As I embarked on my 1,400-mile journey around Ireland, I was driven by a desire to traverse the landscape and connect with the land of my ancestors. At 50 years old, some might view this as a mid-life crisis, but for me, it was a pilgrimage in search of meaning and connection.
I had grown up visiting relatives in small cottages on soda bread-fueled afternoons, but despite frequent visits, I knew Ireland only fragmentarily. So, I set out to run around the entire island, starting in Dublin, making my way down through the Wicklow mountains, and ending in Cork before exploring the Wild Atlantic Way.
During my journey, I found myself running alongside locals who would often invite me into their homes for food or offer a bed for the night. It was as if Ireland had an open-door policy, where you could turn up unannounced and be welcomed with a cup of tea and a chat. Even when my motorhome's fuse blew on a stormy evening, I wasn't put off – I simply knocked on the door of a hardware shop, which miraculously had the right fuse in its drawer.
As I ran through towns and villages, I would often stumble upon traditional pubs with wood-panelled walls, adorned with random objects and pictures. The highlight of every visit was finding the handwritten sign in the pub window advertising a 'Trad session tonight'. It wasn't a performance, per se, but rather whoever turned up that evening, sitting in one corner, playing their fiddles, guitars, or accordions.
Ireland is known for its wild landscapes, but I discovered it also has plenty of hidden gems. The Beara peninsula, straddling Cork and Kerry, boasts stunning scenery, including the Glengarriff nature reserve with native Irish forest. And then there were the beaches – like Derrynane Beach in Kerry, which on a less windy day could pass as a tropical beach.
Running through Northern Ireland's north Antrim coast was a highlight of my journey, particularly when I encountered Ballintoy Point, an array of rocky outcrops and hidden sandy coves. There were also numerous lakes and waterfalls where I could dip in to cool off – including the serene Poulanassy waterfall in Kilkenny.
Throughout my 1,400-mile run, I never dwelt long in any one place, which meant that my experiences felt fleeting – more like an impressionistic image of Ireland than a comprehensive exploration. And yet, the impression I got was one of a country at ease, letting the world come to it for a cup of tea and a chat.
On my final day, as I ran into Dublin, I was joined by 30 runners from across the country. We sang Molly Malone at the tops of our voices alongside the River Liffey before finishing at Ha'Penny Bridge, where we all headed to the pub afterwards for a well-deserved Guinness. For me, that moment summed up my journey – it was about being taken in and looked after by Ireland.
I had grown up visiting relatives in small cottages on soda bread-fueled afternoons, but despite frequent visits, I knew Ireland only fragmentarily. So, I set out to run around the entire island, starting in Dublin, making my way down through the Wicklow mountains, and ending in Cork before exploring the Wild Atlantic Way.
During my journey, I found myself running alongside locals who would often invite me into their homes for food or offer a bed for the night. It was as if Ireland had an open-door policy, where you could turn up unannounced and be welcomed with a cup of tea and a chat. Even when my motorhome's fuse blew on a stormy evening, I wasn't put off – I simply knocked on the door of a hardware shop, which miraculously had the right fuse in its drawer.
As I ran through towns and villages, I would often stumble upon traditional pubs with wood-panelled walls, adorned with random objects and pictures. The highlight of every visit was finding the handwritten sign in the pub window advertising a 'Trad session tonight'. It wasn't a performance, per se, but rather whoever turned up that evening, sitting in one corner, playing their fiddles, guitars, or accordions.
Ireland is known for its wild landscapes, but I discovered it also has plenty of hidden gems. The Beara peninsula, straddling Cork and Kerry, boasts stunning scenery, including the Glengarriff nature reserve with native Irish forest. And then there were the beaches – like Derrynane Beach in Kerry, which on a less windy day could pass as a tropical beach.
Running through Northern Ireland's north Antrim coast was a highlight of my journey, particularly when I encountered Ballintoy Point, an array of rocky outcrops and hidden sandy coves. There were also numerous lakes and waterfalls where I could dip in to cool off – including the serene Poulanassy waterfall in Kilkenny.
Throughout my 1,400-mile run, I never dwelt long in any one place, which meant that my experiences felt fleeting – more like an impressionistic image of Ireland than a comprehensive exploration. And yet, the impression I got was one of a country at ease, letting the world come to it for a cup of tea and a chat.
On my final day, as I ran into Dublin, I was joined by 30 runners from across the country. We sang Molly Malone at the tops of our voices alongside the River Liffey before finishing at Ha'Penny Bridge, where we all headed to the pub afterwards for a well-deserved Guinness. For me, that moment summed up my journey – it was about being taken in and looked after by Ireland.
