From Dublin to Midleton: Traveling Across Ireland for Good Whiskey

We traveled across the world to see something wonderful. It only made sense to start with the most wonderful whiskey, Jameson.

After beginning our morning in Dallas, we were ready to start our 6-week long backpacking trip. We arrived in Dublin at 8:30 am, a mere 21 hours later. Our cost-effective travel plans meant that we had been on three airplanes with only short pauses in between; needless to say, no sleep affected us more than expected. Honestly, we dramatically underestimated the impact of travel sickness and exhaustion. We DO NOT recommend keeping such a tight schedule. Between customs, immigration, and flight delays, we barely made our 12:00 train in time. Despite exhaustion and the weight of a 40 lb. backpack, we made our reservations!

The train from Dublin to Cork is roughly 2.5 hours and it’s worth every single minute! The Irish countryside is absolutely serene. Endless pastures of gorgeous green grass, filled with sheep and cows that couldn’t look happier. Each piece of land has their own quaint country farmhouse, usually with its own pond or forested outcropping. The sky was mostly cloudy and wet but every now and then the sun would briefly peak through clouds, giving everything a heavenly quality.

We made small talk on the first train with two very nice people. They told us tons of historical tales that we were sadly too tired to remember. They left us half way through the trip so we propped ourselves up and allowed our excitement to fuel us through exhaustion. We arrived at Kent Station two hours before our train to Middleton so we decided to walk around.

A Brief Moment in Cork

The parking lot of Kent Station is a little intense to exit but there’s tons of beautiful views and small businesses nearby to check out. We found a tavern that was the epitome of everything we hoped for when we went looking for a drink. The Station View Tavern can be found directly across the street on Lower Glanmire Rd. The building itself was established in the late 1880’s and the bartender had been there for decades. We enjoyed a well-earned shot of Jameson, chasing them with a perfectly poured glass of Guinness. The rest of time was spent enjoying the waterside walkways of Penrose Wharf.

Kent Station is fairly small and easy to navigate, getting to the right train is no trouble. Midleton is a quick 20-minute train ride, there are usually plenty of seats, and the tickets prices are very affordable. We were able to get tickets that day with no reservations for only €5.50 each. Before we left The States, we had made arrangements with our Couchsurfing host to pick us up from the station once we arrived.

Arriving in Quiet Midleton

The station in Midleton is located pretty central to the city and only 15-minute walk from the Jameson Distillery. Midleton is technically a suburb within the Cork area yet it has its own small-town feel. The streets are lined with quaint housing, some above business storefronts, each with their own specialty. Our host was from Eastern Europe, she had lived there with her child for over 10 years. She lived in a narrow but spacious walk up off the main Mill Rd with a large living room and two small rooms on the top floor. The weather was chilly and rainy, we were relieved to get out of backpacks and get something to eat. It turns out we were sharing a twin bed in her 7-year old’s room. Honestly even the cold floor would have been heaven.

Our host preferred to stay in so we decided to walk the streets until we found food. Similar to small towns everywhere else, most of the businesses were beginning to close when we arrived near sundown. The streets were already beginning to empty, but luckily there was a charming looking restaurant just a few blocks away. We walked into The Mill Wheel to find an incredibly warm atmosphere filled with the smell of delicious, flavorful food. Although the décor indicated fine dining, the prices were very reasonable.

This was technically our first day of our backpacking trip; we had 6 whole weeks to plan and budget for. We chose to share the special: Marinated pork shank with creamy potatoes and julienne vegetables. It was genuinely one of the best meals we have ever had in our entire lives!! The meat was so tender and flavorful, the hearty juice surrounding the plate pushed everything to the next level. We got an entree and salad for less than €25.

After having the perfect meal, it was time to finally rest. We had been awake for over 24 straight hours and we were ready to pass out completely. We headed to our spot, straight to bed. That twin bed with Ironman sheets never looked so good! We fell asleep talking about how lucky we were and how excited we were to see the Old Jameson Distillery the next day.

Have you ever had the perfect meal in the perfect spot? Tell us all about it in the comments below.