TikTokAs we're in the summer season, we wanted to spotlight and focus on Irish creators who share travel content in Ireland and abroad on the platform. With #visitireland having 73m+ million views and #traveltok close to 12B billion views, TikTok is becoming the go-to source of inspiration for the best travel destinations in Ireland and abroad. We recently sat down with popular Irish creator @eadaoinfitzmaurice to chat about all things travel content, her favourite places to visit and her experience recently walking the Camino De Santiago in Spain.
Q: How did you develop a passion for travel, and what motivated you to share it on TikTok specifically?
A: I've always been passionate about travel. My parents travelled a lot when they were younger and then passed this grá onto us by bringing us on fun family trips as kids. When I was five years old we did a house swap with a family in Australia. As soon as I was old enough to get a camera in my hands I was packing one in my suitcase to document my trips. During college, I started travelling more whenever I had free time. I'm one of those people who won't go home from one trip without booking another. TikTok is my go-to search engine for the best things to see, do and eat whenever I book a trip, so it feels only natural to share my own travel content there too. I love recommending my top tips to my audience; it's a personal bonus that my content is loaded with great memories to look back on whenever I'm scrolling through my profile.
Q: What made you want to start exploring Ireland and the rest of the world?
A: When my boyfriend and I first started dating we got a campervan, which led to lots of adventures around Ireland. COVID made everyone stop and realise how beautiful our own country is. I spent the first lockdown with a group of friends in Belmullet, Co. Mayo. Both of these adventures ignited my interest in exploring more of my own country, instead of booking flights. I love learning and travel opens your eyes to new histories, cultures, and cuisines. Last year, I did a three-month stint around Central and South America, visiting seven countries. It’s something I always wanted to do and had been saving for since college. It was everything I hoped it would be. I still tell stories about my trip at any given opportunity.
Q: What are the places you think are a must-see in Ireland that are sometimes overlooked?
A: Sligo is very underrated and has a real magic to it. You’ve got the rugged coastlines - making it super popular for surfing - as well as unique landscapes like Benbulbin. A lot of Irish mythology is based in Sligo too. Queen Maeve is buried upright at Knocknarea, which is a beautiful hike and Diarmuid and Gráinne’s cave can be found at the Gleniff Horseshoe. I’m a huge foodie and Sligo ticks that box too. Try Stoked for seafood tapas, Flipside for burgers and Sweetbeat for vegan brunch!
Q: You recently walked the Camino de Santiago and shared your journey on TikTok. What advice would you have for others thinking of walking the Camino?
A: The Camino is something I wish everyone would try at least once in their lifetime. It’s such an incredible experience. I did the Portuguese route last year with my parents and went with The Hike Life on the French Way this year. I’ve promised myself to book it every year going forward. My main advice is to take time to walk a leg of the journey alone. This will give you headspace to think about life and set intentions for when you come home. It’s a mental journey as well as a physical one. It’s amazing to see how far you can go and what you’re body is capable of. Cover those feet in Vaseline every morning before walking to prevent blisters!
Q: Alongside travel, you also share your favourite date night ideas and locations in Dublin. What is your favourite date night location in Dublin?
What a question! I love activity-based date nights. We did a pottery class recently in This Must Be The Place in Temple Bar, which I loved. Head to Terra Madre afterwards for some delicious authentic pasta and finish up the evening in Bar 1661 for the best cocktails in the country!
Q: What is your favourite TikTok you have made to date and why?
A: That feels like Sophie’s choice. One of my most recent viral videos is “Six places I’d take you if it was your first time in Dublin” which has done pretty well! As this video got such a good response I've turned it into a series. This week I posted "Six places I'd take you for food if it was your first time in Dublin" and next week I'll be posting "Six places I'd take you if it was your first time in Ireland". They're my favourite kind of videos, they leave a legacy and also inspire a new narrative!
Q: Which other TikTok creators inspire you?
I'm the biggest fan of @steven! His podcast trailers on TikTok are the best in the game. I launched my very own podcast this year called "Going Viral", which dives into the world of social media, influencers and content creation. I hope one day my podcast can get to the level of "Diary of a CEO".
Q: What's the best thing about being a TikTok travel creator?
Definitely seeing people go to the places I reccomend and have a great experience there. I'm very selective about the places I share. Unless I think it's of a really high standard, I won't share it. So when someone who saw my video tells me they loved the place I shared, that brings me so much joy.
Q: Can you share any memorable moments or experiences that have happened during your travels as a result of your TikTok journey?
I was at a festival in Dingle once and this guy ran up to me and was like "OMG I have to say hello to you because I lived in Vietnam for years and really missed the pho there and couldn't find anything close to it in Ireland until you posted a video about a place in Dublin and I nearly cried with happiness when I tasted it, it was exactly like the pho I used to have." He gave me a big hug and we took a photo together. A really lovely moment. When I was in Guatemala someone saw my videos and wrote to me on Tiktok recomending I go to a Mayan birth chart reading. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. She told me about my characteristics, my past, present and future. I was bawling crying by the end, it felt like therapy!
Q: Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring travel content creators who want to start sharing their experiences on TikTok?
Don't live in the "what if". If this is something you want to do: start. The more videos you shoot and edit, the sooner you'll perfect your craft and find a unique digital presence that people will come back for. TikTok is such a fun platform with endless possibilities for content. Try out everything. Over time, you'll find yourself drawn to a particular style or niche.
