Put a smile on your face and you’ll find the welcomes are warm everywhere you go around Ireland! The Irish pub, for instance, is unique in that it’s far more of a meeting place than anything else. So don’t be afraid to pop in, sit at the bar and chat away to the bartender and anyone else who happens to be next to you, for that matter.
If you’re in Dublin, try out
Whelan’s or the
Merchant’s Arch; both great locations for music, good food, and fun! Over on the
Wild Atlantic way, Galway’s
Roisin Dubh has everything from open mic nights to silent discos. You might enjoy
McCracken’s Cafe Bar in a historic area of Belfast, where you can listen to traditional music from the island. Belfast Festivals are a great opportunity to meet people, too: Check out Westmeath’s
Body and Soul at Ballinlough Castle, or
Belfast’s Belsonic festival – both filled with people ready to enjoy music and have a good time.
One of the best ways to explore Ireland as a tourist is via bus. Tour buses are filled with other people who are just as excited and eager to see the sights of the island as you! For a more personal tour, discover Belfast with a
Black Taxi Cab tour, where you see the city through the eyes of the local drivers.
Shared experiences also bring people together. Try a
Slow Adventure tour in Northern Ireland, which takes you off the beaten track for foraging lessons, cycling or horseback riding. Huddle together in fright with new friends on the
ghost tour of medieval Kilkenny, or brave the dark waters of Lough Hyne in West Cork on a nighttime
kayak tour.
No matter what, the welcomes around here are so warm you could wrap yourself up in them... Does our community have any suggestions for friendship making in Ireland?