As a daughter of a Kerryman (what, my name didn’t give it away?) I’ve been lucky enough to venture back to the homeland to visit the family pretty regularly throughout my life.
Here’s the top things my family and I do as soon as we touch down in Shannon.
1. Eat
Ireland may not be known historically for it’s delectable cuisine, but my family and I are always up for a feed of sausages, puddings, eggs, toast and tea as soon as we touch down in Shannon.
Overpriced in the airport sure, but in a daze with jet-lag, a fine Irish feed and a dose of Irish air does just the trick.
2. Pack it in
Everything’s bigger in America, and that’s no exception for luggage. Take the luggage of five particularly tall people and a mid-size European car and you’ve got some puzzle to figure out.
The trip out to Kerry from Shannon is one with tired people wedged between bulky bags.
3. See the family
Sure, many people go to Ireland for leisure and vacation, but when I go, it’s mainly to visit family. Luckily, we get the best of both worlds as my Dad is from Kenmare.
Dad takes the wheel and off we go straight to our grandparents, aunts and uncles, all before unpacking.
Cups of tea are always waiting for us tired travellers.
4. Get settled
Kenmare is a home away from home for my family and I now.
A fresh shower, a run to Centra, and RTE News are always on the agenda for the first night in town as we attempt to adjust to Irish time.
5. Wake up at some odd hour
Who said adjusting to Irish time was easy?
Nothing like rolling over at 4am and not knowing what country you’re in, and wondering why there are sheep outside your window...
6. Wake up for real
No resting on this vacation!
Up with the birds and thrust into Irish time. With a fry going in the kitchen, you don’t need much more luring to get out of bed, no matter how comfy your Irish bedsheets are.
7. Head to town
Time to stock up for real now. Off to Supervalu it is to pick up even more sausages, blocks of ice cream and wafers, Lucozade and some gossip mags to fill you in on what you’ve missed on “Fair City”.
8. Down to the old farm
There’s always some amount of tinkering to be done down at Dad’s old homestead.
If anything, there’s a ram to be teased with or a football to be kicked around.
Make sure to wave to the Ring of Kerry tour buses!
9. Out to dinner
Round up all the family and head to town for a good meal.
Our favorites in Kenmare are The Coachman, The Landsdowne or O’Donnabhain’s. They have to push tables together when the O’Shea’s roll in.
10. Out to the pub, of course
What’s a trip to Ireland without a trip (or several) to the pub?
Drinks continue on at The Coachman with live music, and then a stagger over to The Square Pint for more dancing and drinks.
When it’s last call, it’s back to someone’s house for more drinks and yet another fry.
22 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.howareya | Oct 10, 2011, 11:35 AM EDT
KerryLKing, If you go to Ireland you can check with the records hall in Dublin for your grandmother's birth cert. They have books by year and you can go through them. Also, if you know the townland she was born in, you can check the census records for 1901 and 1911 online (that should give information on the parent and siblings names and ages). I spend quite a few hours each year in the records hall and am now searching for my gggrandfather's information (Theady Casey).
cuculin | Sep 30, 2011, 09:01 AM EDT
That is funny because living in Toronto now for 10 years and going back quite a few times that is the exact same path we follow. Looks like my Son could b writing the same story for IC in 14 years! I wil bet things wont have changed that much by then either.
clonmel21 | Sep 29, 2011, 08:50 PM EDT
How this warms me heart. Good on ya O'Shea. Tanks.
ellenfromcork | Sep 29, 2011, 07:07 PM EDT
Jaysus Mary and Joseph!!! 17 posts and all of them happy!! Even Antoman himself! Not a begrudger or a whinger in the lot. Kerry O'Shea you have created a miracle. More please from you.
ballyhip | Sep 29, 2011, 05:44 PM EDT
"Up with the birds and thrust into Irish time."??? Not in Mayo. Once was spotted by an old neighbor of the family passing by her house on my way to fish the Bunowen River in the AM. "Don't you know that fish can't tell time", she yelled at me when I told her I thought fishing would be better in early morning. Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/travel/Top-ten-things-to-do-when-you-touch-down-in-Ireland-130734903.html#ixzz1ZNcemtV7
beatrice4 | Sep 29, 2011, 02:23 PM EDT
Great article! My experience mirrors that of yours Kerry, except it happens in Mayo. You got it right and summed up the warmth of a visit to Ireland! Keep those articles coming!
peterson | Sep 29, 2011, 02:20 PM EDT
Slainte !!
