Welcome MKRN. It must have been a tough first week for you. So sorry you had this loss but good that you were there sober to support your friend.
Keep posting, reading and come here every day for help when needed. I found myself that this community was and still is a great help for me. It was another day 1 back then and finding people who understood and knew what i felt what i was going through was all the encouragement i needed.
As for your trip to Ireland there are so many things to do that don't involve the pub which i only recently began to discover again myself, i hope you enjoy your upcoming trip here.