After over a year of near-constant travel from Longford to Dublin, Sarah Finnan has found a few things that make the commute easier – her McWilliams Holdall will always be number one though.
As an almost permanent resident on Irish Rail, my McWilliams Holdall has become a very trusted companion over the past thirteen months or so. It’s seen me through festivals, weekend getaways and more return trips from Longford to Dublin than I’d care to admit. I’m part of Generation Boomerang, you see – a twenty-something working professional who, faced with a tricky living situation and extortionate city centre rent prices, moved back in with her parents. It wasn’t my first choice of accommodation, but beggars can’t be choosers… I’m lucky my parents let me back in the front door at all!
Suffice to say, lying in my childhood bedroom, surrounded by relics of my adolescent past isn’t quite as nostalgic as I envisioned. That said, I’ll never not be thrilled by a warm home, a full fridge and the convenience of not one, but two on-site nurses (my mam and sister are akin to walking medical encyclopaedias). By now, the initial novelty of working with my old Furby within sight has well and truly worn off though and the reality of commuting has left me feeling a little exhausted, if I’m honest. Both my job and boyfriend are still based in Dublin so, like it or not, I’ve become a regular on the Sligo to Connolly train line. A couple of years ago, I thought I’d like to be a flight attendant but having now experienced the joys of near-constant travel, I’m not sure it’s for me.
However, a few things have helped ease the transition: a thermal travel mug (for tea on the go), a pair of noise-cancelling headphones (to tune out too-loud conversations) and of course, a good holdall. It’s no exaggeration to say I’d be lost without my McWilliams bag. It’s rainproof, easily cleaned and the two straps mean I can wear it on my back, which helps as it’s usually far too heavy to carry – I’m a chronic over-packer and tend to bring multiple outfits I’ll never wear, enough beauty products to run my own mobile salon and at least three pairs of shoes… just in case. Another major bonus? It fits neatly in the overhead luggage rack. That may not sound like something to write home about but trust me, anything that makes the journey easier is worth its weight in gold.
I’ve packed everything from a weekend’s worth of stuff to almost three weeks of outfits in mine. It’s been thrown on aeroplane cargo holds, stuffed in muddy car boots and piled under stacks of other bags on buses. It’s a wee bit grubby and could probably do with a wipe but aside from that, it looks pretty much brand new – they’re not lying when they say these bags are made to last. When abroad, I love seeing the familiar striped pattern amidst the crowd; it’s not hard to spot a fellow Irishman, discerning one of taste is trickier. I’m not saying we’re better than everyone else but I’m not not saying that either.
This long weekend, I’ll be putting my holdall to the test once more as I pack for yet another jaunt up to the capital. So far, I’ve managed to squeeze in an Aran knit, plenty of activewear (to lounge in, not to wear to the gym), a nice dress should I decide to leave the house, my current read (Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incident), my film camera, my makeup and jewellery bags, and my laptop – essentially, everything but the kitchen sink.
If you’re someone who travels a lot and wants to keep their sanity intact, then a bag you can trust is key. Depending on public transport (Irish public transport, in particular) is often a recipe for frustration. I’m easily overstimulated and am only ever one inconvenience away from a meltdown – delayed trains, loud chewers and luggage that cuts off circulation all veer dangerously into tantrum territory. My McWilliams holdall does none of those things and that is why it will always be my favourite.
Discover McWilliam Bags today and find your perfect piece of enduring style.
Also Read