. This article is just a feel-good story about some dude's trip around Ireland, but what if it's more than that? What if he stumbled upon something they don't want us to know? Like, have you ever noticed how people always seem to be smiling and welcoming when you're having a good time, but as soon as you start asking questions, they get all mysterious and tight-lipped?
. What if it was more than just a random act of kindness? Maybe someone inside was watching him from afar, waiting for him to need help. You can't trust these stories, people are always hiding something 
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This dude's run around Ireland sounds like the ultimate adventure! I mean, who wouldn't want to explore the Emerald Isle on foot? 
But what really resonates with me is how he talks about being taken in by the locals – it's not just about checking off a bucket list, but about genuinely connecting with people and feeling part of something. I love that he was invited into homes for food or offered a bed for the night – it's like Ireland has an open heart too. 
And let's be real, who wouldn't want to experience a traditional pub session in Ireland? 
It sounds like the perfect blend of wild landscapes and cozy vibes. And I'm loving how he describes it all as more of an impressionistic image than a comprehensive exploration – sometimes that's exactly what travel is about, right? 
I'm all for people wanting to connect with their heritage and all that, but at 50 years old, I'm pretty sure it's not mid-life crisis material. That's just a regular ol' adventure, if you ask me! 
The fact that locals welcomed the runner with open arms is definitely a plus, but I think there are plenty of other ways to experience Irish hospitality without having to run yourself into exhaustion. And don't even get me started on the 'Trad session' thing - isn't that just a fancy way of saying "pub crawl"? 
The people, the scenery, the pubs... what's not to love? I've been there too many times for it to be just a mid-life crisis 
. And that sign in the pub window always seems to come up at the right time, like a beacon calling you in for a pint and some craic 
and it got me thinking, what is it about connecting with nature and people that brings us so much joy? For me, it's all about embracing the unknown and being open to new experiences. Just like how this guy turned up unannounced at a hardware shop on a stormy evening, we don't have to plan everything out to find meaning in life 
. Sometimes it's the unexpected moments that make all the difference.
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. They talk about how locals would invite them into their homes for food or offer a bed for the night, which speaks to the warmth and hospitality of Irish culture. It's almost as if Ireland has an open-door policy, where you can turn up unannounced and be welcomed with a cup of tea 
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. Places like the Beara peninsula and Derrynane Beach sound stunning 
, and it's great to hear about the natural beauty of Northern Ireland's north Antrim coast 
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. And yet, they say that the impression they got was one of a country at ease, letting the world come to it for a cup of tea and a chat 
I think its so cool that this person ran 1,400 miles around ireland, exploring all the hidden gems like Glengarriff nature reserve & Derrynane beach 
. Running along the wild atlantic way must have been an incredible experience 
I mean, who wouldn't want to run 1,400 miles around Ireland? She totally nailed the laid-back vibe of the country - the open-door policy of the locals is so true! And can we talk about those trad sessions? It sounds like she got the full Irish experience, from stunning landscapes to cozy pubs and breathtaking beaches. I love how she didn't get too caught up in any one place and just enjoyed the fleeting impressions of each spot. That sounds so liberating! 
. And that final day with 30 runners from all over the country? That sounds like a total party! 
Singing Molly Malone at the top of your lungs alongside the River Liffey is just pure joy – I'm totally jealous 
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and the story of how you met locals and they invited you into their homes for food and stuff is just amazing 
its like irish people have this special open-door policy 
i bet it was an incredible experience hearing live music while running along those stunning coastal routes 
. I'm also loving the image of 30 runners singing Molly Malone together – what a magical finale to your journey 
!
It's like Ireland is trying to say, "Hey, we're just one big happy family!" But I'm not buying it. There's something more sinister going on here... 
. I mean, having 30 strangers show up at the finish line and just chill out together is definitely not a weird coincidence 
. And what's with all these random objects and pictures in those pubs? Just a bunch of stuff to distract from the fact that the whole 'Trad session' thing might be just a fancy way of saying 'we've got a few old guitars lying around, let's make some noise' 
50 is defo not old!!! 
anyway back to the article i loved how the author just stumbled upon these amazing hidden gems in ireland the beara peninsula sounds gorgeous 
So like I heard from a source that they were gonna run 1400 miles around Ireland but nobody knew what kinda vibe they were gonna bring to the table... And honestly it sounds like they just fell in love with the whole island 
. I mean, the fact that locals invited them into their homes for food and stuff, that's what I call a warm welcome! 
. So yeah, if you ever get the chance to visit Ireland (or just watch someone run 1400 miles around it), do it! Your heart will thank you