So, for spring break this year, my boyfriend, his father, and I embarked on an international journey. It would be my boyfriend’s graduation gift; rather than go off to a warm beach, he wanted a unique experience. England, Scotland, New Zealand, and Italy were all possibilities, yet one prevailed – IRELAND! Booze, Irish accents, old cathedrals, the rich Irish history, and the beautiful scenery all morphed us into bundles of excitement.
For months, my boyfriend and I were giddy. We made a list of where we wanted to go, things to do such as a food & brew tasting trail (which, alas, was never done due to reservations being full) and viewing the Kilmainham Gaol (which, tragically, also was never done due to a lack of time). However, there was so, SO much that happened during this trip that I could not keep it to myself!
Let’s go!
Day of Arrival
We departed from Chicago’s International Airport sometime around 8:30 pm. To my dismay, we would be sleeping on the plain and arriving the next morning in Dublin, Ireland. For a person who can’t really sleep on a plane, it was a long 7 hour flight. However, Aer Lingus had iPads with a wide selection of films and some game options to keep me occupied. So, off we went, arriving in Dublin at about 9:45 am (Dublin time, as Dublin is 5 hours ahead of Muncie, IN).
Upon arrival, we checked into our hotel, all well save for some heavy rain. Originally, we talked about going to the lighthouse nearby, but the rain made that impossible. Thus, we chose to go to the National Gallery of Ireland – one of the items on mine and my boyfriend’s father’s list.
There was so much there – so many wonderful paintings, such as the ones I’ve included in this posting. I love working at the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University, but these were so much different. Yet, there is one gallery that will forever hold a place in my heart. And that is because my boyfriend, the love of my life, got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life together with him.
My fiancé and I have been together a little over a year, but we have known for a while that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We’ve been apartment searching, both as a home for the summer and years after. Anyway, I was so excited because I’d had a feeling he’d ask in Ireland; I just didn’t know it would be day one! Even more special, he asked in a gallery that is so similar to the one we met in at David Owsley Museum of Art. It felt meant to be. And of course, I said YES!
Additionally, we did purchase his wedding band in Ireland. (Side note, but don’t you think it’s so interesting how it’s normal for men to NOT have an engagement ring? Interesting, I think so!) It’s got the woven Celtic pattern all the way around, and it includes the Claddagh symbol. For those who do not know, it is the hands holding the heart with a crown on top of it. This symbol is so powerful, as it it friendship, love, and loyalty. The hands symbolize friendship, the heart love, and the crown being loyalty.
Agh it makes me so giddy just thinking about it! We won’t actually be married for at least 2-3 years, as he graduates this year and I graduate next year. Plus, we both need to be in stable jobs before we can begin prepping. However! This has not stopped us from going over some details. Superheroes, a bouncy house, and an open bar are on the list!
In addition, we went to a Shamrock Rovers soccer game! Now, I’m not too big on sports, but it was thrilling to watch. They faced the Finn Harps, and came out triumphant 3-0. It was bone-chilling cold, so we did not stay the whole game. But my fiancé, father-in-law and I came home with some cool merchandise for our new team!
Guinness Storehouse
Our second day, we journeyed to one of the most recommended tourist attractions – GUINNESS! The perfect place for my beer-loving fiancé and his father, but not so much for a mixed drink kind of girl like me LOL!
It was neat to go through the process on a self-guided tour up five levels of history, advertisements, taste-testings and the chance to become certified to pour the perfect pint of Guinness. Despite my shudder at the taste of each beer, it was wonderful to gain the experience and know how Guinness comes to be made. And as noted by my fiancé, Guinness tastes a lot better in Dublin than it does in Muncie, IN.
Dublin Castle
Another suggested tourist spot was another on my list – Dublin Castle! Now here was a lot of history, from the Viking landing, the origin of Dublin’s name, and the mysterious fire that spread from the Viceroy’s chambers to other parts of the castle that caused extensive damage.
We learned about the royalty that came after, the way in which John Campbell Hamilton, Earl of Aberdeen, and his wife transformed Dublin Castle into a hospital, where John Connolly was housed before he was killed. The rooms were so grand and polished, it was hard to imagine the rooms as they once were over one hundred years ago!
Christ Church Cathedral
We rang the church bells! 
Saint Laurence O’Toole’s Heart
Originally, after Dublin Castle we were just going to return to the hotel and relax till dinnertime. However, my fiancé’s father had the idea that we go to a cathedral. Number one on the list? Christ Church Cathedral! Saint Laurence O’Toole’s heart relic can be seen in a photo I have above, which was actually stolen years ago. It was only recently that it was found and returned to Christ Church, where it is kept under careful observation.
We got to an enthusiastic tour guide (also shown in the photo – he was phenomenal)! He cheerfully led us throughout the cathedral, pointing out little tidbits of fun history, the broken tile on the cathedral floor, a mummified cat and mouse, the old and new organs, gold tableware, and the oldest statues in Dublin. Truly, it was an incredible tour, and one that I would highly suggest.
My favorite part was the church bells. In a photo above, you can see myself, my fiance, and his father thoroughly enjoying ourselves as we tug away. The hourly bell had already been rung, but we woke the city! It was such a special experience, and our tour guide did take videos. However, I will spare you from the clanging bells and let you see the photos instead.
National Museum of Ireland – Archaelogy
The final one on my list that we managed to accomplish by the end of my journey was the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology Edition!
There was a lot here – more than I could cover here on this page or in the time that I really had. However, I’ve included some of the many photos that I took. There were an number of galleries, focusing especially on finds such as how gold was used in the early years of Ireland, the weaponry, the strength and power shown by kings and early Vikings when they came to Ireland.
The creepiest part were the mummified bodies that I came to find out were called Bog Bodies. These bodies were originally from the Iron Age. And naturally, my fiancé decided he’d scare me as I stared intently at the body. So, at least the people in the gallery heard my shriek of terror. Good thing the security guards didn’t come running!
Jameson Distillery
Again – beer and whiskey and bourbon are not my thing; mixed drinks girl here!
However, boy was this a great way to see interactive design put to good use. Jameson makes the learning experience of their distillery interesting. They utilize medias, sensors, slideshows, and more to make their presentation of their history and brewing process neat! I watched as our guide, Brian (not BrI-an) utilized his three years of acting in college and told the history of John Jameson and his wife Winnifred, their sons, and how Jameson gave hundreds of workers jobs. I found it so interesting how the presentation was, as multiple objects had sensors that initiated certain parts of the story. For instance, when he set a tea kettle on a sensor, it told the audience a story of how workers got two cups of tea per day, but also one glass of whiskey. However, if they just went and rolled around in mud and said they did a “dirty job” then they could get a second glass!
Imagine doing that nowadays!
The Journey Home
Alas though, we had to return home Friday. The journey was rough, as I am prone to motion sickness, so between greasy food, the turbulence, and a lot of noise – I got sick on the plane. I slept the four hours drive from Chicago back to Muncie, and promptly fell asleep once we got back.
I loved Ireland; not just because I got engaged there, but because it was such a magical place. Rich in history and humor, but it had so many places that felt like home. The most notable – a pub where live music was played, the generations mixed rather than at odds with each other like what seems to happen in college towns.
Ireland was the perfect spring break destination!