Me and My Travels

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#Me and My Travels

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>'When we finally landed in Clonakilty, the excitement on the kids' faces as they saw the incredible stretch of turquoise water bending to Inchydoney... they love it there.'</p>

columnists

Richard Hogan: A seven-hour road trip where I saw the two sides of Ireland

An unplanned diversion through the back roads of his home country provided an insight into rundown rural Ireland — but for Richard Hogan, the final destination was paradise

<p>Lap of luxury: A glossy brochure image of Irish railway travel in the 1970s. Many trains do not even have a trolley service today</p>

travel

Something feels missing: Bring back the trolley service on every train journey

<p>Filmmaker and YouTube producer Molly McDonald</p>

travel

Molly McDonald: 'My parents were immigrants in New York, every summer we’d return to Galway'

Santa Claus: When I first flew across the Alps I had never seen anything so amazing

travel

Santa Claus: When I first flew across the Alps I had never seen anything so amazing

Jarlath Regan: I took part in a school tour that was pure mayhem across the continent

travel

Jarlath Regan: I took part in a school tour that was pure mayhem across the continent

Fiona Coghlan: 'You’ve heard of Jamaica and Barbados, but not Turks and Caicos'

travel

Fiona Coghlan: 'You’ve heard of Jamaica and Barbados, but not Turks and Caicos'

Ellen Keane: 'Uncharted with Ray Goggins' was the most outrageous trip I’ve ever done

Ellen Keane: 'Uncharted with Ray Goggins' was the most outrageous trip I’ve ever done

Paralympian Ellen Keane reflects on her love of the hop-on-hop-off bus, discovering a spiritual side in Bali, and one very unexpected hotel upgrade in Beijing.

Sat, 20 Sep, 2025

Manchán Magan: Our money and passports were stolen and I had no food for days — I loved it

Manchán Magan: Our money and passports were stolen and I had no food for days — I loved it

Me and My Travels: Manchán Magan has journeyed across Africa, Asia, and South America, but found his truest home amid the woodlands of Westmeath

Sun, 14 Sep, 2025

Louize Carroll: A few cowboys and I rode halfway across Costa Rica over two weeks

Louize Carroll: A few cowboys and I rode halfway across Costa Rica over two weeks

Me and My Travels: Bass guitarist with The Blizzards, composer and consultant psychologist, Louize Carroll lives between two creative worlds. Whether she’s penning compositions or exploring human connection, her travels have helped shape the person she is today.

Sat, 06 Sep, 2025

Natalya Coyle: 'I think we just forget how beautiful some parts of Ireland are'

Natalya Coyle: 'I think we just forget how beautiful some parts of Ireland are'

"We went to Donegal last year and visited Errigal and Gweedore. It was stunning. There was a kombucha brand brewed up there – SynerChi Kombucha – and all these pizza places, including The Rusty Oven pizza in Dunfanaghy, which we loved. It felt really untouched."

Sat, 30 Aug, 2025

Roz Purcell: 'Every day you’d come back from exploring, and there would be a tarantula or snake in the room'

Roz Purcell: 'Every day you’d come back from exploring, and there would be a tarantula or snake in the room'

From safaris in Africa, to treks through the Amazon, the Tipperary native has built a life around adventure. Here, she looks back on the trips that shaped her and the ones she hasn’t ticked off just yet.

Sun, 24 Aug, 2025

Me and My Travels with Jennifer Zamparelli: 'I was flown to Africa at the age of seven'

Me and My Travels with Jennifer Zamparelli: 'I was flown to Africa at the age of seven'

From early days in a caravan in Wexford to broadcasting live from Vatican Radio, the actress and presenter has seen travel evolve with family, fun, and a fair bit of pasta.

Sat, 16 Aug, 2025

Francis Brennan: 'Beautiful' Bali really disappointed me — it was filthy

Francis Brennan: 'Beautiful' Bali really disappointed me — it was filthy

Francis Brennan shares his favourite escapes, most surprising trips, and why a world cruise is still on his wish list.

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

My Travels with Melissa Hamilton: 'Sunsets in Hawaii were the most incredible thing'

My Travels with Melissa Hamilton: 'Sunsets in Hawaii were the most incredible thing'

From Tokyo to Santorini, the Belfast ballerina shares the travel moments and memories she’ll never forget

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Anita Thomas: Vietnam completely surprised me — bags of frogs for sale on the street

Anita Thomas: Vietnam completely surprised me — bags of frogs for sale on the street

As Country Manager for Emirates Ireland, Anita Thomas lives and breathes aviation. A self-proclaimed 'aviation geek' and lifelong travel lover, she has built a career around the joy of exploration.

