My Grandparents Finally Travelled to Ireland

It had always been a shared dream of my grandparents to travel to Ireland one day due to my grandfather’s Irish ancestry and my grandmother’s love of beautiful views and love for my grandfather. Unfortunately, their declining health prevented that travel. I called them Nannie and Papa and only as I matured did I realize just how big of an impact they would have on my life. I miss seeing their names on my phone call favorites, I miss hearing them say that they love me, and I miss sharing exciting life events with them. However I shared my week stay in Dublin, Ireland with my grandparents.

On day one (Sunday) we flew from Charlotte Douglas airport to Philadelphia where we had a SEVEN HOUR DELAY. We departed at roughly 3am and I knew they would’ve slept every second of that delay haha. Well really, Papa would’ve been cussing like a sailor most of the time.

On day two, which was Memorial Day, I was too exhausted from the delay and 5 hour time difference to do anything. But to honor my E7 naval chief petty officer, he saw the view of Dublin from the hotel room.

On day 3 we went to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). They would have been in complete awe of the beautiful architecture, art galleries on display, and the gardens that had a lady artist sculpture. Art was a shared love we had, in that they were artists and encouraged me to improve my skills and to admire the fine arts.

On day four we went to the Christ Church Cathedral in which its grandeur would have shocked them. I could imagine them pointing out things to just stare at and bask in the moment. After Christ Church, we ventured to the Guinness Storehouse and received a free pint in the 360 degree Gravity Bar that overlooks the city of Dublin. I toasted to my grandpa because my grandma was never big on beer haha.

On day five we rode a bus to the county of Wicklow to see the country side. We hiked the 906 foot mountain called Carrickgollogan (it was a rocky climb and descent being that “carrick” translates to “rock”). I remembered how my grandmother’s Myasthenia Gravis left her weak and eventually bed ridden and how my grandfather’s diabetic neuropathy along with many knee replacements, left them unable to travel like they did when they were younger. Sure I was out of breath myself, but the view was one I had to share with them. It was beyond words of how beautiful it was seeing the land.

On day six we viewed what seemed like endless fine art paintings dating back to the 1800s at the National Gallery of Ireland. The IMMA was a sight to see, however the National Gallery was much more of their taste. The fine strokes of a paintbrush on canvas to portray a breathtaking image would have left them feeling extremely moved.

On our final day seven, we went to the Jameson Distillery on Bow street. Like a true Irish man, Jameson was my grandfather’s favorite whiskey. This marks June 2nd, which would have been his 71st birthday. We tasted Jameson along with the leading Scottish and American whiskeys in which we became certified whiskey tasters. He would’ve gotten a kick out of that. On each bottle of Jameson states “sine metu” which translates from Latin to English as “without fear”. I could hear my grandfather’s bellowing laughter as he may have gotten tipsy off of his Irish whiskey and my grandmother saying “Vic, hush” followed by “yes dear”. My grandmother would’ve pointed out the model ship and they would have both admired it.

On the walk back to the hotel to pack for the next morning flight back to North Carolina, we stopped to view he heart of Dublin city one last time.

However, I did not explore Ireland alone. I travelled with my amazing boyfriend who was understanding when I wanted to stop to snap a photo with them. I wish they would have gotten the chance to meet him. He and my grandfather could tell dark jokes back and forth while my grandmother admires that he holds doors open for me and treats me like a queen.

Ultimately, we had a seemingly perfect time in Ireland and I will cherish that week for the rest of my life.

I love you more.