From culturally rich cities to dramatic coastal cliffs, the country of Ireland offers an extraordinary mix of scenery and charm. And Midwesterners are in luck: Ireland is easier than ever to reach, as last year the country’s flagship airline, Aer Lingus, added direct flights from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to Dublin Airport (DUB). As former Evansville and Newburgh residents now living in Indianapolis, my partner, Maxwell, and I felt the new direct route was an invitation we couldn’t pass up. So, we boarded the second-ever outbound flight in May 2025. Seven and a half hours, two movies, and one in-flight traditional Irish meal later, we landed on the Emerald Isle, ready for adventure.
Arriving in Dublin, we were struck by its character. Set on Ireland’s east coast overlooking the Irish Sea, the city’s cobblestone streets and centuries-old buildings sit next to modern cafes, shops, and pubs to create a vibrant energy. Despite being Ireland’s largest city, Dublin feels compact, and its attractions are centrally located enough to easily be explored on foot. We spent our first day strolling through the city and ended up at the gorgeous 16th-century Trinity College. Walking through the ornate campus library felt like stepping back into Ireland’s history.
After all that walking, we followed our appetites into The Stag’s Head pub, established in the 1770s, to enjoy a traditional meal of beef and Guinness stew and an Irish cottage pie. (Later, we tried our hand at creating Irish stew at home using the recipe from Larry “Bubbles” Pollock, former owner of The Pub.) One of us is an adventurous foodie while the other has a more reserved palate, but the menus across Ireland offered tasty options for us both. Dublin’s pub scene is lively and welcoming, and each spot offers its own local flavor. Our favorite was The Norseman in the Temple Bar district, thanks to its warm-hearted bartenders and talented musicians who perform each night. Whether it was traditional jigs or fiddle renditions of modern songs, music seems to be part of the rhythm of everyday life. Another Dublin highlight was our visit to the Guinness Storehouse, which included an interactive tour through the iconic brewer’s history and ended with a self-poured pint and a panoramic view of the city.
Halfway through our seven-day trip, we rented a car and Maxwell drove us two hours west to visit the smaller coastal city of Galway. Driving on the opposite side of the road was startling at first while on urban streets, and I may have pressed the “invisible emergency passenger brakes” several times, but once we reached the highway, we were cruising comfortably. Galway offers a similarly upbeat local charm, with outdoor art markets and crowds gathering along the banks of the River Corrib to watch the sunset. I was on a mission to purchase a traditional Galway claddagh ring and did so from Thomas Dillons, the original ring makers since 1750. It felt like an authentic and meaningful Irish souvenir, with the ring’s design showing hands holding a heart with a crown to symbolize “Let Love and Friendship Reign.”
Toward the end of our trip, we drove to the picturesque fishing village of Doolin and boarded a ferry to the Aran Islands. We spent the day exploring the smallest island, Inis Oírr, on foot and by e-bike. After picking up several Aran wool sweaters, we made our way to the Plassey Shipwreck to see the remains of a steam freight ship that crashed into the island’s rocky shore in the 1960s. The most breathtaking part of our trip came on the boat ride back to the mainland, as the ferry passed along the towering Cliffs of Moher. After viewing them from the sea, we drove to see the jaw-dropping cliffside from the top. Taking in the view of the Atlantic Ocean coastline felt like the perfect ending to our trip, and a fitting reminder that the entire visit had been a true Irish Blessing.
When You Go
Flights: Aer Lingus has direct flights from Indianapolis to Dublin four times per week, and a fifth weekly flight is coming in April 2026. The flight takes approximately 7.5 hours on the way to Ireland and 8.5 on the return flight. Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Aer Lingus is offering a sale in which flights with travel dates from May to September are available at a lower price point. The airline has a three-tier economy approach — it includes Saver, Smart, and Flex price levels — and business class. This flight has also given Hoosiers a new two-stop route to get to Europe. Once we landed at Dublin Airport, we took a 20-minute Uber ride to our hotel.
Accommodations: In Dublin, we stayed in the NYX Hotel Dublin Christchurch in the Temple Bar district, a perfect spot for visitors because of its proximity to restaurants, shops, and pubs. In Galway, we booked a room at The Snug Townhouse right in the heart of the bustling Latin Quarter. The rooms were as described — snug — but you can’t beat the location.
Car rental: We rented a car from Sixt in the Dublin City Center. A piece of advice: Ensure the car you reserve online is an automatic, as manual transmission rental cars are much more common in Europe.
Ferry ride: We highly recommend The Doolin Ferry Company for transportation around the Aran Islands and seeing the Cliffs of Moher from the water below. Ferry services typically run several times a day and are available in 2026 from Feb. 28 to Nov. 1.
Former Newburgh resident and Reitz Memorial High School alumna Meghan Stratton is the Global Lead for Brand and Content at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis.
