Tradition rediscovered: exploring Ireland with the Porsche Travel Experience

Huge cliffs on rugged coasts. Mystical islands surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Picturesque lakes amid stunning green landscapes. These panoramas are Ireland at its purest. Travellers discover surprising facets on their journey that one might not have expected. Time to experience the Emerald Isle with the Porsche Travel Experience.

The characteristic sound of a six-cylinder turbo engine (911 Turbo: Fuel consumption* combined (WLTP) 12.3 – 12.0 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions* combined (WLTP) 279 – 271 g/km, CO₂ class G , CO₂ class weighted combined G ) alongside notes of Irish folk music? That comparison would be a little too far-fetched. And yet: just a few bars are enough to make you feel at home. Like last night at the pub. Just moments after arrival, travellers feel immersed. And today the sound of the boxer engine in the rear accompanies the journey to the west.

911 Turbo, Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
Huge rock formations and raging water collide along the coastal road on the Wild Atlantic Way. The air is salty. The wind unique.
911 Turbo, Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
Hills and pastures gleam in countless shades of green that are simply captivating to behold.

In Ireland, the famous saying “it's not the destination, it's the journey” couldn't be more true – especially on the way to the Dingle Peninsula in south-west Ireland. Endless plateaus dotted with ancient monuments. At every turn, the fascination of Ireland takes on a new dimension. The Slea Head Drive – part of the Wild Atlantic Way – is considered the most beautiful scenic drive in the country. The roads are empty. The sky almost cloudless – not your typical Irish weather. Salty Atlantic air comes in through the open sunroof. Stunning views alternate with forts, rock formations and beehive huts. Herds of sheep are everywhere. They aren’t impressed by passing cars, they only have eyes for the lush grass. Left-hand traffic? You quickly get used to it in Dublin. And out here it's usually not an issue: many country roads only have one lane anyway. Oncoming traffic is rare. And if you do meet another vehicle on the way, you relax and give way to each other.

Past and present merge

In the Irish capital, past and present merge into a harmonious whole. Here long Georgian-style streets and modern architecture com­bine to create the unique flair of Dublin.

Balancing act: The Nancy Hands effort­lessly manages to unite the old and tradi­tional with the present. Dominic, the owner of one of the Irish capital's best-known pubs, combines old wood, raw brick and antiques with contemporary art. The food: delicious. It doesn't matter whether it's fish and chips, mussels or an Irish stew topped with a pie. Traditional pub food here surprises with creative twists.

Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
Pouring a Guinness takes time, because the froth has to settle first. Dom respects that when serving his guests the liquid Irish business card.

Dom is the soul of the Nancy Hands: ener­getic, talkative and friendly – the quintes­sential Irish host.

Just a stone's throw from the Guinness brewery, Dom loves it when the aroma of hops permeates the streets. You'd be hard-pressed to find a fresher Guinness. In contrast, the best whiskeys in the coun­try are a firm favourite in Dom's bar after years of ageing in oak barrels.“I started working in my cousin's pub when Iwas 15. My mother and Ilied about my age,” says Dom, laughing. “I worked there for two years. I loved what I was doing. After my studies and time abroad in France and Monaco, I came back to Dublin and finally took over the Nancy Hands.” That was 18 years ago. “Istill had hair back then,” Dom jokes. “But as they say in Ireland, ‘grass doesn't grow on a busy road’.”

Even if he runs one of the most traditional Irish pubs, time doesn’t stand still for Dom. “I don't like it being boring. I like new things,” he explains. That's why he sometimes allows a group of guests to use his pub for a whole evening. “We call it ‘Nancy in your hands’ – the guests can serve their own beer, play darts, throw rings, dance. The pub's in their hands and Iget a break. Every group is different and brings a breath of fresh air here. Ilove it,” says Dom enthusiastically.

Ireland's sweet side

On the way to the Wild Atlantic Way, the Porsche Travel Experience also stops at an unusual factory. Here one might have expected butter, wool or whiskey ... but chocolate? In the middle of the Burrens, a bizarre limestone landscape, John and his wife Kasha run the Hazel Mountain Chocolate company, the only bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the country. At first glance, this has nothing to do with tradi­tion. But take another look.

John Connolly, Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
Crucial for success: the right bean. John and Kasha import the best beans from small-scale local cocoa farmers.
911 Turbo, Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
Honoured by the renowned Academy of Chocolate and with the Great Taste Award, the factory is one of the top 10 culinary attractions in Ireland.
Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
In the in-house café, the chocolate and large selection of pralines or bars go particularly well with a cappuccino.

