All Guides
62 guides and growing. Practical Ireland travel, written by someone who lives here.
Music Festivals in Ireland 2026: what’s worth visiting for
Ireland has around 60 music festivals running in 2026, and they range from two-day headline events pulling 40,000 people...
11 min read10 Days in Ireland: The Complete Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
If you've read my 7-day Ireland itinerary, you'll know I ended it with a confession: seven days is tight....
18 min readIreland Road Trip Planning Guide: Routes, Driving Tips & Logistics for First-Time Visitors
An Ireland road trip is the best way to see the island on your own schedule. You can stop...
11 min readBest Hotels in Dublin for Corporate Events & Business Travel (2026)
If you're organizing a corporate event in Dublin or traveling here for business, location matters more than you might...
7 min readDo You Need a Visa for Ireland? Entry Requirements for Visitors
If you're planning a trip to Ireland, one of the first things you'll want to sort out is whether...
7 min readTipping in Ireland: How to avoid mistakes
This question is one I get asked by US and Canada visitors almost more than any on my Facebook...
6 min readDublin Local Transport for Tourists: Hidden Pitfalls & 2026 Hacks
I've stood at the Aircoach bus stop on Stephens Green with a young couple from Boston (in the rain)...
8 min readBest 3-Day Dublin Itinerary for Families by Public Transport
I might have been born and raised in County Armagh, but I spent more than ten years living in...
9 min readUltimate Guide to County Louth: 2026 Hidden Gems & Myths Beyond the Smallest County Hype
Louth is Ireland's smallest county by area, but don't let that fool you. One minute you're standing among ancient...
6 min readUltimate Guide to Dublin Airport (DUB): Terminals, Transport, Security & U.S. Preclearance
In 30 years guiding visitors through Dublin Airport, the number one panic I see is: "Which terminal, and am...
8 min readDoolin vs. Ennis: A Musician’s Take on Where to Stay in County Clare
I've spent years visiting Clare as a singer, including as a singer in the Irish group, Anuna, and I...
6 min readLocal's Guide: Driving from Armagh to Louth Across Irish Border
The first time I drove from Armagh down into Louth, I was waiting for a checkpoint, something, anything, to...
6 min readMy Family Lives in County Clare: Here's How We Visit the Cliffs of Moher
Every time my American cousins land in Shannon with that wide-eyed "we've only got a week" energy, I bring...
8 min readWhy Skip Dublin for a Day in County Armagh: Hidden Gems of the Orchard County
I've spent enough time watching visitors queue for three hours at the Guinness Storehouse to know when Dublin's pulling...
6 min readHow to Pack for Four Seasons in One Day: Lessons from 10 Years Touring
I learned the hard way that "four seasons in one day" isn't a poetic Irish line, it's a packing...
8 min readBelfast vs. Dublin: Honest Differences from Someone Who's Lived in Both
I've loved both cities in different ways. Belfast for the way a stranger will still look you in the...
8 min readWild Atlantic Way Driving Tips for First-Time Visitors: Essential Guide to Narrow Roads, Left-Side Driving & Safe Navigation
The Wild Atlantic Way doesn't announce itself with a dramatic "now the adventure begins" sign. It begins the first...
7 min readDublin Hotels with Breakfast Included: Best Value Options in an Expensive City
Dublin has earned its reputation as one of Europe's most expensive cities, and hotel costs are a big part...
10 min read7 Day Ireland Itinerary: The Classic Route
Seven days in Ireland sounds like plenty of time until you start planning. Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher,...
15 min readTop Things to Do in Galway: Music, Food and Day Trips
Galway has a way of winning people over quickly. It's compact enough to explore on foot, lively enough to...
7 min readBest Time to Visit Ireland: Month-by-Month Guide (2026)
Look, I write about Ireland for a living, so OF COURSE I'm going to say that there's no wrong...
7 min readHow to Get Around Ireland: A Complete Transport Guide
Getting around Ireland is easier than you might think, but your choice of transport will shape your entire trip....
9 min readWhere to Stay in Belfast: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Not sure which Belfast hotels to choose? My local guide explains the city’s top areas for accommodation, from the...
4 min readBest Day Trips from Cork (2026): Kinsale, Ring of Kerry & More
The great thing about Cork is not just all the things to do in Cork itself, it's what lies...
7 min readCliffs of Moher Cruise
Visiting the Cliffs of Moher is the most popular excursion on the island of Ireland and the sensational light...
9 min readComplete Guide to the Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are nothing less than awe-inspiring, a natural wonder famous for its sheer beauty and the...
9 min readCork Travel Guide: Markets, Music and the Rebel City Spirit
National Geographic recently put Cork on its list of the top 25 places in the world to visit, and...
4 min read12 Best Day Trips from Dublin
Most people's introduction to Ireland is a stay in Dublin. Yes, the atmosphere is great, there's a ton of...
7 min read5 Day Trips from Galway (2026)
Galway is beautifully positioned as a base for day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey and anywhere in the West...
7 min readHow to Get Doolin Ferry to Inishmore (Inis Mór) on the Aran Islands
Doolin in County Clare is famous as the principal port for ferries coming from the Aran Islands to the...
