Something a little bit different

Hello, Cella from Australia here  :)

I am travelling solo over to Ireland for the first time ever at the young age of 60!
Firstly, I would like to apologise to Northern Ireland as with time constraints I will not be able to visit you this trip (already planning another! and I haven't left yet!)
My stopovers (mostly 2 nights) are Dublin, Wexford, Kilkenny, Glounthane, Killarney, Milltown Malbay, Clonbur, Oldcastle and overnight near Dublin Airport.  I have a few different (for me) experiences booked but am wanting to know something out of the norm.
I am a spiritual person and am wanting to connect with either a good psychic or a shaman.
Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanking you in advance. 

Hello Cella,

It's never too late for a trip to the island of Ireland, and they say life begins at 60!

Your current itinerary will take in plenty of exciting places of Ireland's Ancient East before travelling into the Wild Atlantic Way.

When will you be over to see us? Will you be here in time for the summer solstice? We have a post by Marie regarding this sacred and spiritual event and what can be seen around this time.

There are a couple of other posts, one by Jason on Celtic History and also one by José on the Choctaw Monument in Midleton. Please have a look and see if there is something that you could add to your itinerary.

There is a lovely off the beaten track trip idea that you may wish to pick up a few ideas from. It concentrates on the area between Galway and Dublin, suggesting some wonderful places that you may wish to add as you travel from Clonbur to Oldcastle.

I hope this gives you lots of inspiration, and hopefully, your fellow members and some industry partners will be able to add to this list!

Speak soon, 

Martin

Hello Martin and thank you

I am arriving on the 22 Apr and leave on the 8 th of May. My mums family came from Oldcastle but I only have approximately 2 days there at the end of my trip. I believe there is the Megalithic Centre there and am looking forward to going.

Hopefully I will stumble across what I need to find and am very excited about my trip.
Have a wonderful day

Hi Cella
Wonderful you are coming to Ireland. I have no doubt if will be a life enhancing experience. If you love food I suggest you eat your way around the island with Good Food Ireland. You can pre-plan your trip and book some really unique authentic food and drink experiences on our website www.goodfoodireland.ie What better way to learn about Ireland's culture but through our food and our people. Enjoy!
Margaret
Founder 
Good Food Ireland

Hi Cella, 

How wonderful that you are planning a trip to Ireland. We get a lot of solo travelers on our tours so we have came up with a guide to solo travel in Ireland. You might find it useful to read before you arrive. Here is a link:
 https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/solo-travel-ireland/ 

You will have an amazing time in Ireland's Ancient East. We specialize in going off the beaten track and have a tour designed specifically for Ireland's Ancient East which we recently won an award for (Best Ireland’s Ancient East Tourism Experience) at the 2019 Irish Tourism Industry Awards. You may be able to find some special ideas from our website for your upcoming trip. Feel free to check it out here:
https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/tour/6-day-eastern-ireland-tour/ 

We hope you have a great time here in Ireland and we hope this information will help you in planning your great Irish adventure. 

The Vagabond Team

Thank you to both Margaret & The Vagabond Team!

The tips of pub etiquette are great (we aussies also shout rounds!) and has given me some options as I will be driving and am very conscious of drink driving.
Looking forward to my first trip in a couple of weeks and already planning my next!
Again thank you
Cella

Hi Cella, 

I also think you might like Keith's thread about 'Thin Places' on the Emerald Isle. It has some interesting information about stone circles and important historical places on the island. :)

There is also a whole section on Genealogy on the Community, with helpful tips and experts. Feel free to start a thread there as well if you need some help with your research. 

I hope this helps, and we're always here if you have any other questions! 

Warm regards,

Melin

Thank you Melin

I really do appreciate your time in answering.
I have posted on the Genealogy page and have been looking at Keiths' thread on 'Thin Places'.  Much to read and absorb.

I am very excited about this trip and know I will come away with a heavy heart and am already wanting to return!  Something to work on :)
Once again thank you

Cella - I just spent a few hours last week with a 60+ woman traveling alone. She said the best thing about the "alone" part was she had TOTALLY changed her itinerary by day 4, to go to a very different town (she discovered ancestors were there!) and the fact that she was alone meant 1) she could and 2) she could take up offers from strangers who showed her around their areas! (Like me!).

She also mentioned that when she canceled bookings and said "I've change my plans" no one seemed to mind (granted, it's not high tourist season yet!).

Regarding spiritual sides to the area - there's a nice half day tour in the Skellig Coast region that includes stone circles, ogham stones, burial tombs, etc.  You can access it from Killarney, or stay down in that Skellig region to be closer.  The company is called Iveragh Heritage Tours.  

I hope you enjoy the visit! Just remember - slow down and experience things - or as my neighbor says: "get outta the car!"

Susan
ExPat in Waterville, County Kerry

Thank you, Susan!
In regards to your advice about travelling solo - that's why I wanted to go this way (apart from being single lol) as I really just want to 'breathe' and take in all I can.
Yes, I have bases dotted around but am flexible and nowhere is far.  As an Aussie to drive 8 hours to get from A to B is nothing so I will have plenty of time to amble.
I am certainly going to look into the tour you have suggested.
Once again thank you
Cella