Fightin69th | Sep 29, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT
The cups of tea.....Christ, I went back one year, and I said to myself that I wouldn't refuse a cup of tea, and would keep track of them. Landed on a Thursday morning & flew out early the Monday morning, 53 cups of tea thrust upon me during the visit.
Fightin69th | Sep 29, 2011, 02:04 PM EDT
Nothing beats coming back from the pub after closing with a stop at the chipper, then back to the house, where you start again with cans. Pubs close at 1130, but its around 4am when you hit the bed
maryemoore | Sep 29, 2011, 12:44 PM EDT
Have not been home in six years, so you stirred up some wonderful memories for me. Thanks. I wind up staying more with my family in Ennis and Kilrush but do leave some days to stay with the rest of my family in Listowel.
ellenred | Sep 29, 2011, 12:34 PM EDT
I love all the bread and muffins I eat in Ireland. Sorry I can't help with your ancestor Ellen Breen
KerryLKing | Sep 29, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT
Ah..sounds like a FINE TIME to me!! May I join ya next time :-) you know with myself also being named after a Kerryman...er, in this case a Kerrywoman (my grandmother), but I'm STILL trying to find her darn birth certificate info. Anybody know of a Jennie Breen born in 1890?? Would love to hear from ya.....
beodonne | Sep 29, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT
Car hire is such a rip off
jamieLM | Sep 29, 2011, 11:02 AM EDT
Compared to English food, Irish food is absolutely fabulous. Love their bread and tea!
KMcSinger | Sep 29, 2011, 10:42 AM EDT
Sounds like a very calorific holiday : ) Seriously though Kerry, your experience tallies in with my own quite closely. My parents live in Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry, so I'm very familiar with the yummy fry breakfast off the plane (although we usually wait till Adare) and then I also pack only one suitcase for me and 2 kids as the car's tiny!
antoman | Sep 29, 2011, 10:20 AM EDT
@ JamieLM- And your reply made mine. Slainte.
jamieLM | Sep 29, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT
A more accurate title would have had this add-on to the title - "and Visit Family" as opposed to those of us who "Touch Down in Ireland and Know No One." My husband and I have distant cousins in Ireland - so distant we'd never try to contact them. Hi, we're your 10th cousins, 5 times removed - so not happening. We tour Ireland on our own. It must be fun to have family to stay with when visiting Ireland. Nice article, Kerry. @antoman, I can count on you for some humor. You make my day. (:))
springs1 | Sep 29, 2011, 09:48 AM EDT
My husband and I have been to Ireland. 10 times in the last 15 years.as it is our only vacation we don't stint when it comes to eatting..Pub food is great but as we started out in Myrtle Allen's Ballymaloe House that set a pretty high bar for culinary delight and we've been to many restaurants throughout Ireland that were strongly influenced by her incredible impact on Irish food..also Darina...we have stayed in cottage rentals and pack in Irish cheese, butter..bread..bread..bread..did I mention bread?..Ireland has nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to food!
muirisobric | Sep 29, 2011, 09:36 AM EDT
Don't forget the car rental. In 40 years going back this is always my most anxious as they're specially trained in the art of "rip off". Other than that I love it and always will. "I know you agreed to $400 over the phone but you must have insurance otherwise you could be liable for thousands and ú wouldn't want ú'r holiday ruined like that would ú now. Thats $960 thank ú & ú'll be safe with úrself." "With the extra charge for petrol that's $40 so a $1,000 will C ú thrú no bother." "Enjoy úrself now." Familiar?
carrickcourt | Sep 29, 2011, 09:26 AM EDT
Always remember that Irish kin's urging one to stay with them is genuine. Staying at a hotel or a B&B when one has an invite for accommodations with kin should NOT be turned down no matter how distant the relationship might be. I just talked to my third cousin Jimmy's wife Maggie in Co. Monaghan. One of the first things that came up in my talk with Maggie was when was I coming to Ireland and that a bed at their home would be available to me. Maggie has a number of family wedding next year which will be keeping her busy.
donal1951 | Sep 29, 2011, 09:19 AM EDT
I've got to agree with her that while Irish cooking as a whole is nothing to brag about, the fry up is the notable exception. The first time I went to Ireland with my father, he suggested loading up on breakfast. I did and what a fine meal it was. Then a light lunch of soda bread and home cured ham and a nice tea. Good eats
antoman | Sep 29, 2011, 09:02 AM EDT
The O'Shea's are in town. Kill the pig and turn the dial on the sausage maker to max. :)