To get ready for the trip I began reading How the Irish Saved Civilization, which describes how Irish monks sitting in beehive huts painstakingly and lovingly copied the great classical manuscripts.

When the rest of Europe was overrun with barbarian hordes, this rainy, out-of-the-way island was quietly making all the difference.

It’s exciting that we’re actually going to see some of these beehive huts on the Dingle Peninsula and on the island of Inishmore, two of the stops we’re making.

But first … there’s more packing to be done.

Next stop, Dublin!