Last Updated on June 21, 2019 by Katie Mullins
The Music
There is nothing like going out to a local hang out and walking in on a Trad Session. Irish music has so many different faces; it can be lively and fun or soft and meaningful. The musicians are so passionate about their music it is infectious. Traditional Irish music is something that will stay with me forever, and has a special place in all my memories of Ireland.
The People
The Irish people are some of the nicest and most welcoming people I have had the pleasure of meeting. Everywhere I went in Ireland I was welcomed with a smile. I was never afraid to ask for directions or advice on where to eat or visit. The locals had great insight and were more than welcome to share it.
The Scenery
Traveling around Ireland has been one of the highlights of my study abroad experience. Ireland has it all, beaches, farmland, cities, and quaint old towns, all of which had their own unique character.Ā Ā The beauty of Ireland was breathtaking and I cannot wait to go back to see it again.
The Transportation
Transportation was so easy to come by in Ireland, the bus systems were easy to figure out and getting to a new destination was not hard. There were also a lot of tour bus companies to choose from and I had the pleasure of going on a few different ones, all of them were fun and very interesting. I also had the opportunity to go to different places Europe and the transportation in Europe was cheap and easy to navigate. Ryanair saved me so much on flights, and the metros in each city help keep cost down as well.
The Food
The food in Ireland was delicious! From shepherds pie to fresh fish there was always something good on the menu. I usually am not one for trying new foods, but since I was experiencing a new culture, and since food is such a big part of culture, I decided to try something new everywhere I went. There was also fresh food markets in almost every city I visited and finding healthy foods was very easy.
I have fallen in love with Ireland and leaving it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. I cannot wait to go back to my home from away from home and adventure a little more. The Irish culture is full of fun, excitement, and pride and it has truly captivated me.
This post was contributed by Kathryn Mullins, who studied abroad with AIFS in Limerick, Ireland during fall semester of 2016.
