11 Misadventures You Must Have To Truly Experience Ireland

How much trouble can you raise on a travel visa? Be sure to raise a glass of Tullamore D.E.W. with the locals.

1. Cross the city of Dublin without passing a pub.

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nicholas belton / gettyimages.com

This famous challenge from James Joyce is apparently possible. If you get frustrated during your attempt, you could always just call it a day and head inside for a pint.

2. Join a pick-up game of hurling.

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Known as the fastest game on grass, hurling is a field hockey sport with over 3,000 years of Gaelic heritage. Use your hands and your club to move the leather ball down the pitch and into the goal. Good luck — the sport is fast and physical.

3. Attend the World Bog Snorkelling Championships.

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Put fins on Michael Phelps, force him to swim down a muddy trench and back, and don't let him use his hands — that is the incredible feat called bog snorkelling. Think you've got what it takes to compeat? (Get it, they're peat bogs.)

4. Head to Connemara and run a Connemarathon.

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The Connemara region is one of the most beautiful and unsullied natural preserves on earth. What better way to enjoy it than with a long and punny run. The Connemarathon offers just that, and a variety of distances for all skill levels.

5. Meet Rory in Donegal.

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Rory Gallagher is one of the greatest blues guitarists ever to pick up a plectrum. The annual Rory Gallagher Festival of blues, rock, and clinking glasses in Rory's hometown of Ballyshannon, county Donegal, is known by people across Ireland as one of the best weekends of the summer. Who knows what mischief you can make...

6. Challenge a local to a game of Conkers.

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Conkers is a game of skill in which two players take turns swinging their conker (a chestnut on a rope) at the other player's conker. The first player to crack the other nut wins. It sounds simple, but there's plenty of strategy involved. Of course, putting a little money on the match will make things interesting...

7. Climb Croagh Patrick barefoot to atone for sins.

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Have you been up to no good? Do as the pilgrims do and climb the 2,500-foot-high Croagh Patrick barefoot on Reek Sunday. We can't spoil the view for you, but trust us: It's incredible. Worth a few blisters, we'd say.

8. Have a Bloomsday stroll.

Bloomsday is a holiday in which Dubliners reenact the events of Joyce's Ulysses. Avoid the usual touristy stuff and hit Sweny's Pharmacy for lunchtime reading — the shop hasn't changed since Ulysses — then head out to Rathgar, the leafy suburb Joyce once called home, and promenade among all the locals in period dress.

9. Take a REAL small-town festival by storm.

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Check out the Boley Fair, a tiny village festival in Hilltown, County Down. There you can enjoy piglet racing, tractor reversing competitions, and lots of other crazy country antics. The pubs are all open, families are out in force, and good times are had by all.

10. Complete the Ring of Kerry... in one day.

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The Kerry Way is a walkable 143-mile trail through the beautiful Irish countryside that brings you among Gaelic ruins, scenic lakes and bays, and towering vistas. The entire route can be completed in a single day (if you do a little hitchhiking).

11. Lastly: Pee on the Blarney Stone.

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Blarney Castle is a world-famous destination, but beware: Locals do not kiss the stone; they pee on it. You don't have to add your mark, but for goodness' sake, don't touch your lips to that thing.

Of course, no trip to Ireland is complete without touring the Tullamore Distillery.

Wander through town to find the original distillery gates, tour the distillery visitors centre to learn Tullamore's history, then head over to The Brewery Tap Pub, where every man gets his D.E.W. Share a photo of your misadventures on the Éire or abroad on Twitter or our Facebook page using #PartingGlass.