Ireland First Impressions

Ireland first step

Ireland, the first step, green is only the beginning.

Whenever I go to a place where I have dreamed about, I wonder if it will hold true to the images and expectations I have had.

Ireland held true and beyond.

Green it is. Unbelievable shades. That patchwork land spread out for miles, then wrapped me warmly.

The grassy knoll bordering the seaside was like a comfort cover: Thick, velvety soft and inviting me to jump in. I have never seen grass like that- unbelievable… it was bouncy thick.

 

Driving in ireland

Rain? Showers. Doesn't stop anyone or thing from taking part of the day. Though the conversation between anyone who we meet, holds more than a few sentences about it.

The weather is a constant source of hope, wonder and conversation. It can be raining two feet ahead of you, misty two feet behind you, and blue right above you.

Rain is part of their lives, part of the landscape. Green is the color because of it. Emerald Island is the outcome.

A family was having a picnic said to me as I passed by,

"Its not raining it is liquid sunshine."

Their little daughter looked up, looked at me, looked at her dad and questioned, "Liquid sunshine Daddy? Its rain."

"No, it is liquid sunshine."

In the end everything is about how we perceive it.

Liquid sunshine!

 

 

Ireland small town

Colorful wonder. Houses. Shutters. Flowers.

 

Ireland flowers

Flowers. Flowers. Flowers and rarely black clothing.

 

Fox gloves

Foxgloves grow wild.

For that reason alone I would live in Ireland. 

Wild!

 

Ireland pub

Pubs. Life is colorful. Music every night. Families gather, friends too.

A home away from home.

Happy place they are.

The Irish are easy going and lovely. Happy. Smiling! Talkative!

and even though we speak the same language there are times I simply do not understand a word. 

 

Shamrocks

True Ireland.

Liquid jewel sunshine, crowning glory!



Comments

34 responses to “Ireland First Impressions”

  1. Ooohh…how lovely, Corey! I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland, but the closest I’ve come to that…is seeing it from the air.
    : )
    Julie M.

  2. On my list of places to visit. Looking forward to more stories and photos.

  3. Massilianana

    Oh Corey, say BONJOUR to Ireland for me ! I love this place, I’ve lived there for two wonderful years a while back and I keep very vivid memories of my stay there and also, I still am in touch with those I’ve met and lived with over there , and as you say, they are very loveable people, charming ,with a great sense of humor and also – this you will love – they know how to tell a story….Enjoy enjoy enjoy and give my love to the Emerald Isle !

  4. KNEW YOU’D LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
    I’m so happy you’re there 🙂 Mom wants you to stay till after she gets there in August!!! Wouldn’t that be a hoot?

  5. Evelyn in NYC

    So excited to read about your trip to Ireland. One of the few places in Europe my heart aches to visit. Can’t wait to see more pictures and live vicariously through your travels.

  6. I agree, the people are the true gem of that gorgeous island. I didn’t think you were allowed to mention the “R” word 🙂

  7. aha, I see you’ve already been to Clonakilty…my local town. Enjoy!

  8. I love breaking rules with friends! 😉

  9. Hi M,
    You are so well traveled, plus the places you have lived in, envious!
    Fortunate. See you in Marseille!
    c

  10. I have been to Ireland a few times….each time we start to plan a trip we speak of Italy, we speak of France, Germany and Spain and then we plan for Ireland. Even now we are speaking of Italy but in my heart I know we will plan for Ireland. Enjoy your visit!

  11. Ireland…….homeland of my husband, holds a special place in my heart. The rolling shades of green, the rugged cliffs, the ocean views and wonderfully warm people are calling me back. In the meantime I’ll enjoy your posts.

  12. Linda R.

    Your photos are, as always, perfectly lovely and … “liquid sunshine” – I love it. How can a person be 100 percent Irish and never have visited the Emerald Isle, but there you have it. When I do visit, I will have your warm words in my mind.

  13. Oh, enjoy! The area around Cork is soooo lovely. Actually, all of Ireland is lovely. I hope you have a wonderful time!

  14. Liquid sunshine is sometimes a term used for Oregon also. Green is definitely the reward for the rain and so beautiful. That last picture definitely tells the story.

  15. I love the pictures and the review, I hope you enjoy your trip, sounds like a wonderful start.

  16. Diogenes

    Glad you are having a good time. Love the pictures! The street musicians remind me of the wonderful Irish film “Once” that was released a few years ago.

  17. Jeannie

    Gorgeous! I grew up in Seattle. Whenever I leave the desert and travel home, I feel like Alice or Dorthy. The green almost hurts my eyes and the freshness of the air just makes me dance. Have fun, Corey!!!

  18. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    If people rarely wear black, what colors of clothing do you see there? Show us that on one day of your trip, pls.

