A must stop spot in Dublin!
My father, a big Guinness drinker told me before my trip that I must go to the
Guinness Storehouse to pick up some memorabilia and of course have my very first pint. On our last day in Dublin we decided we must go. The Guinness Storehouse constructed in 1902 is a must stop when traveling to Dublin and was a memorable experience! Originally a fermentation plant for the St. James Gate Brewery, the building was converted in 1997 into the Guinness Storehouse, now a tourist hot spot. Located centrally in Dublin, this 7-story pint shaped building is filled with incredible history, knowledge about the influential and award winning advertising, beautiful views of Dublin at the Gravity Bar, and multimedia to guide you through the step-by-step process of brewing and pouring the perfect Guinness. I was blown away at how beautiful this museum was, the amazing views, and how easy it was to navigate. The history of Guinness dates back to 1759 when Arthur Guinness started brewing ales. In December 1759 Guinness signed a 9000-year lease for the unused brewery and in May 1769 exported his first ale, which was the start of this legacy. Guinness also has a long history of marketing campaigns and legendary advertising. Their advertising is definitely something that caught my attention. First and foremost the harp motif, which is modeled after the Trinity College Harp ( which we saw!), has been synonymous with Guinness since 1862 when used on their first bottled beer. Their
award winning advertising goes beyond the harp to T.V advertising, newspapers, and billboards. At the end of the tour make sure to stop at the Guinness Academy where you learn how to pour the perfect pint and where I took my first sip of Guinness. Amazingly, the bartender informed us that the Guinness we were drinking was made two days prior and you can definitely taste the freshness. The history of Guinness and the impact it has on Ireland is something that really catches my attention. I’m not a big beer drinker but I definitely enjoyed my time at the Guinness Storehouse and the experience is something I will remember for a lifetime. I can’t wait to make another trip to Dublin and have another pint!
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Who knew Guinness was good for your health?! One controversial advertisement from 1930, “The Good for You” campaign claimed a Guinness a day keeps the doctors away. Drinking 7 pints of beer 7 days a week for 7 health benefits! Guinness gives you strength, helps with your nerves, digestion, exhaustion, sleeplessness, tonic effects, and the health of your blood. This is something I should definitely bring up to my nursing professors!
Guinness Is Good For You
The Ring of Kerry
The Iveragh Peninsula, know as The Ring of Kerry is a 179km circular scenic route in southwestern Ireland with breathtaking views and cultural importance. The beautiful mountains, Lakes of Killarney, and views of the
Atlantic Ocean draw many tourists here and was one of the most memorable parts of my trip. As we made our way around the winding roads Joe made a pit stop for us at a sheep farm for a sheepdog demonstration. We learned how the farmers raise their sheep, train their collies, and move their sheep across the mountains. When you think about going to Ireland stopping at a sheep farm might not be the top thing on your list, but I was blow away at the pro
cess used to herd the sheep and how smart the farmer’s collies were. As we made our way around The Ring of Kerry we made various stops to take beautiful photos and after that trip I made sure to buy my wool sweater and blanket to support the sheep farmers!
St. Patrick's Cathedral
My family attends church every Sunday at The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, so I was very eager to be able to visit one of the most famous Cathedrals in the world, St Patrick’s Cathedral. Also, my great grandmother from Ireland attended church here when she would visit Dublin. To be able to see the church she used to atte
nd was a great experience and something I will always remember. A trip to Ireland is not complete without visiting this Cathedral. St Patrick’s Cathedral located in Dublin, is a beautiful architectural historical site and place of worship. Founded in 1191 and built in honor of Irelands patron saint, this church is the largest in Ireland and is open to the public. At the cathedral you can find Jonathan Swift’s grave, who was the Dean of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral from 1713 until 1745, many monuments, beautiful stained glass windows which tell stories of the bible, and famous burials. Even though not the original, the stained windows were so beautiful and caught my attention as soon as we walked in. 
