by Sheryl Jurries, Guest Blogger

As I was wandering around our local senior center, I spotted a travel flyer drumming up interest in a “Discover Ireland” tour. “Well,” I thought, “that sounds like something I need to do.” Next thing I knew, I was on a tour bus with folks from 3 countries set to discover the life, scenery, and stories that make up the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It began with a drive around the circumference of the Emerald Isle. 

Within the first few hundred miles of the tour, we clearly saw how house-proud the Irish are. Homes are painted every 2-3 years like clockwork, doors are painted in bright colors to express their individualism, and everywhere we looked, quaint cottages and rambling estates were lined by lush, green fields. The grazing sheep, goats, or cattle were divided by very picturesque hedge rows or stone walls, called penny walls. The only ramshackle places I saw were ancient castles, abbeys, or “beehives,” built and lived in by monks hundreds of years ago.

Our very entertaining, witty, and articulate tour guide beguiled us with stories of Ireland’s superstitions, hauntings, fairy trees, wee folk, and ghosts.  He explained that Irish mythology is based on 2,000 years of wisdom and the Irish have a respect for the old ways. It doesn’t hurt that Irish people love words and to play with words. In fact, there are some storytellers, known in the Gaelic as seanachaidhe, who can tell stories continuously for 4-5 days!

In addition to our guide weaving tales of banshees, changelings, and leprechauns, he also spoke of the almost never-ending festivals which take place practically everywhere. For some odd, unknown reason, the females in Dublin outnumber for males 5 to 1, and in rural areas, it’s 3 to 1. So, to help the gals to find love, the biggest Matchmaking Festival in Europe is held during the entire month of September. You can find it in Lisdoonvarna. Galway, which I particularly liked, has more festivals than any other city, topping out at 122.

There were, of course, many horrifying stories of the dreadful Great Hunger of 1845-52. The potato famine killed more than 1.5 million, 1 million more perished of malnutrition and its side effects, and 1-2 million emigrated to escape poverty and starvation. Mass famine graves are still found during routine excavation, including one not long ago in Sneem filled entirely of children. 

These two war-torn countries have a long history of bloodshed and acrimony between them. 

Protestants and Catholics. Thankfully, peace came in the form of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. What remains from that time is a visual reminder of a much-needed visit from Queen Elizabeth II in Derry at the Peace Bridge, which she christened in her only trip to the Republic in 2012. Her appearance did a lot to heal old wounds.

A big draw to Northern Ireland are the political wall murals in Belfast and Derry. The murals help connect people by creating important conversations and understanding what life was like during the unrest. Murals also decorate buildings just for fun, like where you can learn how to salsa or handle a tarantula.

My 9-day trip covered more than 1,200 miles.  I returned to the U.S. excited about the people I met, the places I saw, and the things I learned. I was right when I thought that I needed to do this. 

Sheryl Arredondo Jurries is a former magazine editor and freelance newspaper reporter. She’s been married 1 year and has 2 children and 2 stepchildren, as well as 1 grand baby. She is married to Jim Jurries and resides in Holland.

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