I Remember it Like it was yesterday...
August 2005. We had just finished a seven-month deployment in Iraq and were finally heading home. The last week had been spent in Kuwait, out-processing, turning in gear, and preparing to return to society after months in a war zone.
Finally, we had some downtime. It was summertime in Kuwait — hot, around 110 to 115 degrees every day. We spent that week doing everything that needed to be done: catching up on sleep, making trips to the PX, getting our uniforms washed and pressed, enjoying a few games of volleyball, and mentally preparing to go home.
The day finally arrived. We boarded our flight and headed west. We knew we would have to stop for fuel somewhere along the way, but we had no idea where. For the moment, there was nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the flight.
As we began our descent, there was a noticeable excitement in the air. We still didn’t know where we were, but one thing was immediately clear — there was no sand. Then it happened. We dropped below the clouds, and suddenly there was nothing but lush green grass, stone fences stretching as far as the eye could see, and sheep scattered across the countryside. It was breathtaking.
We were landing in Shannon, Ireland.
To say it was beautiful feels like an understatement. After months of desert heat, we were stepping into mid-60s temperatures, overcast skies, and a light drizzle. It felt like heaven. It was one of the most glorious sights I had ever seen.
As we descended, my first thought was of my family and how much I wished they could be there to experience this moment with me. I told myself, One day, I’m bringing them back here. As a young Petty Officer in the Navy, my budget certainly didn’t allow for a family trip to Ireland, but the dream was planted.
Little did I know, just sixteen months later, I would receive orders that placed me in London, England for the next three years. Assigned to the U.S. Embassy in London, I was also responsible for work at four other embassies and consulates — Edinburgh, Scotland; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Dublin and Belfast, Ireland.
My first trip back to Ireland was in May 2007, and it was just as beautiful as I remembered.
Later that year, my wife and daughters were finally able to join me. I worked during the day while they explored, but we were there together — something I had dreamed about since that first landing in Shannon.
Some of our favorite memories include enjoying Irish stew at a local pub, listening to live music, and walking across the Ha’Penny Bridge in downtown Dublin. Over those three years and many visits, we had the opportunity to explore so much of Ireland — the Cliffs of Moher, the Waterford Crystal Factory, Giant’s Causeway along the coast, and castle after castle.
Working in travel, people often ask me, “What’s your favorite place to go?” For me, the answer is easy. Ireland. The Emerald Isle. The Land of Saints and Scholars. The Land of a Thousand Welcomes.
It’s been several years since I’ve been back, but whenever I think of my time there, it brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. My wife and I have since welcomed a son and another daughter, and they haven’t yet experienced Ireland. Our middle daughter, who was only a year old during our last visit, hasn’t had the chance to remember it the way her older sisters do.
Is another visit in my future? Hopefully.
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If you listen closely, Ireland is calling your name.
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