Before I had Tennessee whiskey in Tennessee, I had Irish whiskey in Ireland. St Patrick's Day 2019.

For those who know me, they know I adore Amsterdam. Bury me in a tulip field, that's how much I love The Netherlands. I am waiting for the proper sign and I will move to The Netherlands. Despite Amsterdam being my favorite European city, my favorite European trip to date took place in Dublin during St. Patrick's Day.

Outside of National MargaBREEta Day (2/22 is a holiday, Google it), my next favorite day is St. Patrick's Day. This works in my favor because I get to celebrate on February 22 and then again on March 17. Well back in 2019, that was peak travel time for me. To put it into perspective, I did 10 countries in 12 months, not including all of the US cities I visited. Where did the money come from, I have no idea. But hindsight is 20/20 and I still don't regret it.

Because everybody knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody; in 2019 a friend of a friend who I met through another travel group invited me on a trip to Ireland for St. Patty's Day. I checked my budget and I was able to make it work, so I said I would be in attendance. So the specifics are a little hazy as I deleted my email and it was 4 years ago. If I am not mistaken the flight was $538 RT, Non-Stop, overnight on Aer Lingus. (I had NEVER flown Aer Lingus but I decided that the government-sponsored airline of the country would be a good option. I was correct).

I left on the evening of the 14th, after work, and returned on the 18th. Shockingly, Aer Lingus was the first "budget" carrier I encountered. Similar to American budget carriers (Spirit, Frontier, etc.,) European ones only allow a small personal item for free. If you want to make matters worse, European planes are smaller. So the space for the personal item is smaller and let me tell you THEY are serious about sizing. They stop you at the gate while scanning your ticket and put a sticker on your bag to let the others know if you are clear to bring the bag on the plane. The BS we get away with with Spirit would never fly. But even in 2019, I refused to pay any more than I needed. I went on Amazon purchased a $20 baby diaper bag and packed all that I could. I packed 2 pairs of shoes, my green pants (I still have them to this day), 2 jeans, 4 tops, pajamas, toiletries, makeup, a fanny pack, and I had my coat. My bag was stuffed but I was determined to only carry that backpack.

When I arrived at Dublin airport, I met with one of my housemates and we took the DoDublin HopOn-HopOff bus and took it to the stop closest to where we needed to go. Our Airbnb was located on Temple Bar by the Hard Rock Cafe so it was easy to get to and centrally located. I don't remember much but I do remember that, having housing that close to the festivities was key to stumbling into things. When St. Patrick's Day comes, Dublin will let you know.

The airport and the city streets are covered in orange and green. Shamrock's paint the windows of shops and the scent of yeast fills the air. You immediately know "IT'S TIME TO PARTY." Getting around was relatively easy, public transportation is the preferred method but they do have Uber and taxis.

To my surprise, there were way for Black faces than I expected. Of course, I understand the European colonization of Africa, so I get the connection BUT I wasn't expecting the strong American influence. We went to the club the first night, I do not remember the name. I do know it was located in the most unassuming building. It looked like it was in the basement apartment of a townhouse complex. But when you get inside there are sections, an upstairs area, a night little stage. The venue was nice. The DJ even played current music, it felt like partying in a club in the US. And the men were fine, but the club did not have a bunch of black people on the dance floor but as we walked further in we found a large portion of the black people in the club had migrated to the second bar. Shockingly the following night, we went to the same venue and they had changed the name marquee and rearranged the inside. The venue went from hip-hop to EDM overnight, literally.

On St. Patrick's Day, we went to a "Trap Brunch" event, and let me tell you, at that point in my life it was the greatest experience ever. Altogether there were about 12 of us, so we naturally pulled up to this Irish event deep. And it was very obvious we were American, however in this case our American status was what the brunch needed. Shortly after we all received our second round of drinks, they ran out of champagne for the bottomless mimosas. The bartenders did not have it, they went to the grocery store, bought more bottles, and extended the bottomless mimosa cut-off time. The DJ started playing Future and the crowd was just "bleh" until my housemate requested "March Madness." And we collectively proceeded to turn their brunch up. They gave my homegirl the mic and until that brunch was over, it was OUR event. A great time. The vibes were LIT.

