“IF YOU ever go across the sea to Ireland, be it only at the closing of the day” is the opening lyric of the well-loved Irish song “Galway Bay” written by an Irish physician Dr. Arthur Colahan in the 1940s and recorded in 1947 by the legendary American crooner Bing Crosby. It has been covered many times, including versions by Johnny Cash and the Dubliners.
In the 19th century, Hartlepool welcomed the migration of Irish workers to the town during a period of rapid expansion in the shipyards and steelworks. The demand could not be met by town labour and families from Ireland, escaping the catastrophic period of the Great Famine and economic hardship, crossed the sea to find work. The West Hartlepool Docks opened in 1847 and Jackson Dock in 1852 – in the main, due to the efforts of Irish workers who excavated and built these structures. Today, many residents of Hartlepool are proud of their Irish roots and may have visited the Republic, as I have on three occasions.
My first excursion was by sea from Fishguard to Rosslare which today costs between £40-60 return by ferry – remembering to add the cost of getting to Wales and back! I crossed twice in one week – a journey I would rather forget! Much more civilised is to fly via Ryanair who, in May 2026, offered the one hour flight for as little as £30 return to Dublin.
Dublin is a popular destination for stag and hen do’s but the city has lots more to offer, other than a pint of Guinness and music venues. One of the most iconic is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, built in 1191, and the General Post Office (GPO), the headquarters of the 1916 Easter Rising. Visitors can still see the bullet holes in the outside walls of the building. The number one attraction, which I visited, was the Guinness Storehouse, dedicated to the story of the world famous drink with a tour that ends with a complimentary pint of the black stuff in the Gravity Bar which has a 360-degree panorama of Dublin. A second cultural visit was to the Jameson’s Whiskey Distillery where you can take a tour and observe how one of the world’s most famous whiskeys is made.
Temple Bar is the heart of the cultural quarter – noted for its lively atmosphere and traditional pubs which offer live music every night. Irish music is both historical and entertaining with such foot stomping numbers as “The Irish Rover”, “Fields of Athenry” – written by Pete St. John in 1979 – and tells the story of a man who steals food for his starving family during the Great Famine and is sentenced to deportation. You will often hear it sung at Anfield and Irish supporters worldwide.
My own particular cover is by the aptly named Dubliners who sang another favourite of mine “Seven Drunken Nights”. They will be on tour in the UK in May 2026 at Southport, Doncaster and Blackpool before embarking on a Down Under tour in June and July 2026. Other bands appearing in the Irish capital include The Fureys, in May, and a December gig at the 03 arena billed as “Celtic Punk”.
Indie Rock band Snow Patrol are appearing in Dublin in late May at St. Anne’s Park and other popular artists are scheduled to perform in the capital.
.For those travelling with children, Dublin Zoo may keep them occupied with more than 400 animals on display or the National Leprechaun Museum which is a fun and interesting venue that looks into Irish mythology, folklore – telling stories of leprechauns, fairies and other mythical creatures. For visitors on a tight budget, some of Dublin’s attractions are free including the National Museum of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and St. Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park.
My next trip across the sea to Ireland, found me heading to Cork to visit friends I had met in The Claddagh Irish bar, Los Cristianos in Tenerife.
Author: John
Author of Around The World In 80 Years