Boruma - Irish by heritage, family by name

Traveling to Ireland or merely considering as much? If there for family and culture, one can’t put in to words the experience you’ll have playing golf, shopping, or in the pubs catching a traditional music session. But as a tourist, Ireland has some of the most astounding landscape with attractions unmatched any where in the world. Combined with modern cities whose histories pass thousands of years, it is hard to know where to begin.

There is something to be said for a simple list to guide your way; we’re going to keep the list brief, as we’ll no doubt cover each of these topics in detail at some point, so to set you off on the right foot, here are the top 10 things to do in Ireland. Let’s start with Dublin and we’ll head clockwise around Erin to keep your bearings and plan your way:

1. Dublin: The largest city and capital; located near the middle of Ireland’s east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey. Greek astronomer Ptolemy provides the earliest known reference to human habitation in the area having referred to a settlement called Eblana Civitas around A.D. 140. The settlement of ‘Dubh Linn’ seems to date back as far as the first century BC though the town is known to have been established in about 841 by the Vikings who planned the city carefully, laying out homes and streets with such attention to detail that it stands as a model of early urban development. The city has a world-famous literary history, having produced many prominent literary figures, including William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett and Dracula’s creator, Bram Stoker and James Joyce. Home to reknowned heritage such as the Book of Kells as well as nightlife that rivals, well, maybe, Ibiza in Temple Bar. Dublin is as famous for its music as any in Ireland; perhaps more so having fostered U2, The Dubliners, The Boomtown Rats, Sinéad O’Connor, and Thin Lizzy at historic venues like the Point Theatre (sorry, the O2). We could go on and on about Dublin; needless to say, a trip to Dublin is a trip to Rome, Barcelona, London and Prague in one.
2. Glendalough: Heading south and bit west, we find a monestary built throughout the centuries of great Christian design, as much as the wonderous catholic cathedrals make one quake with awe, Glendalough will have you considering a future as a mock. Meaning ‘Glen of Two Lakes,’ Glendalough is in a glacial near mountain lakes in County Wicklow. Pictures speak a thousand words in the case of Glendalough.
3. Rock of Cashel: From the monestary to the seat of kings, we’ll find the Rock of Cashel west and north of Glendalough. This church and fortress, too a monestary, is easily the Emerald Isle’s most stunning reminder of medieval Ireland. The Rock of Cashel served as the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norse invasions. While unfortunate that few of the earliest structures survive, the extensive development that remains dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. Reminding us of the near impossibility of being untouched by an O’Brien, In 1647, Cashel was ravaged by English Parliamentarian troops under Murrough O’Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. The Irish Confederate troops there were massacred, as were the Roman Catholic clergy. The earliest and tallest of the Cashel structures still found and worth catching is the round tower while the Chapel of King Cormac, Cormac’s Chapel, from 1127-1134, is an unusually sophisticated and decorated Irish church.
4. Ring of Kerry: The mountains, streams, and lakes of the Ring of Kerry, west of where we’ve been, are unique in all the world. The ring is a trail that the 170 km, circular road, starting from Killarney taking us through the Iveragh Peninsula and to Kenmare, Waterville, and Killorglin. While an island, with most of Ireland bringing you close the ocean and its bounty and character, it is in the Ring of Kerry where you feel most at home in Ireland’s harmony with the sea. Though centuries apart in age, Kerry has the comfort and expected familiarity of a Northeast United States fishing town (though saying as much doesn’t do it justice).
5. 5. Cliffs of Moher: Looking north to O’Brien’s Tower we find perhaps the most picturesque spot in Ireland at the 600 foot sea cliffs of Moher. O’Brien Tower, incidentally, is a stone crafted, round at about the midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornelius O’Brien, a descendant Brian Boru, in 1835. From atop the tower, one can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay (we’ll get to both in a minute) as well as the Maum Turk Mountains to the north and Loop Head to the south.
6. Aran Islands: Curious what life in Ireland was like 100 years ago? These craggy islands off the west coast of Ireland give us a taste with culture almost untouched since the turn of the last century. The largest island is Inishmore (Árainn Mhór or Inis Mór), the middle and second-largest is Inishmaan (Inis Meáin / Inis Meadhóin) and the smallest and most eastern is Inisheer (Inis Thiar or Inis Oírr / Inis Oirthir). Irish, as you might suspect from the names, is the spoken language on all three islands, giving you a unique glipse at a rare culture responsible for the beautiful Aran Sweater. Distinguished by their use of complex, textured stitch patterns from unscoured wool, which gained world renowned in the 1950′s. While there, be sure to see O’Brien’s Castle on Inis Oírr which was built in the 14th century and taken from the O’Briens by the O’Flaherty clan of Connemara in 1582; I still hold a grudge.
7. Galway: North and east, almost directly west of Dublin, is the city that could be said to rival it. Not in size, but culture and energy (and growth), as the college town of Galway, home to the National University of Ireland, is nicknamed Ireland’s Cultural Heart (Croí Cultúrtha na hÉireann); renowned for its extensively active lifestyle with numerous festivals, celebrations and events. The university holds the UNESCO archive of spoken material for the Celtic languages and not for the impact of the University alone, Galway’s growth and dynamic culture is driven by its being the most central port on the West Coast of Ireland; in the eastern corner of Galway Bay.
8. Giant’s Causeway: There is no way to really explain this strange conglomeration of honeycomb shaped stones on the Antrim Coast of Ireland, north of our time in Galway. This 1768, Susanna Drury engraving perhaps best captures the wonder of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of ancient volcanic eruptions. Legend has it that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight Benandonner.
9. Belfast: Southeast of the causeway is the impressive architecture and culture of Belfast; capital of Northern Ireland and host of The Troubles. A city of industry devastated by the period of ethno / political conflict which spilled into England, the Republic of Ireland, and as far as mainland Europe from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. As a result of peace accords in the late 90′s, a trip to Belfast is as rich as any in Ireland, affording a glimpse of wonders such as Cavehill, thought to be the inspiration for Jonathan Swift’s novel, Gulliver’s Travels. Belfast’s industrial roots are best known as the home of the Titanic.
   
