Men's Journal

The formidable cliffs of Moher, on Ireland's west coast Photo credit: Courtesy Tourism Ireland

Best for Seafood and Surf

Base camp: Galway
The humbled Celtic tiger has thrown out a welcome mat, with $400 flights from New York to Shannon Airport in the West Country — the Ireland of song, with green mountains, deep lakes, great whiskey, and a jolly middle finger to the capricious weather. Galway is all cobblestones and bright-colored buildings, where old-world rooms at the Hotel Meyrick are a short stumble from your favorite pint (from $134; hotelmeyrick.ie). Sample some of the planet’s freshest seafood at O’Grady’s on the Pier (ogradysonthepier.com), and be sure to buy a round for the musicians singing of seafarers and shipwrecks during a musical pub crawl along Shop and Quay streets. During the annual Oyster Festival (September 24–27, galwayoysterfest.com), 30 pubs offer free oysters to anyone who downs a pint of Guinness.

Excursion 1: Surfing Aileen’s
First surfed in 2005, Aileen’s Wave is a monster barrel with a consistent winter break off the stunning Cliffs of Moher. Rent a car, take the N6, N18, then N67, and follow signs for the Cliffs (60 minutes). Too advanced? Take a class nearby ($55; lahinchsurfschool.com).

Excursion 2: The Aran Islands
The craggy rocks at the mouth of Galway Bay are the best spot around for deep-sea fishing ($85; galwaybayfishing.com). Ferries from Rossaveal take 45 minutes ($35; aranislandferries.com).

Can’t Get It At Home: Burren Smokehouse’s hot-smoked salmon
Dill and honey make Ireland’s famous salmon a world-class gift ($16; burrensmokehouse.ie).

Read Before You Go: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
A comic tale of a working-class preteen hooligan in Dublin.

This article is part of our See The World — at 50% Off package.

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