Ireland had always been a place I wanted to visit. The rolling green hills, the warmth of the people, and the pub culture had long held an appeal. Before leaving the UK, a recommendation led me to book a small group tour. It isn’t something I usually do, but with the right guide and the right group of people, it can be a great way to travel.
An afternoon flight from London brought me to Dublin. Catching a bus to the hostel was straightforward and before long I was settled in. That evening was spent wandering around Temple Bar and nearby streets, getting a sense of the city before an early night. The next morning, I arrived at the pickup location well ahead of schedule. Meeting our tour guide, Lee, and boarding the bus marked the start of what would become one of my most memorable travel experiences. Even in those first moments leaving Dublin, the group began to click, and by the end of the trip, it felt like we had known each other far longer than a few days.
Leaving Dublin, the first stop was a small church where the preserved head of Saint Oliver Plunkett is displayed in a glass case. From there, the journey continued to an old graveyard before crossing into Northern Ireland and arriving in Belfast.
By the time we reached Belfast, the group already felt close. Americans, Brazilians, Australians and New Zealanders all mixed together with ease. One of the highlights was the Black Taxi tour, which provided a powerful insight into the city’s Catholic and Protestant history. The Peace Wall, still locked each night, stands as a reminder of that division, covered with messages left by visitors from around the world. It was an eye opening experience and one I would strongly recommend. A late night followed before an early departure the next morning for Derry.
The drive north included stops at Carrick-a-Rede, famous for its rope bridge suspended above the sea, and the Giant’s Causeway, known for its striking hexagonal basalt columns. The formations brought to mind Fingal Head in northern New South Wales, which shares a remarkably similar shape. Arriving in Derry, a walking tour through the city offered insight into its layered and often turbulent history.
Southward again, the journey returned to the Republic of Ireland and into Galway. New travellers joined the group while others departed, yet the dynamic remained just as easy. Time in Galway included another walking tour and a lively pub crawl, making the most of the city’s energy before another early start the following morning.
Killarney followed, where the evening was spent exploring the town. The next day began with a horse and carriage ride through Killarney National Park, offering a slower way to take in the scenery. Visits to Blarney Castle followed, including the tradition of kissing the Blarney Stone for the gift of the gab, along with a walk through the surrounding gardens. The road then led onward to Dingle, a small town set against some of the most striking landscapes of the trip. Rolling green hills, dramatic coastline and warm evening light combined to create scenes that felt almost unreal.
That night was spent in a hostel reserved entirely for the tour group, a fitting way to wrap up the shared experience. The following morning brought a return to Dublin.
Saying goodbye was difficult. In just six days, the group had become genuinely close. A few more nights in Dublin followed before flying back to London. From there, it was finally time to book the next major chapter of the journey.
North America was calling, with one important stop along the way.
Iceland.
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