10. Newgrange: Finally, south to Newgrange where stone age tombs bring us full circle from the modern age of Dublin to the ancestry of Ireland found through places like Newgrange. Found along the Boyne River Valley, Newgrange is known as Ireland’s Stonehenge for good reason. Over 5000 years old Newgrange is one of the most famous prehistoric sites, remarkably built in such a way that at dawn on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, a narrow beam of sunlight illuminates the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway. Consisting of large neolithic mounds and megalithic art, Newgrange is now host to classic Irish mythology, as one of the sidhe, or fairy-mounds, where the Tuatha Dé Danann lived after conquering the island from the Fir Bolg.

Need more? Here’s a great list of things to do in Ireland (they make mention of a Hooker race in Galway which I have to read a bit more about… at least it validates Galway’s legacy). Have your own thoughts? Start an Irish travel blog with or plan an event with Boruma.

Welcome back, assuming you've joined us, find a group or start your own Irish blog.

Originally a symbol of the town of Claddagh, Galway, Ireland, the Claddagh Ring was transformed into the sign of intimacy and love that we recognize in the traditional ring during the 17th century reign of England’s Mary II. The familiar design features the two hands of friendship holding a heart crowned with a symbol of loyalty. A common expression when giving the ring recognizes the symbolism, “With my hands I give you my heart, and crown it with my love.” Claddagh, incidentally, is based on the Irish word “cladach”, meaning, perhaps not surprisingly for those that have been to Ireland, “stony beach.”

The history carried with the ring hearkens to a young Irish man sailing to the West Indian slave plantations. Richard Joyce was kidnapped by a band of Mediterranean pirates; later, sold to a Moorish goldsmith transformed Joyce into a master craftsman. King William III, who reigned WITH Mary following the desertion of King James, negotiated the return of the slaves in 1689 bringing Joyce home to Galway. Before returning though, the goldsmith, it seems, had developed such admiration for Richard Joyce that he offered his daughter and half his wealth if Joyce stayed! Joyce denied and returned home to marry his true love, one who awaited his return. During his time with the Moors, he had forged the Claddaugh as a symbol of his love for her.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Irish without legends and tales. One story tells of a Prince who fell for a common servant girl. An honorable man, he strove to convince her father of his feelings to earn the man’s blessing but failed until he designed a ring with hands representing friendship, a crown representing loyalty, and a heart representing love. Having proposed to the maid with the Claddagh ring, and after the story of the symbolism, the two were wed.

Today, the ring has become so widespread that it is worn by as many in love as those seeking. Worn on the right hand, with the heart facing out or pointing down, the ring signifies wearer has yet to be won. In love, the heart points to the heart of the bearer. As should be expected, moved to the left, the Claddagh signifies a married soul.

The ring above is one of the best we’ve seen, 14k white gold with the May birthstone so reminiscent of Ireland and usually available for less than $200. For something far less expensive, but just as sentimental and perhaps, as cherished due to a fairly unique design, here’s one within sterling silver with a Celtic Claddagh band. Finally, in one of the greater traditions to come from the widespread adoption of the Claddagh ring, here’s one for guys. Gentlemen, I can appreciate that your fiance is less than enthusiastic about something other than a diamond so, consider his and hers Claddaghs to wear when traveling or swimming; for those times when that diamond on her finger really announces… priceless. That said, don’t let me hold you back from Platinum.

A steadfast cultural and historic symbol of love, engagement, and commitment, there is perhaps no greater sign of your passion for someone than the Claddagh Ring. After all, that diamond is just a rock.