As far as the food, nothing stood out to me besides the chicken wings we had. But I do not remember the name of the restaurant. The wings were so tiny, but you could tell they were fresh chicken wings. HOWEVER, I stand by this "Those of European descent may lack the ability to cook, but they can truly bake their behinds off." Because on every corner, truly every 50-60 ft there was a donut shop. And you know what my fat tail did, try a donut from just about each one. I can still remember the cookies and cream donuts from one shop. If I go to Ireland again, I will go to Temple Bar and let my nose lead me back to that donut.

Now the highlight of my trip was my tour of the Jameson Distillery Dublin. Founded by John Jameson in 1780, you can actually step inside the former factory. The Distillery offers tours, cocktail-making classes, and premium whiskey tasting sessions and they even offer classes on how to learn how to blend your own whiskey. The tour includes a blind taste challenge between Irish Whiskey, Scottish Whiskey, and American Whiskey. I don't wanna call myself an alcoholic but I could clearly taste the difference between Jameson, Johnnie Walker, and Jim Bean. For $40 you get 45 minute fully guided tour of the distillery, comparative whiskey tasting and you get a complimentary Jameson drink included. But we didn't leave our whiskey tasting to just Jameson. Because of where we were located, we were able to walk and stop at local bars. At one local Irish pub "The Auld Dubliner Pub" we became friends with the bartender and a group of guys in matching St. Patty's Day suits and had some drinks. Although they love Whiskey, Guinness is the beer of the land. But, I don't drink Guinness so I will never know.

As far as tours we did stop by Dublinia, in the heart of the old city at Christchurch this stop is the one stop shop for all things history and Viking. For $20, this tour allows you to see artifacts on loan from the National Museum of Ireland. And if your legs aren't too tired climb at the end of the tour be sure to climb the original 96 steps to St. Michael’s Tower in Dublin and get a full view of the city.

In Summary My Travel Tips for Ireland

- **Stay Close to Temple Bar**: In Ireland, the most famous main bar street is **Temple Bar** in Dublin. It's renowned for its lively atmosphere, traditional Irish pubs, live music, and cultural events. The area is a popular destination for both tourists and locals looking to experience Dublin's vibrant nightlife and historic charm. Staying nearby ensures you're at the heart of the action and within walking distance of many attractions.

- **Book Experiences with FeverUp**: This platform offers a variety of activities, from unique tours to local events, ensuring you make the most of your visit. Use the code below $8 off experiences and tours around the world, including many in Dublin, all in one place.

- **Airport Transportation**: For transportation from the airport, catch the Double Decker bus. The round-trip ticket is only $12, and the ride doubles as a mini-tour of Dublin, dropping you off conveniently near Temple Bar.

- **Walk or Uber**: Most attractions are within walking distance if you're staying close to Temple Bar. For longer distances or convenience, Uber is readily available and a reliable option for getting around the city.

- **Explore on Foot**: Dublin is a walkable city, especially if you're staying near Temple Bar. Enjoy the charming streets, discover hidden gems, and immerse yourself in the local culture by exploring on foot.

- **Experience Live Music**: Temple Bar is famous for its live music scene. Don't miss out on experiencing traditional Irish music sessions in the local pubs—it's a quintessential part of the Dublin experience.

- **Visit Cultural Spots**: While in Temple Bar, check out the cultural attractions like the Irish Film Institute, the Project Arts Centre, and the many galleries and theaters that make this area a cultural hub.

- **Use Social Media to Find US**: While

Temple Bar, is cool you wanna hear and see familiar faces and hear familiar music. This is why Eventbrite is your best friend. That is how we found about Trap Brunch and you read how that story went. TikTok wasn’t as popular then but it is now, so it’s going to be your best friend for party and restaurant planning.

While the small in the moment details about Ireland have faded, the overall memories remain and I can say I am going back. I do not know when, maybe 2026. In 2025, I am going to Montserrat and I can't wait to celebrate. But in 2019 we found the craic ( a term used to describe a good time, a fun experience, or a friendly conversation and is commonly used in Irish slang) and I am glad I did it.

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