Episode 25: Ireland, Part 1

In the first of (at least) two episodes on our epic trip to Ireland to visit the ancestral home of one side of the family and to see Bruce Springsteen in Dublin, we talk about the genesis of this crazy trip, flying into Dublin, driving to County Sligo in the northwest and the time we spent there, and then driving back to Dublin for the show. 

We will post some pictures of the first part of the trip shortly, but suffice it to say that Sligo and the northwest coast of Ireland are spectacularly beautiful. Sitting on an estuary where the River Garavogue (An Gharbhóg) meets the Atlantic Ocean, the city of Sligo has about 20,000 residents, but, like most of Ireland, is quickly becoming a center of technology. The mountains of Benbulben and Knocknarea (with the massive cairn of Queen Maeve (Medb) visible at the top) dominate the views from nearly every street corner, and the city itself is just a short distance away from Strandhill beach, the Collooney Mill Falls, and the Eagles Flying raptor sanctuary, where we got to meet a couple of owls, a falcon, and other assorted birds of prey.

Meanwhile, if you ever get a chance to visit Sligo and you’re looking for accommodations, we recommend the Clayton Hotel. We had a massive room there and really enjoyed our stay. And we learned a little bit about Gaelic football from one of the bartenders, too. 

On next week’s show, we’ll talk more about our time in Dublin and Bruce Springsteen’s phenomenal show, plus wandering around O’Connell Street, our adventures on public transport, and hiking in the Dublin Mountains. 

So, please enjoy this week’s episode, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, and, as always, support the rights of LGBTQIA people everywhere! And if you’re new here, you can also follow our Twitter account, @itsotetPodcast.

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