7 min readHow to Get from Dublin Airport to the City Centre
You've just landed at Dublin Airport and need to get into the city centre. Here's what you need to...
6 min readDún Aonghasa | Inishmore, Aran Islands
Aran Islands | Wild Atlantic Way | Itineraries Dún Aonghasa Guide | Inishmore Itinerary (One Day) If you want...
7 min readGalway Travel Guide (2026): Music, Seafood and the Wild Atlantic Weather
If you ask most Irish people where to send a visitor who wants a taste of real Ireland, Galway...
4 min readBike Trip on Inishmore on the Aran Islands
A trip along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way is made even richer by time spent exploring one of its most...
5 min readEssential Ireland Packing List: What You Really Need for Your Trip
I'll be honest with you: packing for Ireland trips up more visitors than it should. It's not that the...
8 min readBelfast Travel Guide 2026
As someone who lives in sunny Belfast (okay, sunny is usually a stretch!), I do get asked whether it's...
5 min readWhere to Stay in Dublin: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Dublin’s accommodation scene used to baffle me during the 10 years I lived there. Here’s a city where you...
7 min readWhere to Stay in Galway: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
Galway is the most popular place to stay in the West of Ireland for a good reason. It's worth...
7 min readWhere to Stay in Cork: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
My first proper visit to Cork was to sing at its choral festival with the Irish group, Anúna, about...
6 min readWhere to Stay in Northern Ireland: Best Areas + Hotels (2026)
I come from the North, live in Belfast, and these wee six counties are still top of my list...
10 min readHow to Spend A Perfect Day in Cork
Cork deserves a proper day of exploration, whether you’re staying in the city itself or using a different coastal...
5 min readCar Rental Ireland: The Complete Guide (2026)
Here's a scenario that happens way too often: you arrive at Dublin Airport, excited to get on the road....
10 min readComplete Guide to the Céide Fields, County Mayo (Ancient Site)
When you stand at the edge of the dramatic cliffs of North Mayo, you can look out across stone...
6 min readEssential Irish Phrases for Travellers: Complete Guide with Pronunciation
I was brought up learning some basic Irish at primary and secondary school and I've learnt that even using...
6 min readDublin Travel Guide: Your Complete Guide to Ireland's Capital
A local's insider perspective from someone who lived in Dublin for 10 years and still works in the city....
14 min readIs Dublin Safe to Visit? A Local's Honest Guide (2026)
One man's perspective, having lived in Dublin for 10 years and worked at night at venues across the city....
7 min readCredit Cards in Ireland: What Visitors Really Need to Know (2026)
One of the most common questions I get from visitors planning their first trip is about money. Can I...
7 min readThe Wild Atlantic Way: Ireland’s Ultimate Coastal Road Trip
Why the Wild Atlantic Way Belongs on Your Bucket List The Wild Atlantic Way isn’t just a scenic drive,...
3 min readDo You Need an ETA Visa to enter Northern Ireland in 2026?
If you're visiting the island of Ireland, there's a good chance you want to explore both the Republic of...
5 min readExploring Northern Ireland: Where to Go, Stay and What to See
Planning a visit to the North (as I'd say), that is, to Northern Ireland? My local guide covers what...
3 min readKilkenny for Visitors: Where to go, stay & eat
Kilkenny is one of Ireland's smallest cities, but it punches way above its weight with historical things to do....
4 min readWhy is Ireland Called the Emerald Isle?
The Origin of the Term 'Emerald Isle' The term Emerald Isle is widely attributed to William Drennan, a prominent...
5 min readComplete Guide to Derrygimlagh: First Transatlantic Flight & Marconi
Derrygimlagh is a signature discovery point on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. While not as famous as the Cliffs of...
8 min readComplete Guide to Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Gardens for 2026
Kylemore Abbey is a beautiful Abbey and Gardens in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. Originally known as Kylemore Castle, it...
6 min readComplete Guide to Malin Head, Donegal, Ireland
Malin Head in Donegal is the most northerly point of the island of Ireland, sitting at the very tip...
6 min readThe Best Irish Islands to Visit: A Complete Guide
Our beautiful coastline here in Ireland is dotted with incredible islands, each of which has its own charm, history,...
3 min readTop 7 Types of Accommodation in Ireland
Ireland has a plethora of accommodation options in both remoter, rural spots or right in the city locations that...
4 min read15 Best Places to Visit in Ireland
Ireland is a small country with a huge variety of places to visit. In the East, Dublin and Belfast...
12 min readComplete Guide to County Donegal: Routes, Sights & Where to Stay
Donegal is one of the counties in Ireland I love most. It's huge, the largest county in Ulster and...
13 min readTravel Notes: Donegal Road Trip by Campervan
My 3-day campervan trip through County Donegal - from Malin Head to Sliabh Liag on the Wild Atlantic Way. Camp spots, driving notes, and honest reviews.
15 min read10+ Reasons You Should Visit Ireland
If you're mapping out your Irish holiday, consider adding Ireland to your maybe list. You might know that Ireland...
7 min read15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (by a local)
While Dublin is a very modern city, you'll find traces of its history on every street, from Viking to...
13 min read