What if I told you there’s a quaint little town named Balbriggan, located on the east coast of Ireland, where the air is clean, the food is fresh, and the grass is the greenest you’ve ever seen? A beautiful town where you could walk to the beach and ride your bicycle along the coast. “Balbriggan?” You say. “Never heard of it!”

Yes, Balbriggan. This little town seems like the perfect place to raise a family, with its tranquil ambiance, beautiful beach, and residential areas clustered together to form the perfect neighborhood, just walking distance to a playground for the little ones. The people are courteous and friendly and go out of their way to help you (and each other). “But Balbriggan? How did you ever come across Balbriggan?”

Truth be told, I never heard about Balbriggan, Ireland until a few years ago, when my sister-in-law moved there.  I know she and her family absolutely love it. We stayed with them for a few days while we were in Ireland, and honestly, it’s grown on me and now I love it too … to the point where I actually thought about living there for  a while (until I remembered how cold it gets in Ireland).

Well, what is it about Balbriggan that makes it so special? For me, I think it’s the simple, peaceful life. Everything and everyone were so easy-going. It’s also the strong element of family and community living. The fact that we have family there obviously plays a huge factor. My sister-in-law and her husband were the best hosts and my son had a blast playing with his cousins. You know, I think it was something as simple as watching my son run around with his cousin in the beautiful green grass that ignited the spark. The way he laughed and ran, he was so free! Walking along the beach and watching parents bike along the pathway with their children also had something to do with it.

I really loved seeing the neighborhood children play together outside, it reminded me of my own childhood back home in Jamaica. Not to mention the fact that we could get fresh milk and eggs, and you don’t see any “organic” labels because all the food is organic (it’s just the norm). Everything seemed so simple and right … away from the hustle and bustle. I know this sounds like many places around the world (including parts of my home country). But this was a little unique for me because, well, it was just different. Perhaps it’s just the novelty of it all.

“Well what is there to do in Balbriggan?” Glad you asked! There are quite a few things to do in this quaint little town, whether you are passing through on your way to another part of Ireland, or relocating for a different lifestyle. Here are my favorites:

1. Explore the Neighborhood

One of my favorite things about Balbriggan is that it’s a perfect place to explore and spend time with family. If you have kids, make sure you check out the playground.  There’s also a lot of green space for picnics or simply for kids to run around and play. You can explore the town itself and walk around the commercial area to check out the stores and restaurants. Make sure you stop at Papagallino’s for some delicious ice cream.

2. Balbriggan Beach

We took a drive to Balbriggan Beach one day, where we spent most of the afternoon. Balbriggan Beach is probably my favorite part of Balbriggan. We strolled along the beach and listened to the waves, which was entirely relaxing. It was so calm and peaceful. I saw quite a few families taking walks together and others riding bikes with their children along the path. The view itself is breathtaking. We spent quite a bit of time admiring the scenery. Hopefully next time, I’ll get to see some seals.

I got a great shot of the Martello tower (a small defensive fort built by the British back in the day). If you get the opportunity to visit Balbriggan Beach, you can’t miss it!

3. Ardgillian Castle

Another must-see in Balbriggan is Ardgillian Castle. Ardgillian Castle is a beautiful country-styled house with “castellated embellishments”, located on 200 acres of open grassland. It is situated on an elevated coastline so it overlooks Balbriggan Beach. Needless to say, the views from the castle are breathtaking.

These were my favorite places in Balbriggan. There are other sites worth seeing but we did not have time. When we visit again, I might try to see Four Knocks and Baldongan Castle, both of which are located nearby.

If you’ve been in Balbriggan for a while and start to miss the hustle and bustle of city life, Dublin is only a 40-minute ride away via the Irish rail. Just hop on the train at Balbriggan station, take the train to Connolly station, and enjoy the views along the way. You could also take a train to visit Skerries, Drogheda, and other nearby Irish towns.

Would I still be so drawn to Balbriggan if I didn’t have family there? Not sure, but I’m leaning towards yes. The real question is would I have ever visited Balbriggan in the first place were it not for my family? Perhaps not. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say, “oh, I think I’ll go to Balbriggan, Ireland for my next vacation.” Which is a pity because it’s such a lovely place.

That said, Balbriggan may not appeal to the majority of my readers who go on short-term trips and vacations. If it does though, and you need a place to stay, you may want to check out the Bracken Court Hotel. On the other hand, if you are thinking of moving to another country to experience a new lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle and you don’t mind cold weather, you may want to consider Balbriggan, Ireland (especially if you have a family). If you do end up there, or if you’ve ever been, I would love to hear about your experience.

Cheers!