I'm in Ireland, looking to meet my cousins, and I find a church my great great grandfather built
Where:
Ireland and Northern Ireland
When:
May 2025
Trip Rating:
4/5
What inspired you to take this trip?
I have Irish heritage from both my parents and was interested in exploring the north and west coasts of Ireland in particular, as my maternal grandmother came from Belfast to Canada after she was orphaned at age seven. We had also discovered some cousins through Ancestry. They lived in Dublin and Wicklow, and were eager to meet in person.
What was the best sight?
The most memorable experience I had in Belfast was seeing and touching the walls of a church hall that had been designed and built by my great great grandfather in 1859. It had been standing for more than 100 years before I was born. I reflected on how he imagined it, sketched it and built it 175 years ago. Even though he is long gone, his art remains.
What was your favourite activity?
After two days in Belfast, we drove to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, where we stayed two nights at the
Redcastle Golf & Spa Hotel
on Lough Foyle. A round of golf by the lough was a highlight of our trip.
What was the most delicious thing you ate?
We had beer-battered haddock and a Guinness after our round of golf. Fabulous!
What was the most memorable thing you learned?
In Belfast, we spent two hours in the immersive Titanic Experience museum. It honours those who built the ship, as well as the victims and survivors of her deadly sinking. We also took a hop-on, hop-off tour that vividly demonstrated the historic divisions of Catholics and Protestants that linger to this day.
What is one piece of advice you'd give?
Be prepared for frustrations with technology. We bought a SIM card in Dublin that did not work in Northern Ireland. Our rental car was so new, it required a USB-C cable, which we had to purchase. Also, there is an electronic toll road, M50, that rings Dublin. Drivers must contact the operator within 24 hours and pay the fare online. The problem was, it doesn't tell you how much you owe.
Theresa Sawada, Toronto
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