40 Shades of Green on the Other Side of the Road

So, what's so cool about Irish international airports?  Well, two things to begin with.  Even though we're landing at Dublin International Airport (DUB), the real legacy begins with Shannon airport (SNN), on the opposite, western coast of the island.  For decades, Shannon was the portal, the gateway into the Emerald Isle.  (They had to relinquish this privilege when planes could fly nonstop to Dublin).  And the two cool things about Shannon? 1) It was the first airport to come up with the idea of a "duty free" shop; and 2) it's where Irish coffee was invented.  

But as I said, we landed in Dublin – which is a beautiful airport as well!  From there to the car hire (not car rental; in Ireland, there are always other names for things – this is a theme I will speak of later).  Just to make sure you've got your wits about you after that all-night crossing of the Atlantic, the very next thing you face after picking up your car is the M50 Motorway (no, it's not an Interstate).  And then you begin your journey on the other side of the road.  And note this well: it is NOT the wrong side of the road, as most American tourists will put forward with opinionated disdain.

Driving in Ireland, and specifically Dublin, is an art form in and of itself.  The city is medieval, hence bus routes, bike routes, and the LUAS (trolley; it's the Irish word for speed) all seem to pulse and sometimes merge in mysterious ways.  You just gotta know the territory.  Our destination is, as the Irish would say, "beyond the pale" – not necessarily lawless, but outside the city walls of Dublin.  We're driving into the heart of Forty Shades of Green, to County Carlow.

So here's another thing.  In this beloved land, names for things usually begin with what they are (river, county, mountain), followed by where they are.  So, it's "County Galway," the "River Slaney," "County Wexford," the "River Shannon," "Croagh Patrick" and not the other way around.  There are a few exceptions, just to mess up the tourist, but you're usually safe to stick with this formula.  

We're deep in the green fields now, for a couple of restful days before we head back to Dublin's fair city, where reunions will continue to take place.  Yours truly has already driven the two-hour jaunt in a six-speed manual transmission jalopy. The other side of the road AND a stick shift!  Now that's entertainment!