10 memorable slow-travel moments in Ireland

Gumboots ready for WWOOFing on the farm

1. Exploring my ancestry in the huge red volumes at the Irish Life Centre. An afternoon spent researching led to a reunion with my Great Aunt and cousins the next day – Finding family in Dublin

2. Meeting Italian English-student, Valentina, who demonstrated her family recipe for kneading and rolling handmade Gnocchi. In exchange I taught her Aussie-English phrases such as “how are ya?” and “no worries” – Cooking in Cork

3. Volunteering on an eco-retreat and persevering with a compost toilet. Every scoop of sawdust and visit to the humanure compost heap was a lesson in sustainable living – WWOOFing in Dromahair

4. Appreciating traditional farming skills as I spent the day building and rebuilding a 200 year-old stone wall – Farming in Wexford

5. Stepping on many Irish toes while learning the reel, jig and polka – Set dancing in Bantry

6. Drinking at a trad seisiún of guitars, fiddles and flutes, violins, accordions and a bodhran – Listening to music in Ballydehob

7. Chatting about politics, religion and family with a local who’s Grandma made bombs for the IRA – Understanding history in Derry

8. Meditating by the Atlantic at the Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Temple – Practising mindfulness on the Beara Peninsula

9. Hitchhiking to Croagh Patrick and overcoming fog and fear to climb to the peak – Making a spiritual pilgrimage in Westport

10. Devouring eggs, bacon, fried chips, mushrooms, tomatoes, black pudding and endless cups of tea. Sharing stories, laughter and sleep-deprivation – Staying with family in Dublin

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This post has been entered into the Grantourimo HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition.