Ireland Unrushed
By Irish Boston Tourism Newsroom
You scramble to go on vacation. You pack your bags, hold the mail, lock the door, rush to the airport, hurry to the gate and strap into your seat. You’re on high alert to reach your destination, tapping your feet, fidgeting with your phone. You’re bursting to get away.
And then you arrive in Ireland on a sleepy morning. Already you detect a relaxed pace and a change in attitude begins to take hold. The cool days and long evenings begin to stretch out more slowly and leisurely, and you suddenly have plenty of time to enjoy yourself. You’ve arrived at Ireland Unrushed. This is where you belong.
WATERWAYS
Choose any direction you want – and stay unrushed. Head over to Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim and drift along the ShannonErne Waterway, where life naturally settles into a gentler rhythm. Or visit Westport in Co. Mayo to cycle the Great Western Greenway toward Achill Island, watching the sea cliffs and the sheep crossings.
COASTLINES
Along the coast, take the Causeway Coastal Route, an 115-mile stretch from Belfast to Derry, with ancient castles, towering cliffs and stunning nature at every turn. Or head to Waterford along the Copper Coast, and visit a UNESCO Global Geopark of cliffs, coves and quiet beaches. Wander around Cork, from Kinsale’s seafood havens to wild peninsulas and island fortresses.
GARDENS AND FOOD
The 70-acre Mount Congreve Gardens in Co. Waterford offers bountiful botanical displays and garden trails that wind into quietude. Stop by the Burren Smokehouse in Co. Clare, where artisan distillers and cheese-makers offer tastes with local roots. In Strangford Lough, Co. Down, rent a canoe or kayak at the Activity Centre and drift into the next turn, or visit Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen to learn the fine art of making buttermilk soda bread along with hot spiced apple juice or homemade mulled wine.
CITIES
You’ll find Ireland unrushed even in the cities. In Dublin, wander from the Liberties to the sea, exploring distilleries and street art. In Galway, drift between cafes, craft shops and side streets. In Belfast, immerse yourself in this UNESCO City with music drifting out of the pubs and plenty of creativity, history, and green spaces. In Kilkenny, stroll down medieval streets, drop in to craft studios and take riverside walks in the still afternoon.
It’s a decision travelers make to stop and look around, to go slow and let the days unfold at their own pace. It is the perfect place to feel the ocean breeze and smell the sea, to savor local food and to hear local cadence of conversation and live music.
Ireland Unrushed is where you want to be.
Enjoy articles like this?
Join our mailing list and have the latest sent to your inbox.
