Exploring Ireland by public transport

Colette Sheridan recounts magical trips across Ireland relying solely on buses, trains and ferries

Inishmore, Aran Islands, was one of the standouts of Colette's trip.

Staycations have a lot going for them. You might think they’re the poor relation of foreign holidays, a reminder of childhood days when families were packed into cars for a fortnight near the sea. Back in the day, before we had discovered garlic, the idea of flying off to the sun was the stuff of fantasy. That was because air fares were very expensive and would have been utterly prohibitive for your average family. Instead, people rocked up to their mobile homes parked near an Irish beach or rented a holiday home in the west of Ireland for a week or two. It was a great way to see the country. Going to a different location every year was exciting (although not as thrilling for a child as the idea of going to some flash Costa del Sol resort!)

These days, we should all be going on staycations as flying takes such a toll on the environment. If you truly want to cut down on your carbon footprint, take an Irish holiday. And if you can manage it, using public transport is the ultimate in responsible travelling. Yes, buses and trains can sometimes run late but they’re a wonderful way to see our country. There’s nothing like relaxing on a train and gazing out the window, seeing animals grazing in fields, sometimes under a blue sky.