Ireland

There are many reasons why people travel. While often it is to experience an unfamiliar culture, people also travel to discover one’s own. It is important for some people to discover their own heritage because it gives them a sense of identity and belonging, especially if they grew up in a country that is a melting pot of various other cultures such as America. Even though I was born and raised in the United States, I feel more of a belonging and nationalism towards the country of my Irish ancestors than America itself. I find it interesting that I feel more of a tie to a country that I have never been to than to the country I have lived in for my entire life.

The island of Ireland lies to the east of Great Britain and is divided into two jurisdictions: Ireland and Northern Ireland, which belongs to the United Kingdom. Because of its physical separation from the rest of Europe Ireland has a very old and preserved history, which has now become a huge tourist attraction. The countries modern growth of urban centers are contrasted with other parts that remain largely untouched by modern urbanity. The islands traditional values combined with a growing economy led to Ireland being named the best place to live based on quality of life in 2005 by the Economist magazine.

Whether my curiosity with traveling to Ireland is based on family history or a romantic notion, it is a country that should visited for its unique culture and history. Whether to expand ones experiences, to pick up a new cultural aesthetic, or simply to find ones family origin, traveling for the discovery of culture is way for a designer to find something new. Visiting Ireland would be a personal travel of self-discovery that I feel is important for every designer.