About Cath Jordan and Travel Around Ireland.
Travel Around Ireland is written by Cath Jordan, an Irish native, PhD-qualified researcher, and former Senior Scientist who has been exploring, writing about, and returning to Ireland her whole life.
This is not a site built by a travel agency, an AI content farm, or a journalist who visited Ireland for a long weekend. Every guide, every tip, and every recommendation here comes from someone who grew up in Dublin, lived there for over 15 years, and has been methodically exploring the rest of the island ever since.
If you want practical, trustworthy guidance on planning a trip to Ireland – written by someone who actually knows the country – you are in the right place.
Who is Cath Jordan?
My name is Catherine Jordan – Cath to almost everyone I know. I am Irish, born to Irish parents, raised partly in South Africa (where my father’s work took us), and brought back to Ireland permanently in 1987 when I was nine years old.
From that point on, Ireland was home. I grew up in South County Dublin, went to school and university there, earned a Science degree and then a PhD in Organic Chemistry from TU Tallaght – where I was the first student in the institution’s history to progress from undergraduate degree through to doctorate without a break. Nine years. A 352-page thesis. A deep-rooted love of research and getting things right.
After university, I moved to South Wales to be with my then-boyfriend (now husband), also a Dubliner. We spent 15 years in Wales, where I worked as a Senior Scientist testing bulk cargo shipments – oil, diesel, gasoline – for multi-million-pound insurance cases. We then spent 8 years in Portugal, near the Spanish border, before relocating to Dubai, where we now live and where our son goes to school. We still have our house in Portugal and return there every summer and Christmas, with a trip to Ireland woven into each summer visit.
Why you can trust the guides on this site
There is no shortage of Ireland travel content on the internet. A lot of it is written by people who visited for a week, or by companies producing content at scale with no real connection to the country. Travel Around Ireland is different, for a few specific reasons:
Irish by birth and upbringing – Born to Irish parents. Raised in Dublin from age 9. Schooled, university-educated, and employed in Ireland before moving abroad.
Lived experience, not just visit experience – I am not someone who spent a week in Dublin and now writes about Ireland. I lived and worked there. I know the country from the inside; the rhythms, the culture, the things that guidebooks get wrong.
Annual return visits – Since moving abroad, I return to Ireland at least once a year. Our family is based between Dublin and County Kildare, and on each trip we spend the majority of our time exploring new parts of the country, not just visiting family.
Research is second nature – A PhD in Organic Chemistry and a decade in scientific research means I approach every topic with rigor. When I write about something I have not personally visited, I research it thoroughly and say so clearly.
Ireland is personal – My husband is Irish. My son holds an Irish passport. Showing him his heritage – from Newgrange to Glendalough to the Ring of Kerry – is one of the great joys of my life. This site is part of that.
What you will find on Travel Around Ireland
Travel Around Ireland is structured to help you plan your trip from start to finish, with in-depth guides covering every stage of the process.
Planning your trip
The Ireland Travel Planning guide walks you through every stage of planning a trip – when to visit, how many days you need, where to base yourself, and common mistakes to avoid. It is the starting point for first-time and returning visitors alike.
If transport is on your mind, the Getting Around Ireland guide covers car hire, driving on Irish roads, public transport, and how to navigate the country realistically.
For accommodation, the Where to Stay in Ireland guide breaks down the options by region and travel style, so you can choose the right base for your trip.
Destinations and itineraries
The Dublin Travel Guide is the most comprehensive guide to the capital on this site – written by someone who grew up there and knows it as both a local and a returning visitor.
The Wild Atlantic Way guide covers the full route along Ireland’s west coast, with practical advice on driving it, where to stop, and how long it really takes.
For ready-made route ideas, the Ireland Itineraries hub has day-by-day plans for trips of different lengths, from a long weekend in Dublin to a one-week road trip around the island.
Culture, seasons, and practical information
Ireland is a country best understood from the inside. Guides on Irish culture and traditions, seasonal travel advice (what to expect in summer, fall, winter, and around St Patrick’s Day and Christmas), and practical tips for visiting as a foreign traveler all feature throughout the site.
What readers say
“I just wanted to say thank you for all of your great articles and information about Ireland and Northern Ireland. My husband and I went on our honeymoon in May and had such a wonderful time. Your website and the Facebook group helped me with our planning so much and definitely made me feel more prepared. We’re already talking about the next trip!”
Amy, honeymoon visitor to Ireland
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Counties I have personally visited
I am transparent about what I have visited and what I have researched. Below is the running list of counties I have personally been to:
- Dublin (grew up here)
- Kerry
- Galway
- Wexford
- Wicklow
- Mayo
- Clare
- Waterford
- Cork
- Limerick
- Tipperary
- Carlow
- Laois
- Kilkenny
- Kildare
- Offaly
- Meath
- Louth
Still on my personal list to explore: Skellig Michael, the Giant’s Causeway, Glenveagh National Park, the Aran Islands, Slieve League Cliffs, and more. The job is never finished – which suits me perfectly.
A few more things about me
Because an About page would not be complete without a few personal notes:
- I was TU Tallaght’s first student to progress from undergraduate degree to PhD without leaving – nine years of study in one institution.
- I only became “Cath” after moving to the UK, when a colleague asked if he could shorten it. It stuck. Never Cathy.
- I worked as a Senior Scientist in Wales for nine years before we moved to Portugal, where we lived for 8 years. We now live in Dubai, though we still have our Portuguese house and return every summer and Christmas.
- For 8 years in Portugal, we lived near the Spanish border and could ring in the New Year twice from our terrace – once at 11pm when Spain’s clocks struck midnight, and again an hour later. We still have the house and return every summer and Christmas.
- My son speaks English with an Irish accent. When he switches to Portuguese, his accent changes entirely – and he corrects mine.
- I am hugely patriotic about Ireland, even from a distance. Especially from a distance.
- A cup of tea is never far from my hands. Never.
- I am a lifelong Take That fan. Eight concerts and counting.
Travel Around Ireland has been featured in
- Travel Transformation podcast with Jessica Coleman (Episode 89)
- Choose Your Happy Place with Lisa Stanworth (July 2023)
- Let’s Walk About with Svit and Liza (Episode 3)
- The Local Perspectives Podcast with Tom Haller (Episode 3)
I have also contributed articles about Ireland to:
- No Hurry To Get Home – 7 Top Historical Places in Ireland to Visit
- 52 Perfect Days – Amazing Things to Do in Waterford, Ireland
- Rate Punk – Top 10 Places to Visit in Ireland
- Travel Melodies – Top 7 Things to Do With Kids in Ireland Who Love Culture and Art
- Winged Fork – What to Do in Dublin on the Weekend (from a local)
- Volumes & Voyages – 8 Must-visit Historical Sites in Ireland You Cannot Miss
- Our Globetrotters – Exploring Historical Places in Dublin With Kids
Find Travel Around Ireland online
You can find Travel Around Ireland on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
There is also a Facebook community group where you can ask questions, share experiences, and get help planning your trip from people who know Ireland well – including me.
Ready to plan your trip to Ireland?
Start with the Ireland Travel Planning guide – it covers everything from choosing when to visit to building a realistic itinerary. Or browse by destination if you already know where you want to go.
If you have a question that is not answered on the site, get in touch. I genuinely love hearing from readers – and if there is a gap in the guides, it goes straight onto my list.
Make sure to visit and join our free Ireland Travel Group Facebook page where you can get even more ideas and get your burning questions answered. Click the button below to join now.
If you’d like to get in contact please email me at cath@travelaroundireland.com. If there is anything you’d like to see next on this site, please let me know!