Mountain walks, sightseeing and trips away are all on my agenda for 2019, so a recent getaway to Galway with my main gal was the perfect way to kickstart my plan.
Rightly known for being one of the buzziest cities in Ireland, Galway has an incredible food scene and its nightlife will make even the best night you've had in Dublin look completely shite in comparison.
Plus, the fact that it's either a train trip or reasonably short drive from Dublin means the inevitable hangover the next day on the journey home won't be too tough. Unreal.
Thinking of a li'l trip to Galway? Here's what should be on your to-do list:
Make a detour to the Cliffs of Moher along the way... C'mon, at least see some scenery before you hit the cocktails.
Stretching a huge 14 kilometres along the coast and rising 120 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, it's a crime the amount of Irish people who haven't seen these cliffs. Up until last weekend, I was one of them and I can't believe I've lived here for 24 years without seeing the Cliffs of Moher.
Top tip: for the love of God, put your Google Maps on. We were basically in Galway city before we copped that the Cliffs of Moher are in fact a good hour and a half away from G-town. Scenic route, eh?
Where to stay? The House Hotel is a boutique little gem with a buzzy atmosphere that's ideal for a girlie weekend
Pink sofas, chandeliers and a cocktail bar? The House Hotel is like a grown-up girlie dream. The four-star hotel is smack bang in the Latin Quarter so you're mere a tip toe from a heap of bars and restaurants.
We stayed in the hotel suite (€149 for B&B) which made getting ready for our night out extra fun: Orla Kiely products in the bathroom, a dressing table with perfect make-up application lighting and a huge cosy bed to fall into later on.
Considering it's so central, the House Hotel is surprisingly reasonable - they're currently doing a cocktail getaway package which includes an overnight stay in a deluxe room and a cocktail from €55 per person.
Sharing plates of gorgeous Irish food and a lush bottle of wine at Tartare will kick things off
The little sister of beloved Aniar by JP McMahon, Tartare has become the hot new spot in Galway of late.
A café by day and a hip wine bar night, there's a tempting wine menu with plates of oysters, Dexter beef, pickled fish and cured meat and artisan cheese boards. The menu is sorta like Irish-style tapas, so there's a constant rotation of food coming out as you sip on your wine.
We went with the pickled mussels with dillisk and pickled burnt cauliflower with sheep's yoghurt to begin with (maybe not the best choice to get two pickled dishes at the same time, FYI, as they're really pickled), followed by a Dexter brisket with onions and sour cream and salt baked beetroot with goat's curd and hazelnut.
A small meat and charcuterie board to finish 'cos we are greedy guts came with seaweed crackers - airy little crispy pockets of flavour - Durrus cheese, Cratloe sheep's cheese, wooded pig salami and Dexter salami.
The staff are SO sound and will answer any questions you might have about what to order. Tartare reminded me of a little wine bar I used to live beside in Brooklyn so I was happy out. Fan of red wine? Get the Roka Blaufraenkisch, a delish cherry-like vino made by an Irish couple living in Slovenia.
Dinner for two came to €89.50 not including tip.
The night really gets going in Tigh Nora with a tipple of one of their 187 varieties of gin
Yep, 187. Tigh Nora has gins from all over the world and their gin menu alone is over 30 pages long.
An intimate venue adjoined to The Front Door Pub, stepping in here is like stepping back to the Roaring '20s and the decor is fabulously plush with dark wood and hidden little alcoves.
Their Wild Atlantic Way cocktail is TO DIE FOR. Dingle Gin, Pinot Grigio, Violette Liqueur, lemon juice & peach purée for less than a tenner? We defy you not to gulp these down all evening...
A boozy brunch the next morning at the Front Door will cure even the sorest of heads
It's not often that you can return to the scene of the crime the next morning and find it completely transformed, but brunch at the Front Door is a real treat. Through bleary eyes quaff down one of their Boozy Brunch cocktails for liq-cure (the Breakfast Martini) or go for a refreshing strawberry, lemon and basil mocktail.
I got the Hangover Helper, a droolworthy bap consisting of a fried egg, gouda cheese, cheese, crispy bacon, crushed avocado spread & chipotle aioli on a toasted brioche bun served with house fried potatoes & salad.
A classic BLT was another winner - a tough choice from menu options including American pancakes with clotted cream, panko crusted crab cakes or a brunch pizza.
Stuffed to the brim and with some sure-to-be gas memories from the weekend, you can be home tucked up in bed by that evening with just the slightest does of some Sunday fear.
Now, doesn't that sound way better than doing nothing all weekend?
