the National Museum of Ireland. The
landscape is so dense with history that
I’m afraid to blink for fear of missing
anything. In fact, Dublin is so hypnotic
that it’s a full two hours into our tour
before I realize it’s been raining the
entire time.
Which brings me to another interesting point: It rains in Ireland...a
lot. And it’s on the cold side. And it’s
like that most of the time. From the
moment I stepped off the plane and
into the airport, I knew I had underpacked. The Irish wind whips through
three layers of fabric and digs into my
skin like a frightened cat.
Even though it was May and already
in the 20s back home, the average
temperature during my time in Ireland
was about 7°C. According to my driver
Liam, temperatures very rarely reach
20°C—even in the middle of summer.
Considering that it’s rained for a little
more than three full days of my five
in the country, I was starting to wonder
if, on paper at least, Ireland might not
Grabbing a pint at Dublin’s Temple Bar
be the ideal destination for me.
But then the sun comes out.
And when it does (for me, on the
road between Killarney and Galway),
the true magic of Ireland reveals itself.
The quality of sunlight in Ireland
simply defies description. Dewdrops
on grass blades shine with such clarity that you could count them from 50
metres away. Pastures and perfectly
aligned cows give way to hilltop crosses
and rugby pitches. Castle ruins from
the first century stand watch over the
modern towns that now claim them as
landmarks. As I begin to tear up at the
beauty of it all, a single word sounds
inside my head: “Home.”
OVER THE COURSE of my five days in
Ireland, I am fortunate enough to
enjoy some incredible expe