Howth marks a change in my life because it represents the transformative power of traveling. I grew up my entire life hearing stories about family members that I never got to meet about their life in Ireland. I read their diaries and letters to my great grandmother explaining how their life differed, the good, the bad and the ugly. It was mostly always good things. I wanted to visit my entire life. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit my ancestors home in Kilkenny, Ireland, however the day trip, I took to Howth opened my eyes to all the letters, I read years before. It was different than the days before, I spent in Dublin. I saw the green hills described on old paper, and the beautiful water that remained calm. I loved being in Dublin, but the experience of being in Howth, truly changed me as a person.
If someone else were researching this place, they would most likely find it on social media. I became aware of Howth after binge watching multiple TikTok videos about "Things to do in Dublin." Howth is situated about an hour outside of Dublin, so it usually does not come up when you simply search for activities in the city. Instead, people would have to do some research to discover it.
Howth shows a change in personal drive. The train ride to Howth is only half the journey. Once you get there, you have to hike for about 30 minutes to just reach the general water area. On top of that, if you want to make it to the top of the mountain, it is about a two hour hike. I am not a hiker, nor am I the outdoorsy, adventurous type. However, it was worth every minute. My group regretted starting the hike at first, but for me, it gave me a connection - a connection to my ancestors and a beginners understanding of why the Irish value their soil. For my group, it gave them an amazing day outside of the city, exploring something they probably would have never done on their own. Making it to the top of the mountain felt incredible. It was an accomplishment.
Mapping Howth reveals the connection between geography and personal history. I may never have the chance to see exactly what my family wrote about through my own eyes. However, being in Howth gave me a reason to want to keep learning about that history.
