Me and My Travels: Tadhg O'Brien's lifelong love affair with Ireland

Irish Examiner

9 hours ago

TADHG O'BRIEN is one of Ireland's most charismatic outdoor adventure creators, best known for his immersive travel content exploring the Irish coastline.
Originally from Cork, he now spends his time crisscrossing the country, often in his campervan, documenting Ireland's most breathtaking spots.
As part of Centra's Summer Sizzlers campaign, he recently filmed his first video in Kinsale — a place close to home. Here, he shares the places that left their mark and the adventures still on his list.
Favourite childhood holiday memory
I was lucky enough that my mum loved travelling. There were four of us growing up, two brothers and a younger sister, and every year we'd go on a sun holiday. Italy was a big one for us.
Travel and that sense of adventure were instilled in us from a young age.
One trip that stands out was when we went to Achill Island instead of abroad. We rented a holiday home for a week, and it was just a different kind of adventure.
My mother gave each of us a stone from the beach, wrote 'Achill 2006' on it, and I still have mine in my memory box.
Years later, my brother and I were travelling around Ireland and we passed through Achill and spotted the same holiday home.
Most memorable trip
There are a few that stand out.
I just spent a week island-hopping around the Aran Islands, Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, and Inis Oírr, all by camping. It's something I'd wanted to do for a long time.
People think of island-hopping and think of Thailand or Greece but, here in Ireland, we've got our own version.
Another highlight was hiking and camping in the Mourne Mountains, carrying everything on my back and setting up in the middle of nowhere.
And then there's the trip I did with my two best friends to Cape Clear. It was one of those perfect sunny days. Just the three of us, having fun.
But the big one was New Zealand. It was a dream I never thought I'd get to do. Six of us in a van, travelling the country for a month. Whatever happened, happened…
Most surprising destination
Beautiful cascades of Ennistymon in Co. Clare.
Co Clare. I used to overlook it because I'm from Cork, and we'd always go to Kerry or Galway. I've spent a lot of time there the past few years.
The scenery is unreal, the towns like Lahinch and Ennistymon are lovely, and even the pubs and food scene are brilliant, with trad music everywhere.
Favourite city
Sunday afternoon on Quay St in Galway.
Galway. It's more like a big town or village. It's got this really nice welcoming vibe to it and everyone is so happy.
I'm big into sea swimming and, even though Galway doesn't have great weather, everybody goes every single day, more or less; it's a beautiful community.
The pub scene, the traditional music, the gigs, the access to Connemara — it's amazing. We just did the Twelve Bens hike. You're also in the middle of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Favourite hotel
Fernwood Farm's Stilt House wx050725
I'm more into experiences than traditional hotels. One of my favourites was Fernwood Farm in Clifden.
It's built within native woodland, and the owners took care not to disrupt the landscape.
I stayed in the Stilt House, this curved, gorgeous structure, and they have a sauna that looks out over a lake.
You can walk down through the woods, dip, and unwind. It's sustainable and luxurious all at once.
I also loved staying at Samsu, a small cabin retreat an hour from Dublin, where the idea is to disconnect from your phone and the outside world.
And I recently stayed with the Fiddle + Bow Collection in Doolin. It was a proper thatched cottage and a really cosy, traditional experience.
Most memorable food experience
One of my best friends, Sarah, is an incredible chef. We were in Achill, on Keel Beach, with a few friends.
She pulled out a gas burner and a cast-iron pan and made us tacos on the sand.
The way she cooks is so simple but so delicious, honestly, better than some restaurants.
One of the reasons I wanted to work with Centra was that this campaign celebrates the best hotspots around the country for having food on the go, and that day, with good food, great friends, and a stunning beach, really sticks with me.
Favourite thing to do while travelling
Camping on one of the Aran islands
I'm definitely an outdoorsy person. I love hiking, sea swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and, more recently, freediving.
It's a freeing feeling; no tank, just breath-holding and exploring. I also do a lot of scuba diving.
I was in the Philippines recently and the underwater world there was unreal.
Even in Ireland, I'm happiest doing something active, then making a nice meal in my campervan with a view.
I converted the van a few years ago and it's the perfect way to travel — home comforts on the road.
Bucket-list trip
Wicklow Way
At the start of the year, I saw Rosanna Davidson post an Irish bucket list and thought, 'That's such a good idea.'
I wrote one down and started ticking things off, like island-hopping on the Aran Islands, hiking the Twelve Bens, and now I want to do the Coomloughra Horseshoe in Kerry and the Wicklow Way.