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

Ashley McDonnell: I’m preparing for a horseback trek across Kyrgyzstan's largest mountain range

Ashley McDonnell: I’m preparing for a horseback trek across Kyrgyzstan's largest mountain range

Me and My Travels: Living between Paris and Dublin, where the podcaster and entrepeneur built her career in the luxury beauty and fashion industries, she’s been to 60 countries and plans to see the whole world.

Mon, 21 Jul, 2025

Me and My Travels: Tadhg O'Brien's lifelong love affair with Ireland

Me and My Travels: Tadhg O'Brien's lifelong love affair with Ireland

"One trip that stands out was when we went to Achill Island instead of abroad. We rented a holiday home for a week, and it was just a different kind of adventure."

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Hugh Wallace: 'We once ended up in a brothel in the middle of a cornfield in Luxor'

Hugh Wallace: 'We once ended up in a brothel in the middle of a cornfield in Luxor'

Renowned architect, popular TV personality, and judge on RTÉ’s Home of the Year, Hugh Wallace has travelled everywhere from Japan to Namibia, often with husband Martin in tow - whether tracking cheetahs at sunset or discovering a secret hotel in Luxor, he’s all about adventure, atmosphere and getting off the beaten path

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Rory O'Connell: 'We were charged at by an elephant in South Africa'

Rory O'Connell: 'We were charged at by an elephant in South Africa'

Rory O’Connell is one of Ireland’s most respected chefs, co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, and a champion of simple, seasonal food. His new series, How to Cook Well in Morocco, recently aired on RTÉ, and when he’s not cooking or writing, he’s travelling in search of culture, craft and the perfect market.

Sat, 21 Jun, 2025

Jacqui Hurley: The first time I was ever on a plane we were moving our lives across the world

Jacqui Hurley: The first time I was ever on a plane we were moving our lives across the world

Jacqui Hurley is one of Ireland’s most recognisable broadcasters and a proud advocate for women and girls in sport. The RTÉ presenter and best-selling author has fronted everything from the Olympics to All-Ireland finals, and is now the official ambassador for the 2025 MiWadi FAI Football Camps.

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Deirdre McGlone: After selling Harvey’s Point we drove across the US for six weeks

Deirdre McGlone: After selling Harvey’s Point we drove across the US for six weeks

From RV-ing across the US to dreaming of New Zealand, Deirdre’s travels reflect her love of people and places

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Marion Walsh-Hédouin: 'I convinced my husband and kids to go to Kazakhstan'

Marion Walsh-Hédouin: 'I convinced my husband and kids to go to Kazakhstan'

Marion Walsh-Hédouin's path has taken her from Monaco to Manhattan, Yemen and India

Sat, 26 Apr, 2025

Seán Villanueva O'Driscoll: It was just five of us on a small ten-metre boat for three months

Seán Villanueva O'Driscoll: It was just five of us on a small ten-metre boat for three months

Professional climber Seán Villanueva shares his travel highlights

Sat, 12 Apr, 2025

Aimee Connolly: Interrailing was complete carnage — I'm surprised we all came home alive

Aimee Connolly: Interrailing was complete carnage — I'm surprised we all came home alive

We had a hospital visit; one was on crutches, and many missed flights, trains, and wrongly booked accommodations. You could have made a movie out of it.

Mon, 24 Mar, 2025

Danny Africano: 'We ran out of water, got lost in the rainforest, and we had to be rescued'

Danny Africano: 'We ran out of water, got lost in the rainforest, and we had to be rescued'

Me & My Travels: 'It was one of those trips where you either make it through or completely lose it. But we survived — just about'

Mon, 17 Mar, 2025

Me and My Travels: Patrick Farrell, General Manager of the Viceroy, Bali

Me and My Travels: Patrick Farrell, General Manager of the Viceroy, Bali

"Hong Kong: I was expecting a bustling city full of skyscrapers and hustle and bustle, but I didn’t anticipate the abundance of nature."

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

Me and My Travels: Sean Hammond on his top cities, countries and travel highlights

Me and My Travels: Sean Hammond on his top cities, countries and travel highlights

Content creator Sean Hammond shares his most memorable travel experiences.

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025

Me and My Travels: Dervla Louli Musgrave on her favourite holidays and best things to do

Me and My Travels: Dervla Louli Musgrave on her favourite holidays and best things to do

Founder of Compare Retreats, an award-winning luxury wellness travel company featured in Vogue, Forbes, and Bloomberg, Dervla is truly a seasoned adventurer. Originally from Ireland and Egypt, she now lives in Hong Kong with her family.

Sat, 25 Jan, 2025