  19. Sounds like lots of fun. I want to see pictures of your hostess and teatime!

  20. This is reminding me so much of the English Lake District (especially the pub life) …another part of the world you’d be enchanted with.
    rain and Ireland seem to go together, but there are always beautiful rainbows. We had those in the Lakes too, and they’re incredible. I hope you get to see one on your trip and do post LOTS of photos!

  21. En Bretagne, on dit que “la pluie ne tombe que sur les cons” !

  22. Oh Corey,
    I’m Homesick! I used to go for walks with my cousins in the dairy heartland of Mitchelstown and pick foxgloves and pinch the bells and clap them to make them pop!
    I love Australia but it isn’t half as green as Ireland!

  23. Have a wonderful time. I love Ireland. We just returned from England. It rained every day but I didn’t really mind as after living there it was expected. I laughed when you said you sometimes couldn’t understand. I felt that way a few times too.

  24. ohhhhh,
    yay for you!
    you make my
    heart sing….
    such joy and delight in your post today…
    I am smiling and
    yay!
    love

  25. Redd Deux-Chevaux

    Foxglove / Digitalis can be found in rainy Auvergne. I spent a summer near Aurillac where we found many foxglove growing wild (as it does in the Pacific Northwest) near the woods. I’m amazed that pale yellow primroses seem to grow wild in parts of France, as do some daffodils in the spring! Lilacs near the Loire River appear to be wild, but perhaps they were part of a royal’s domain centuries ago?

  26. Ana María

    Dear Corey,
    I’ve commented before how I dream of visiting Ireland and feel a strong connection to all things Irish (maybe having been taught by Irish nuns had something to do with that). I am devouring every word you write and every picture you post. However, I just read the very sad news that one of my favorite authors, Maeve Binchy has died. I broke down and cried. I am feeling this as a personal loss.
    Through Maeve Binchy I learned about the towns and villages of Ireland and the Dublin neighborhoods where her characters lived, whether real or make-believe. The magic of her stories is that they are about love and humanity and her characters all posses a quirkiness that makes them lovable, no matter how straight-laced they wish to appear.
    I am sure that others in your blogging circle feel saddened by this news as I do. Please let us know how the Irish media is covering Ms Benchy’s passing.
    Sending a big hug to you! Enjoy every second of this marvelous adventure!

  27. Gorgeous! 🙂
    I remember once flying high over Ireland, looking down at the island so green in the sparkling sea, like an Emerald jewel in the crown.
    Safe travels!

  28. Ana María

    By the way, your hair seems to stay fabulous even in rainy weather – good job!

  29. Hi Corey, it looks to me like you have been in Clonakilty. Am I right?
    We have just returned home to Australia after a trip to Ireland, Holland, Belguim and France.
    My mothers home town is Clonakilty. I love that place! The people are lovely, and they know how to enjoy themselves. Did you go an listen to some traditional Irish music?
    You gave me some good advise of what to do in Provence when we were there. I would have loved to meet up with you, but the days we were near Marseille (Staying at La Ciotat), I was covered in hives from an allergic reactions to strawberries we think, I am so many of them. I ended up in hospital in Canne.
    We loved Cassis, so beautiful, we then drove inland to Grasse and drove up over mountains and along the Gorges Verdon. We then drove to Annecy which is very special too.
    I went to a brocante! Wow, the one in La Sorgue was great. Of course there was so much I loved, but apart from not being able to physically take it home, I have decided that beautiful old stuff deserves to stay in France. It has more meaning when it’s in context of the place it came from. What do you think?

  30. Anne Lenz

    Hallo Leaford,
    you´re so right!
    Greetings from Germany
    A

  31. Sue Morris

    Ah yes, a very, very special and beautiful place indeed. I have visited there three times now and would dearly love to do so again before ‘I depart this Mortal Coil’….enjoy Corey and, keep sending us your wonderful word pictures as well as your photos…..’Liquid Sunshine’….such a lovely way to describe the Rain.
    Smiles from Western Australia.

  32. Reading your post this morning… took me back to our visit to Ireland in June… I fell in love with this country and her people!!!
    You must go to THE HILL OF TARA…where the heather grass is so soft and high… you could sleep on it!
    Thank you for sharing
    Victoria/www.femininechicboutique.com

  33. I loved the way that you described Ireland and indeed the national obsession with the weather = we have the same obsession here in Scotland where we often discuss the phenomenon of 4 seasons in one day. Rain is often a daily occurrence and we have jokes that go along the lines of “it only rained twice last week, once from Monday to Wednesday and the other time from Thursday to Sunday” but it does make for an amazingly green and luscious landscape with as you say an abundance of wild flowers from poppies to foxgloves to lupins to daisies…..

  34. A friend from Northern Ireland, upon first seeing my photos of the green, green Azores, exclaimed that to her the Azores look “like Ireland but with palm trees!” So I guess that makes Ireland “the Azores without palm trees,” right?

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