Travel writer Holly Clarke booked a £15 Ryanair flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Shannon, Ireland, which turned into one of the best weekends of her life. The return flight also cost £15, making a total of £30 for the trip.
Spontaneous Purchase Leads to Adventure
Clarke, who regularly searches for cheap deals, found the flight while browsing online. She departed on a Friday afternoon for the 50-minute flight to Shannon, located in County Clare on Ireland's west coast. She and her boyfriend planned a weekend of sightseeing, including exploring Ennis, the county's main town, and the Wild Atlantic Way.
Exploring County Clare
On Friday night, they visited local pubs in Ennis and ate fish and chips at Brogan's Bar and Restaurant. Clarke enjoyed a West Coast Cooler, a drink she had not seen in England. On Saturday, they hired a car and drove to Lahinch, a coastal town on Liscannor Bay, where they strolled on the beach and watched paddle-boarders. In the afternoon, they attended a hurling match in Tipperary to experience traditional Gaelic sport.
Cliffs of Moher and Return
Sunday was spent at the Cliffs of Moher, a natural landmark rising 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, often featured in films and TV shows. They explored the cliffs and visited the gift shop before returning to Ennis for food and drinks. Clarke noted that the towns were filled with American tourists. They flew back to Liverpool on Sunday evening, landing at 10pm, and Clarke was back at work by 9am Monday.
Clarke highly recommends the west coast of Ireland for its beautiful scenery, sightseeing opportunities, and relaxed pub evenings. Flights from Liverpool to Shannon take about one hour with Ryanair.
