Planning a trip to Donegal, Ireland? Local fiddler Tara Connaghan shares where to hear real Irish music, see the Northern Lights and escape the tourist crowds.

Donegal is Ireland's wild northwest corner: fewer tourists, friendly locals and some of the best traditional music on the island. Paula chats with Tara Connaghan, a professional fiddle player, tour guide and podcaster from Glenties, about why serendipity is the best plan in Donegal, how to find an authentic Irish music session (and the etiquette visitors need to know), and where she'd take a friend for three days.

IN THIS EPISODE
• Why you drive through Northern Ireland to reach Donegal
• Best time to visit: September and May
• Northern Lights and rare moonbows in Ireland
• Why you need a car in Donegal
• Finding trad music sessions and session etiquette
• Irish dancing explained: sean-nos, step, ceili and set dancing
• Is Donegal safe for solo travellers?
• A 3-day itinerary: Arranmore Island, Sliabh Liag cliffs, Donegal Town
• The Irish whiskey revival, Donegal tweed and Hanna Hats (as worn in Peaky Blinders)
• Little Mamma's Gelato and the half-tub ice cream story

READ MORE ABOUT DONEGAL
Ultimate Guide to Donegal
Things to Do in Donegal Town (incl. Little Mamma's Gelato):
Things to Do in Letterkenny
Best Day Trips from Letterkenny

Connect with Tara.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarafiddle/
• Website: https://www.sessionetiquette.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SessionEtiquette

Some links are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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🎙️ Abrotha Abroad
abrothaabroad.com

Real, honest conversations about what life abroad actually looks like — the culture shocks, the pivots, and the personal reinvention that comes with it. Host Al B, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran now based in Belgium, talks to expats who've built lives beyond their home country. If you're thinking about making the leap, this one's for you. Available wherever you listen to

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Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂

Scared to travel alone after 50? So was I. From hiding in a hotel at 21 to driving Sicily solo, here's how I learned to love solo travel, plus my safety tips.

This week it's just me, and it's personal. I share how I went from eating dinner alone in my hotel room to making solo dinners my favourite part of any trip. I also cover the fears that nearly stopped me: my age, loneliness and safety.

IN THIS EPISODE
- The scary night in Wales at 21 that put me off solo travel for years
- My first real solo trip: jet lag, rain and big trucks on the drive to upstate New York
- Hauling four months of luggage over Sicily's cobblestones, and the backpack trick that fixed it
- Walking the Camino alone and finding out I'm never really alone
- A late-night taxi in Istanbul and the fake phone call I made
- The apps and habits that keep me safe: TripIt, a printed itinerary, eSIMs, a VPN, sharing my ride-hail tracking, and only one earbud in
- What solo travel taught me about not giving up

MY TIPS IF YOU'RE NERVOUS ABOUT YOUR FIRST SOLO TRIP
1. Start small: book a weekend away close to home.
2. Join a tour with people your own age and pace.
3. If your first trip goes wrong, give it another go. It usually clicks on the second or third trip.

TRAVEL WITH ME
I host small-group trips for women over 50. My Taiwan trip this October has a few spots left. Taiwan was the first place I lived outside Australia, 19 years ago. A Bhutan trip for couples is planned for April/May next year. Get in touch to find out more.

Safe travels and until next time!

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🎙️ Abrotha Abroad
abrothaabroad.com

Real, honest conversations about what life abroad actually looks like — the culture shocks, the pivots, and the personal reinvention that comes with it. Host Al B, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran now based in Belgium, talks to expats who've built lives beyond their home country. If you're thinking about making the leap, this one's for you. Available wherever you listen to

Find me on:

Website: Truly Expat Travel

Facebook: Truly Expat

Instagram: Truly Expat Travel

TikTok: Truly Expat Travel

Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂

If you've ever been cruise-curious but didn't know where to start, this episode is for you. Shannon and Anne from Travel Time Stories with Shannon have cruised everything from Alaska to Iceland and they're sharing the insider knowledge that most people only learn after their fourth or fifth sailing — including how they scored a 12-night cruise to Ireland, Scotland and Iceland for just $250 each.

We cover the real cost of cruising (spoiler: it's way cheaper than you think), how to get free cruise offers without being a high roller, why you should never book a cruise shorter than 7 days, and the packing hacks that mean you'll never need more than a carry-on. Plus: the truth about drink packages, booking excursions through locals instead of the cruise line, and which cruise size actually gives you the best experience.

🚢 Want to cruise with Shannon & Anne? They're hosting their first-ever group cruise — March 14–21, 2027 on Princess Cruise Lines from San Juan, Puerto Rico, stopping at Tortola, St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada & Barbados. Only 6 cabins left. Deposit is just $250 per person, with the balance due December 15, 2026.

Connect with Shannon & Anne:

• Website & podcast: traveltimestories.com
• Email: traveltimestorieswithshannon@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail

🎙️ Abrotha Abroad
abrothaabroad.com

Real, honest conversations about what life abroad actually looks like — the culture shocks, the pivots, and the personal reinvention that comes with it. Host Al B, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran now based in Belgium, talks to expats who've built lives beyond their home country. If you're thinking about making the leap, this one's for you. Available wherever you listen to

Help Truly Expat Travel by leaving a review or making a donation

Here is the link - https://buymeacoffee.com/trulyexpat

Find me on:

Website: Truly Expat Travel

Facebook: Truly Expat

Instagram: Truly Expat Travel

TikTok: Truly Expat Travel

Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