“My family has farmed this land for many generations. Nine years ago we finally dared to turn our idea into reality,” says John about the Irish chocolate paradise. John tends to be the strategist, overseeing the business and – most importantly – being the first to taste his wife's new treats. She is the master confectioner and choco­latier. “That's why it made sense for us to create our own creations from the best cocoa beans in the world and traditional Irish ingredients.” Refined with sea salt, hazelnuts, milk, herbs and even algae, the chocolates or pralines have their very own individual taste. Traditional yes, but with surprising influences from elsewhere – that could be the motto here. “Each bean has its own aroma,” John explains and lets his visitors smell cocoa beans from Venezuela, Mexico, Madagascar and Cuba. “We are supplied with whole beans and with a lot of passion and care, we process them into the finished bar or praline.” Reason enough for the Porsche Travel Experience to stop off at the adjoining café.

Woven with tradition – designed with rough edges

Guinness, whiskey and lush greenery are just as much a part of Ireland as the herds of sheep that you encounter everywhere. Their high-quality wool is used to create textiles that are renowned worldwide for their quality standards. Irish tweed in par­ticular has a long tradition. Two fashion designers from Galway bring a very modern interpretation to this traditional textile as showcased in their edgy collections.

Triona and Aoibheann founded The Tweed Project in 2014. “We saw a niche in the market for contemporary fashion made from Irish fabrics,” explains Triona, who actually designs costumes for film and tele­vision. “Our designs draw inspiration from the raw Irish nature, particularly the west of the country,” adds Aoibheann, who runs a restaurant alongside her work as a fashion designer.

Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
The Tweed Project only works with textile manufacturers based in Ireland. And the entrepreneurs create their fashion ensembles with tweed from the well-known wool region of Donegal, for example.
Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
With the current collection, Triona and Aoibheann wanted to create a contrast to the dreary years shaped by the coronavirus: bold colours and substantial patterns.
Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
The woven textiles are of high quality. Many are also suitable for cushion covers or other home accessories.
Porsche Travel Experience, Ireland, 2023, Porsche AG
The studio in Galway is also the showroom for the design duo's collections.

You can feel the balance between Irish tra­dition and modernity in their designs. “Every collection is distinct. We only do what we feel like doing,” explains Triona with regard to her slow fashion philosophy. All fabrics are hand-selected, each piece is made to order and meant to last a lifetime. “And we respond to the wishes and ideas of our cus­tomers. So every piece we create is unique.”

Info

Text first published in the Porsche magazine STORIES.

Author: Elisa Weber

Photos: Mathieu Bonnevie

Copyright: All images, videos and audio files published in this article are subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted without the written consent of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Please contact newsroom@porsche.com for further information.

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Consumption data

911 GT3 (2023)

WLTP*
  • 13.0 – 12.9 l/100 km
  • 294 – 293 g/km
  • G Class
  • G Class

911 GT3 (2023)

Fuel consumption* / Emissions*
Fuel consumption* combined (WLTP) 13.0 – 12.9 l/100 km
CO₂ emissions* combined (WLTP) 294 – 293 g/km
CO₂ class G
CO₂ class weighted combined G

911 GT3 Models

WLTP*
  • 13.2 – 12.9 l/100 km
  • 299 – 292 g/km
  • G Class
  • G Class

911 GT3 Models

Fuel consumption* / Emissions*
Fuel consumption* combined (WLTP) 13.2 – 12.9 l/100 km
CO₂ emissions* combined (WLTP) 299 – 292 g/km
CO₂ class G
CO₂ class weighted combined G

911 Turbo

WLTP*
  • 12.3 – 12.0 l/100 km
  • 279 – 271 g/km
  • G Class
  • G Class

911 Turbo

Fuel consumption* / Emissions*
Fuel consumption* combined (WLTP) 12.3 – 12.0 l/100 km
CO₂ emissions* combined (WLTP) 279 – 271 g/km
CO₂ class G
CO₂ class weighted combined G

911 Turbo S

WLTP*
  • 12.3 – 12.0 l/100 km
  • 278 – 271 g/km
  • G Class
  • G Class

911 Turbo S

Fuel consumption* / Emissions*
Fuel consumption* combined (WLTP) 12.3 – 12.0 l/100 km
CO₂ emissions* combined (WLTP) 278 – 271 g/km
CO₂ class G
CO₂ class weighted combined G