Ireland is a place of wonder and beauty that a lot of people overlook when wanting to have a vacation overseas. They choose Paris, Rome, or London for their stereotypical tourist destinations. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit this gorgeous country in April last year with the music department at my high school. We flew into Shannon, Ireland, stayed in Limerick for 2 days, Cork for 2 days, and then Dublin for 2 days before flying back to Boston out of Dublin. Although my group got to experience more things than the average traveler because it was a school trip, there are still many beautiful places to visit.

1. The Cliffs of Moher

This happened to be the first place my high school music department went to after a 6 hour flight from Boston. I cannot begin to explain how scared my teachers' were about kids going off the edge. It was windy but absolutely stunning to stand at the edge.

2. Bunratty Castle

This castle I had never heard of before going to Ireland. It was nice to learn about the history and it had a lot of old village hut-like buildings. There was a playground, and a few shops to eat and peruse through for souvenirs.

3. Limerick

Definitely plan to visit Limerick. It was a beautiful town and I had the pleasure of performing here with my high school choir alongside a school in Limerick that had music students of all ages. The city was filled with beautiful brick buildings and some interesting street art.

4. Village of Adare

This quaint, little town was part of Limerick and known to be one of the prettiest towns in Ireland. There were flowers everywhere and people smiling all around. There was a town park that I hung out in a lot, as well as the church that presided across the street. The shops lining each side of the road were all welcoming (I wish I could have seen more of the town itself before I had to leave).

5. The Blarney Castle

Oh, the famous Blarney Castle. This may seem gross and unsanitary, but the traditional tourist thing to do is kiss the Blarney stone. I was opposed to it in the beginning, but the grounds of the castle are stunning, especially in spring, which caught more of my attention. And yes, I ended up kissing the stone.

6. Cobh

Pronounced "Cove", this little town is right on the water. This also happens to be the last places the Titanic last departed from (was called Queenstown back then). There is a museum you can walk around in and learn more history about the Titanic and all her glory.

7. Cork City Gaol

While educational, this historic prison is also such a fascinating structure to visit. A guided tour through the halls of cells and gave background stories of some famous people that once were trapped within the walls of the building. This was an interesting experience and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants a bit of history on their vacation.

8. Cork

The city of Cork was probably my favorite place I visited in Ireland. Every street lined with shops and restaurants, big stores and little stores, and an array of colors throughout. I was thrilled walking around taking everything in. There isn't a limit of time I would have spent there checking out all the different kinds of stores and comparing things to the US.

9. St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin

If you have the chance to go to Ireland you absolutely need to find your way to the St. Patrick's Cathedral. Inside was breathtaking, with stunning architecture and stain glass windows. I had the amazing privilege of performing with my choir inside and the experience was unforgettable.

10. Trinity College

Although I did not get to go inside the college part of Trinity, the outside was stunning.

11. Book of Kells

If anyone knows me they know I have a weird love for the Book of Kells. The fact that I even got to be blessed with its presence was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced. The library in this building was stunningly breathtaking and I probably could've spent hours just looking at it.

Basically everyone needs to make a point to visit Ireland in their life because it is very worth the trip. Everyone I met there greeted me with open arms and a warm smile making me feel right at home.

(All photos above taken by Hayley Wright)