Episode 53: 5 Tips for Experiencing Northern Ireland like a Local with Keryn Means

Angie Orth:

Today, we're back with Twist Travel Magazine founder and Northern Ireland expert, Keryn Means. If you caught our previous episode, which truth be told, was kind of a love letter to everything Game of Thrones, then you are going to love this mini-episode.

This stunning UK destination is a place where you can really dive into the local fabric. In part, this is because the locals are known for their friendly vibe and willingness to chat over a pint. With that in mind, today we're sharing 5 tips for experiencing Northern Ireland like a local.

Thanks for joining us, Keryn. To start us off, let's cover a very important tip for anyone planning on renting a car to get around and that's that people drive on the other side of the road. Personally, I found the experience slightly unsettling from a passenger’s perspective. My husband did all the driving when we were visiting. Have you gotten behind the wheel there?

Keryn Means:

I actually love driving in Ireland. I think it's the best challenge ever. I don't like roller coasters, so my adrenaline rush is driving on the left side of the road while sitting on the right. I don't drive a stick shift either, so I think that's helpful. But I know people that have to drive the stick shift and they have to shift on the left, but the pedals are still the same. That's too much for my brain, but driving automatic is fine.

Angie:

That's something for people to think about when they go there, are you comfortable with that kind of driving? Is it going to cause you and your husband to get in an insane fight? It's something to consider.

Keryn:

I know it's more daunting for the people who are sitting in the passenger seat because of the way the mirrors are positioned. You just think you're going to hit something all the time, but as the driver, you're like, “No, I won't hit the wall. I won't run into anybody. It's fine.”

Angie:

Yes, you're driving on very narrow country roads and a lot of them have these ancient stone walls lining them, and they're so narrow.

Keryn:

The wonderful thing is that the people of Ireland understand that we're all there, and everybody takes it slow. You get the little wave off the windshield, which I love. I wish we did that in America. Every time somebody was kind to you, you just put your fingers up and be like, “Hey, thanks.”

Angie:

Let's talk about the pub culture because pubs are a central part of life in this region. Any tips for blending in and chatting up the locals?

Keryn:

If you know soccer or football—which it’s called over there—or American soccer, you're in. Have your team and it's usually playing in any of the pubs or even rugby. There's also Gaelic soccer, which don't ask me to explain what that is because I still don't understand the rules.

Angie:

Is it different?

Keryn:

It is different. I feel like it's a cross between rugby, soccer, and something else. My husband took our kids, my brother-in-law, and my niece to a game when we were in the Republic of Ireland, and even as avid soccer fans, they were like, we have no idea what's going on, but we're cheering anyway.

Angie:

There's nothing like a sporting event in another country to help you understand the vibe and what makes people tick. Especially in the British Isles, right? They are avid sports fans. They really care about their sports.

To really understand Northern Ireland, you need to understand the history. Can you tell us a little about that and maybe the best place to explore Northern Ireland's past?

Keryn:

A lot of people know about the Troubles that happened between the '60s and the late '90s. A lot of that is very socioeconomic, political, and religious. In Belfast, you're going to see that more clearly—similar to how you're going to see it in Derry and Londonderry—than the rest of Northern Ireland. Through murals, through the peace wall, you can take black cab tours that are driven by people who more than likely lived through the Troubles and know what Bloody Sunday is, know what the Easter Riots were. It's such a complicated issue that it's nice to hear that perspective of what was actually happening on the ground.

Angie:

Belfast is where you'll be able to grasp the full history of the region, and you mentioned the black cab tours, which give you an in-depth firsthand experience. What's another way to visit these sites and hear the stories? Let's say if you're traveling with kids, and that might be a bit intense for younger folks.

Keryn:

There's a hop on, hop off bus tour that goes through the same areas that the black cab tours will go through, and they give some of the history as well. They're going to explain what the peace wall was, what the neighborhoods are that you're traveling through, and why they were such an important part of that time in Northern Ireland's history. It gave my kids enough of a taste that they got really interested and we ended up buying a couple of books for my oldest son because he just wanted to dig in more. He's the one who reads every single placard at a museum or on a walking tour. He's going to be schooling all of us pretty soon.

Angie:

Last, but not least, if you want to drink like a local outside of the whiskeys we talked about in the last episode, what's in your glass, pint, or teacup?

Keryn:

Something that's coming up that I love is gin distilleries. They’re really making a comeback.

Angie:

What kind of beer do folks drink in Northern Ireland?

Keryn:

Guinness is the king of stout in Ireland. Everybody we saw, if they were drinking a stout, it was Guinness. You can still get ales and lagers and everything, but yeah, that's the king of beers over there. You got to have a cup of tea while you're there, too.

Angie:

Do they drink tea differently in Northern Ireland than the rest of the British Isles or is it pretty similar? Do they take it with milk?

Keryn:

I do milk and sugar with my Irish breakfast tea.

Angie:

I do that when I'm there. When I'm here, no milk.

Keryn Means, thank you for joining us, and thank you to our listeners for being with us.

If you're planning a trip, be sure to connect with a AAA Travel Advisor, check out AAA.com/travel, or visit your local branch. This podcast is a production of Auto Club Enterprises. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe and leave us a review. I'm Angie Orth, thank you for traveling with AAA.