Three American girls have been let loose in Ireland to explore the country and discover their Irish roots. It’s all part of the Gaelic Girls project. This is the view of the Cultured Caitlin.
A history guru and culture enthusiast is what I, the ‘Cultured Cailin’, am all about. Exploring everything from Ireland’s breathtaking castles to informative museums and documenting my own experiences in these culturally rich places that make Ireland the country it is today.
When I arrived in Dublin it was easy to get caught up in all the beauty it possessed. St. Stephen’s Green was one of the first places I visited. In no time at all, I found myself coming back to the green to eat my lunches on the park benches and making the grass my own personal sun bed. I didn’t have to go far to find historical places, as Dublin is full of them.
Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin
Museums displaying ancient memorabilia gave me an insider to the heart of Ireland and Christ Church Cathedral, dating back to 1030, allowed me into the mindset of the Irish medieval times.
The Kilmainham Gaol jail put me smack dab in the middle of the struggle for Irish Independence and allowed me to fully immerse myself into history.
Craving to get out into the countryside and away from the city lights, the Gaelic Girls and I visited some of the glorious castles Ireland is notoriously known for.
We were able to explore Kilkenny, Clontarf, Kennedy, Kinnitty, Nenagh, Dublin, and Malahide Castles with every castle being uniquely exquisite.
Knowing that each one is hundreds of years old with different stories of its existence bewildered me. The girls and I were also able to visit a more relaxing scene at an Ireland beach in Dun Laoghaire.
The seaside itself filled with massive white rocks didn’t have a recognizable history or a plaque but we all known that every ocean has a story and this was one magnificent view.
Americans are pretty much in love with the movie ‘P.S. I Love You’ and I am no exception, so during our trip to Glendalough we were able to retrace Hilary Swank’s footsteps of where she first met Gerald Butler. There we saw first hand the elegance of the mountains and the whispering green fields and it reminded me exactly why I wanted to come to Ireland.
Although the Gaelic Girls and I are not through with our journeys, I, the ‘Cultured Cailin’ have gained a selfish amount of knowledge already. Every nook and stone of Ireland has a story so no matter where you go in this enchanting country you will find a little history.
Tomorrow’s article features the Romantic Girl.
