Chasing Rainbows And Whiskey: My Epic Solo Adventure In Ireland

Day One:  
I hopped a direct flight on Aer Lingus from Bradley Airport to Dublin, Ireland on a Wednesday evening. By Thursday morning I had made it to my destination, all I had to do was find the correct bus…

My solo trip to Dublin unfolded in a sleepy city as I arrived at 5:45 AM. I made it to the Temple Bar Hotel and checked in early (for extra $$, but I was desperate for a nap). People say that Temple Bar is loud, but I chose to stay there as a solo traveler because I knew there would be people around at most hours of the day, which made me feel safer. *quick nap*

Tip for traveling in big cities: Pay for the Hop on Hop off bus when you’re doing the touristy things. It’ll be cheaper than ubering around and it usually goes around the city in one big circle. 

By 10 AM, I had a drive by tour of St Stephens Green, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral, leading me to my first pub of the trip where I grabbed a Carlsberg (unpopular opinion for the first pint in Ireland, but I’m not a big Guinness fan).  It was honestly the most lackluster start to my big solo journey because I was the only person in there, so I made my way to Ground State Coffee for a to die for ham and cheese toasty & a latte.

Next up was a visit to Kilmainham Gaol, a hauntingly beautiful old prison – kind of creepy, kind of great for a true crime junkie. Carvings in the walls & history of Ireland’s most interesting prisoners, both men and women. I highly recommend booking in advance as tours fill up quick. If the day you want is sold out – check the website at 9:15am that day to see if any bookings were canceled (this is how I got my tickets).

I grabbed dinner at Gallaghers Boxty House.  I got a yummy cocktail, buffalo cauliflower, and their beef boxty dish. Dinner was followed by a sweet treat – ice cream across from the famous Temple Bar. I met a cute family – as the kids ate ice cream with mom, the dad ran into The Temple Bar Pub for a beer lol. As the night ended, I headed to bed early, knowing that a big adventure awaited me in the morning.

Day two:
I started down the dark and rainy streets of Dublin at 6am to catch my bus with Wild Rover Tours, a recommendation from some customers of mine. The journey took me to the Cliffs of Moher, a literal scene out of a movie (seriously they’ve filmed for Harry Potter, PS I Love you and so many others there). Apparently, it is rare to get a clear view without fog, but I was lucky and got to witness every detail of its magic. The rugged cliffs, kissed by the Atlantic breeze, left a mark on my soul, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty that surrounded me.  I had a first of my many solo traveler moments here: trying to get a picture of myself lol. Tips: Just ASK, don’t anxiously hype yourself up for ten minutes, whoever you ask will feel like they did something amazing for the rest of the day! Ask a Millennial or Gen Z girlie to get quantity and good angles or look for someone that has a professional camera around their neck, you can’t go wrong. 

Arriving in the city of Galway for the night, I felt the lively energy that had earned it a reputation as the best night out in Ireland. I grabbed a quick lunch at the historic King’s Head Pub, then quickly found myself in charming pubs, sharing laughs and stories with friendly locals for the afternoon. Group sing-a-longs filled the air, creating a soundtrack to my day. The evening unfolded with a steak dinner at Quays Bar, I made my way upstairs to the bar and snagged a seat for the rest of the evening.  This part of my journey is so important because it wouldn’t have happened if I was traveling with friends or family: It was there that I met my first other solo traveler. It took me FOREVER to say hi, but we ended up sharing stories, chatting with locals who made fun of our accents, and after a couple Baby Guinness, we danced the night away.  I stayed out way too late for someone who was walking a couple blocks home alone. The magic of the US being 6 hours behind was that I got to call my sister to drunkenly tell her about my night. (Tip #2 of solo travel, always be on the phone if you’re walking alone after 10pm)

Day Three:
I grabbed a coffee and tart from Gourmet Tart Co and hopped the train back to Dublin. (Trains are so much easier in Ireland than in New England.) After settling in, I dove into the history of Ireland and head over to the Jeanie Johnston (a copycat of the original ship that helped thousands of Irish people escape The Great Famine) and the EPIC Emigration Museum, an experience that held particular significance as my great grandparents emigrated to the US from Ireland. 

The rest of my day was about soaking in the culture. Unpopular opinion: eating in Ireland was my favorite, it’s all comfort foods. I grabbed Guinness beef stew and an Irish coffee at Quays Restaurant for lunch, YUM. Souvenir shopping led me to the GEM that is Penny’s – a combination of adult Forever 21 and Home Goods, and affordable! My bar of choice for the night was The Temple Bar. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, it lived up to its reputation, although the crazy crowd made me feel that it would be more fun with friends. Fun fact: it was the only place where I saw a surge in beer prices at a particular hour, confirming the tourist trap rumors I had been hearing throughout my trip.

Day Four:
I embarked on my second Wild Rover tour, this time to Belfast, we had the choice of going to the Titanic Museum or the Black Cab Tour (you can’t go wrong with either). I obviously chose the iconic Titanic Museum to learn more about the journey. After the museum we head to Dunluce Castle (featured in Game of Thrones).  The castle was amazing, beaten up, but there was a little tower to climb up & you could envision what it once was in its heyday. The breathtaking Giants Causeway was our last stop, a marvel of nature’s beauty. I truly cannot believe these places exist. Shout out to the Wild Rover’s staff: the tour guides, recognizing my solo journey, went above and beyond to make sure I captured every moment with their genuine concern for me to get photos at each stop. They we’re always calling out “Where’s Molly?!” as we got back on the bus lol. Even the bus rides were amazing with views of rolling green hills. 10/10 would recommend Wild Rover Tours. Back in Dublin – I finished up the day with a blend of rugby playoffs, drinks, and – you guessed it – live music at Oliver St John Gogartys Pub, where a hilariously entertaining singer added an extra layer of fun to the evening. I walked by this bar the past couple nights, so I finally walked in, and I was happy I did.

Day Five: 
On the final day of my solo adventure, back in Dublin, I kicked off with a fun donut and coffee before Ubering to the iconic Guinness Storehouse, a bucket-list destination as a bartender. Having my face printed on a Guinness added a personalized and silly touch to the experience. I went back to the café and grabbed the same ham and cheese toasty that I got on my first day because I am a creature of habit.  After packing up at the hotel I made my way towards 3Arena for the main event: the S Club 7 concert. Ten-year-old Molls would be so proud of thirty-year-old me. I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland, but the S Club 7 Reunion gave me a reason to jump. I grabbed boujee pomegranate, goat cheese ball salad and cocktail of choice at Elephant & Castle to pregame.  Six o’ clock hit, and I entered the arena – aiming for a front-row spot, which I got.  An unexpected twist in the night: a voice in the crowd uttered the word “Connecticut,” leading to a surprising connection with a girl who happened to live 15 minutes away from me. Serendipity.  The night unfolded accordingly with my new friend, her pal, and a sibling duo from the Czech Republic. Despite our early flights the next morning, the allure of drinks in Temple Bar was irresistible. In the heart of Dublin, we laughed, drank, and danced, savoring the final moments of an unforgettable Irish escapade.