Visiting Athlone - The Emerald Isle - Dune Jewelry

Lauren, our National Sand Artist and Boston native, went on a road trip of Ireland last March with a convoy of close friends. With the help of Dune Jewelry, she wanted to share with you her memories of the Emerald Isle along with a How-To guide of what to do and what to wear. This week we feature Athlone is Lauren’s The Road Less Traveled.

Day 1 of our road trip began with a healthy dose of Murphy’s Law. For starters, our group was unfortunately separated, staying in different hotels. Then there was no coffee. Then no one knew where Trim Castle was, our first planned stop of the day. Then even our GPS didn’t know where Trim Castle was. So, my car decided to “trim” out the Castle and head to Galway.

My co-pilot and navigator, Ted, led us first to Athlone, the largest town in the Midlands of Ireland, nestled on the Shannon River. As we looked for a place to park, the colorful buildings and beautiful shops were eye-catching.

Athlone The shopping in Athlone was bountiful. At Burgess Department Store I found a beautiful retro flower patterned dress with all of this seasons top colors. It was the perfect dress for any family event or a nice night on the town, and it did not break my budget. The women behind the counter expressed how impressed they were when I so confidently selected the dress off the rack. I just knew immediately it was a ‘must-have’ piece for my wardrobe. Then they recommended a great pub around the corner. A pub, they said, that could not be missed by anyone visiting Athlone.

Sean’s Bar is touted as the oldest bar in Ireland. Founded in 900 A.D., the ceilings are low, the wood stove burning with history, and they serve the freshest pint of Guinness any of us had ever had. While enjoying our afternoon pint we met Connor, a horse breeder from Athlone. Connor was super friendly and gave us a true glimpse into the life of the Irish. Connor, it turns out, had also traveled several times to Boston, my home town. But the funny thing was, while there, he frequented my absolute favorite haunt, The Irish Village. How small our world seems when you travel.

Athlone After Sean’s Bar, we decided to get lunch at, appropriately, Murphy’s Law, then took a stroll around Burgess Park before getting on our way to Galway. I collected sand from the banks while watching the locals enjoy some unseasonably beautiful weather. Looking at Athlone Castle by the Bridge that marks the center of town, with the water rushing, and my beautiful new dress in my bag, I knew this was a day I wouldn’t want to forget.

With the dark and textured nature of the sand from Burgess Park, I decided to memorialize our spontaneous day with Dune’s Gold Inlet Cuff. The gold compliments the beige, grays, and browns of the sand, but also goes so well with the colors in my dress! I can’t wait to wear both on the streets of Boston with a pair of strappy sandals and wind-blown curly hair. I couldn’t think of a better, or more stylish way to keep my memories of our trip to Athlone close to heart.