If your lucky enough you may even hear the beautiful voices of their choir as they practice for mass and events. The Cathedral Choir School located across the street from the church is one of the oldest schools in Ireland establish in 1432. One thing my family enjoys the most when we go to church is hearing the beautiful voices of the choir. To have the opportunity to listen to the young children sing and tour the beautiful Cathedral is something I will never forget!
Trinity College Library
Another must stop in Dublin is the Trinity College Library. One of the world’s greatest research libraries, it holds the largest collection of manuscripts and printed books in Ireland. The beautiful main chamber of the library, the Long Room is 65 meters in length and houses over 200,000 of the libraries oldest books.
I was amazed at the architecture of the room and how well they are able to preserve the books. I asked one of the staff members of the library why flash photography wasn't allowed. He responded by explaining how the flash in the camera actually destroys the pages in the books, which I found to be very interesting. The library is also home to the famous 
Book of Kells, which was written in 800AD by Irish monks and later buried in the ground for fear of the Vikings. After being rediscovered it was placed for safe keeping in Trinity College in 1658. The grand library is breathtaking is definitely something to see while in Dublin.
You Can't Leave Ireland Without Kissing the Blarney Stone!
If you need a little luck, eloquence, and persuasiveness make sure to stop in Blarney co in Cork and kiss the Blarney Stone!
This legendary stone is set high up in the wall of the Blarney Castle, built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster on the site of the demolished 13th century castle. At first I was very nervous climbing the narrow winding stairs up to the top but once we reached the platform the beautiful views of the parkland and gardens took my breath away.
I was the first volunteer to kiss the stone! I lay down leaned backward and grabbed hold of the iron railing as the staff member held tight onto my legs. I kissed the stone as the rest of my classmates snapped my photo!
Of course as a future nurse I asked the staff if they clean the stone! Thankfully they do wipe it down every 20 minutes! After kissing the stone we walked the beautiful grounds filled with gardens and water falls. This was definitely a memorable part of the trip and I can now say I kissed the Blarney Stone!
Pubs Music and More
How can you visit Ireland without mentioning the pubs, music, and food? Every corner in Dublin you can find live music, awesome pub food, and of course a pint of Guinness or Bulmer’s (my new favorite)! Bulmer’s, an Irish Cider indigenous to Ireland is a refreshing and crisp drink perfect for washing some
fish and chips down with and enjoying some live music. When I returned back to the United States I went to a local Irish pub in my town and tried the American version of Bulmer’s called Magners. Lets just say you couldn't compare the two! Some pubs in Dublin that are definitely worth the stop are The Temple Bar, The Brazen Head, The Auld Dubliner, and The Norseman to name a few. All of these pubs had great music throughout the week and awesome 
food. While visiting the smaller towns we also found some great pubs and friendly locals so make sure to explore! Of course make sure to have an Irish coffee before you leave. Joe brought us to a great spot on our way to the Ring of Kerry for my first and definitely not last Irish coffee. It consists of coffee, whiskey, and thick fresh whipped cream on top (some of the best whipped cream I’ve ever had)! 
The culture, energy, great music, and friendly and welcoming locals is something that stood out to me the most during my trip to Ireland and what is bringing me back to visit soon.
Alex's Top 10 Must Stops/ Things to do in Ireland
1. The beautiful Ring of Kerry.
2. Temple bar ( Yes, it is touristy but its great! Live music and tons or Irish culture. There are also many pubs in the same area so go explore) (Dublin).
3.The Guinness Storehouse ( Dublin)
4. Grafton street for great shopping and cafes ( Dublin)
5.Whelans ( Pub from P.S I Love You with great live music!) ( Dublin)
6. Blarney, Cork, Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone
7. Trinity College Library
8. A walking tour of Dublin to help navigate the city and see the history and culture of Ireland
9. Stop at a sheep farm! ( Yes, it's really amazing!) Make sure to buy a wool sweater ( the quality is unreal!)
10. A piece of advice: make sure to explore! You never know what you will find in Ireland and the locals are so friendly and so welcoming.