people, geez😜). Speaking of the band, one of the dudes looked just like my primo Raul from Laredo, Tx. I mean really looked like him.
So much so that I called him to be sure. No answer. I then called his wife and asked for him and she said he was working out of town! No freaking way. This would be the ultimate small world/coincidence/twilight zone shit if it was really him. I asked where at and she said some town in Texas. It would have been some story had it been him.
Visit Medieval Athenry – Day 5
This day was a rainout all morning and had gloomy overcast skies in the afternoon. We stayed in and rested until the rain stopped and then made the 30 minute drive to Athenry. Athenry is a medieval town known for its town wall, castle, priory, and its 13th century street layout.
We found the Priory to be eerie and creepy. Maybe it was the time of day and the ominous skies above us or just the fact that we were walking through a graveyard! The castle was small but there was a nice creek outside the walls that gave it a nice touch. We wandered around the town for a while but It was getting dark on us and we felt the sprinkles coming on. I didn’t want to drive in the dark (especially in the rain) so we made our way to our car and drove back.
Last day in Galway – Souvenir shopping and drive back to Dublin – Day 6
Our final day in Galway was spent in town walking around, shopping, and getting lost taking all the various side streets. We didn’t have a game plan for this day. All we knew is that we’d be driving back in the afternoon, returning the car rental, and staying at the Holiday Inn Express near Dublin airport that evening. The weather was better as we wrapped up our Dublin and Galway Rock Adventure.
For a trip that almost never got of the ground, it sure turned out nicely for us. Ireland is such an amazing country and in 6 days you can only scratch the surface. But if that’s all you have, I hope our experience demonstrated that you can definitely see and cover a lot of ground. And if you’re lucky, maybe your favorite band will be playing during your visit as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our Ireland adventure. If you enjoyed this post and would like to receive my future publications as soon as they’re published, please subscribe at the bottom right of the page. They will be sent to your mailbox automatically. For our most recent travel experience in Europe in 2022 click here to read about our epic Madrid trip. There are 3 parts to it. Enjoy them and thanks again!