The color “green” conjures up different images to different individuals. Some people feel it refers to money and wealth, while others focus on environmental issues and ways to preserve the globe. And then on the other hand, green has been the term most widely used to describe the Emerald Isle, Ireland – with good reason, of course!
We suggest an Ireland Pass to aid you in your enchanting journey to Ireland. And for this post, we’ve put together some “green” activities you can try while saving some “green” in the land of “green”!
St. Patrick led an astounding life. He was born in Britain, then kidnapped in his teens and brought to Ireland to spend six long years as a slave to a local landowner. When he was able to, he escaped and studied at a monastery in France. This brings us to #10 on our Top Ten Green activities to do in Ireland list!
10. From Ireland, you can easily get on a ferry and visit Britain. Although it is uncertain where exactly in Britain St. Patrick was born, you can certainly find some beautiful areas to spend some time in. After spending a few hours, you can get back on the ferry and travel back to Ireland, a similar trip St. Patrick took when he was kidnapped, but much more pleasant of course!
9. Ireland is truly a spectacular land to journey throughout. There are two things that you will not find much of as you travel by train, snakes and litter louts (litterbugs). Though legend claims Ireland is snake-free, you may stumble across one or two, but litter is pretty scarce, which certainly helps to keep Ireland “green”. And just as if you were at home, keep your eyes open for Recycle bins and be sure to put your litter in the proper place.
8. If you find the life of St. Patrick fascinating, you can use your Eurail Select Pass to get from Ireland to France. The pass entitles you to a discount on the ferry crossing between Ireland and France. You can visit the Côte d’Azur and Auxerre and see where the Saint studied. Then hop aboard a train and head to Rome, where Patrick was granted the mission to go to Ireland to spread Christianity. Traveling by ferry and train helps reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere in comparison to flying between these destinations.
7. Should you be in Dublin, take a visit to Trinity College to embrace the great Book of Kells. Crafted on vellum, the pages of this book have held up from 800 A.D. Beautifully decorated pages, colorful, intricate artwork and fonts make this book a sought after attraction in Dublin. Just think, today the contents of the Book of Kells could probably be published and saved to a 2gb flash drive, however, I think you’d agree, it would lose a great deal of it’s appeal!
6. Take a relaxing stroll down the streets of Dublin, watching Celtic culture pass before your very eyes. Cross the Ha’ Penny Bridge to get from the Temple Bar area to Liffey Street. You can cross the bridge freely without having to worry about paying the half-penny toll that used to be collected! Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned!
5. Stop by the Guinness Brewery for a fabulous tour of the facility and of course a taste of the famous brew! We also recommend visiting a few traditional Irish pubs to get a taste for Irish culture and life. Some of the best stories you can find will be told in a traditional Irish pub! Plus, just think of all the water you’ll be conserving by indulging in the local brews!
4. Experience a trinity of a different kind, take the train from Dublin to Galway, to Cork and back to Dublin. You will encounter a few changes in trains, but when you’re surrounded by such magnificent beauty, trust us, you won’t mind! An Ireland Pass can help you save money on this excursion.
3. You’re on vacation and will want to relay all you’ve seen and done to your loved ones back home. You may want to reconsider sending postcards and letters…instead, snap some amazing photos of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Temple Bar, the Ring of Kerry and many of the stunning castles throughout Ireland. Then, use a service such as the Kodak Gallery or Tribbit to setup an online scrapbook. You can then easily share your trip with anyone! Not only does this save you money, but trees will be spared as well!
2. You cannot visit Ireland without kissing the Blarney Stone. The stone is located nearby the city of Cork, at Blarney Castle. Though a bit of work (you lean out the castle wall and scale down a bit to get to the actual stone), the benefits are well worth it! It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone will be rewarded with a magical eloquence…in other words, you’ll be blessed with the gift of gab! With this new skill, you can tell everyone about your adventures, rather then writing it all, this will help conserve paper!
1. Go rainbow chasing aboard the train. You can watch carefully out of the train window for these marvels of nature. Remember, at the end of the rainbow you’ll find a Leprechaun. Be careful though as Leprechauns are known to be tricky little fellas! They’ll be protecting their pots of gold. However, if you play your cards right, you just may win the pot!
A trip to Ireland will be one of the most magical trips you’ll ever take. The land emits a unique and mysterious vibe. Filled with legends and folklore, it is one of the most culturally rich countries within Europe. And though Leprechauns choose to travel by rainbows, you’ll be happy with your Ireland Pass, traveling by train. You’ll get to see even more as you gaze out the train window, maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to pass by some authentic fields of shamrocks!
Tags: cork, dublin, green travel, ireland, train travel
Traveling through Ireland by train is a great way to be able to see the countryside and spectacular scenery – without the stress and hassle of having to drive!
Even for the Irish Ireland is full of surprises.