I Passed My Driving Test In Ireland… After Four Attempts! (Mum-edition)

🎶 Four. Is the magic number.

 After months of nail-biting nerves, countless driving lessons and enough mock tests to write my own guidebook, I finally passed my driving test! It took me four attempts, but who’s counting? (Me. Definitely me!)

The moment the examiner turned to me and said, “you’ve passed,” my hands would not stop shaking, I’m surprised I didn’t burst out crying because I definitely felt a teardrop. I was prepared to hear the dreaded “unfortunately…” or as this tester told me the last 2 times “you’re a good little driver, just get a few more lessons in” especially since this was the same examiner I had for my last two failed attempts. To be honest, I don’t think I drove any better this time and it’s still a mystery what I did different. Maybe he was finally tired of seeing me? Either way, I’m not complaining.

My confidence this time round was almost non-existent. Each failure chipped away at me, and by the third go, I was showing up more defeated than determined. This time, though, I went in with the attitude of, “I paid €80  for this, so even if I feel like chickening out, why not make good use of it”. I wasn’t even afraid of failing again, been there, done that, got the anxiety to prove it.” And somehow, that mindset worked. I was absolutely floored and thrilled, I actually passed!

Why I Learned to Drive

Learning to drive was more than just ticking off a life goal – it was about sharing responsibilities and creating new opportunities for my family. My husband has always been the one doing ALL the driving, though he’s never complained, there’s a part of me that just felt bad for not being able to help in this area. Whether it was driving our kids to nursery, running errands, or making long trips, me and the boys always had to wait for daddy. We live in rural Ireland and if that means anything to you then you know just how bad public transport is. There was one day I nearly took the bus from our house to town, and it would have taken nearly 2 hours to get to the place I need to be, so I have never bothered going on the bus that would go round the world first before reaching its destination. Never mind with a buggy while it rains, no thanks!

Anyway, I wanted to change all that. Not just to lighten the load, but also to give us flexibility. Now, when he’s too tired or simply needs a break, I can step in. It feels amazing knowing I can take our children wherever they need to go—whether to their nursery or a family adventure in the next town or far away, we can do it. Driving has given me a sense of freedom and confidence, but most importantly, it has allowed me to support my family in a meaningful way.

A Shoutout to My Patient Instructor
I owe so much to my driving instructor (Enda Cleere) for those in Kilkenny. This man has the patience of a saint. Seriously, if there’s an award going for putting up with stubborn learners, he deserves it. My husband, on the other hand… let’s just say “patient” isn’t the word I’d use when he tried teaching me the most basics of driving. I’ve noticed it’s a common theme: those closest to you are often terrible teachers for learner drivers. One of my friends has a husband who turns into her biggest critic the second she’s behind the wheel. But the moment the engine stops? He’s back to being the perfect spouse. The same story for a girl I used to work with, her dad would be freaking out panicking over anything she did but if she said she did not want to drive he was the same person encouraging her.

There’s something about men and their partners learning to drive that brings out their inner backseat driver. My husband even used imaginary brakes. (Yes, really.) Every time I got too close to a car – or what he thought was too close – he’d stomp on his imaginary pedal like it would magically stop the car. Thankfully, he hasn’t done that in a while, so maybe I was improving more than I realized in the lead-up to my test.

It’s Hard to Stay Calm

Passing my driving test wasn’t just about mastering the rules of the road – it was about juggling life as a mum while doing it. Learning to drive on its own is a challenge but throw two babies into the mix and it becomes a whole different ballgame.

I can’t tell you how times practising was “accompanied” by screaming or crying from the back seat. Just when I thought I’d finally gotten the hang of clutch control, one of them would decide it was the perfect moment to demand attention, and I couldn’t drive too far in case they sleep, and it messes up their bedtime routine when we get home. As they are now toddlers, the crying has turned into enthusiastic chants of “Mummy! Mummy! MUMMY!” at full volume every time I try to focus on the road.

Let’s be honest, no driving instructor or YouTube tutorial prepares you for trying to parallel park with a tiny audience either cheering you on or insisting they need snacks right now. But looking back, all those moments taught me patience -and maybe even a little extra multitasking.

Driving tests are such a unique kind of stress. In the grand scheme of life, it’s just a test, right? But when you’re in it, it feels like it’s the biggest thing ever. It reminds me of those secondary school exams you stress over for months, only to barely remember years later. Whether you pass on your first attempt or your fourth (hi, that’s me!), what matters is the final result.

The key is to not give up. I’ve heard so many stories of people who thought they made a big mess of their test but ended up passing. On the flip side, there are those who felt they aced it, only to fail (hello, my first three attempts!). But if you keep practicing, keep learning, and don’t let failure knock you down, you’ll get there.

Put your all into it (a car also helps)
In my case, I was so determined to get my license that I bought myself a little Opel Corsa to practice with. It was very old, but I didn’t care, the purpose of a car is to get you from point A to B right? As long as I’m getting that driving practice in outside of lessons with my instructor. I started with short 5-minute drives around an industrial estate near my house. Gradually venturing further and further into town, but all the while building up my confidence and taking in what I was being told from my instructor and husband.

And now, I can start driving on my own. No instructor. No scrutinizing passenger. Just me, the open road, and my favourite playlist blasting through the speakers 🔊. It feels so liberating! Of course, I’m still learning—driving solo comes with its own set of challenges—but at least I don’t have someone sighing every time I miss a gear change.

To Everyone Still Learning: Keep Going!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this whole process, it’s that persistence pays off. Failing doesn’t mean you’re a bad driver; it just means you’re still learning. For me, the fourth time wasn’t just the charm – it was a lesson in resilience, patience, and “trusting the process”.

So, to anyone out there feeling disheartened after a failed attempt: don’t give up. Keep practicing, keep believing in yourself, and remember – it doesn’t matter how many tries it takes. Once you pass, you’re officially a licensed driver, and no one will care how you got there.

And with that, I’m off to plan my new adventures as a solo driver 🚗✨