OK, so it looks like this fall we (me, BF, sister, sister’s BF, possibly mom) will be vacationing in Ireland.
One week or two - has yet to be decided.
We were thinking of staying in and around Dublin, and making day trips elsewhere.
Who has been, what did you enjoy doing while there, and why?
I am going to get some books out of the library (as soon as I get around to paying my overdue fines :o ) but in the meantime, what are the must-sees?
Also, how feasible is a day-trip to Wales from Dublin?
I was there for one week last year & had a great time. I drove around the western/southern/eastern coastline. Personally, I do not like cities – so Dublin & Cork were my least favorite parts of the trip (good to visit once, but not places I’d want to stay). The western coast has the classic Irish feel to it. The closer one gets to Dublin, the more influence there is from London. Anyway, my favorite parts were the Ring of Kerry (a great day trip during nice weather) and the Cliffs of Mohr(sp?). Next time I go there (hopefully I get the chance), I’d go back to the western coast and the northwest region (which I did not see last time but seems good too).
oh yeah, if you’re in Dublin, don’t plan on making daytrips across the country. On the map, the distance is not that large, but the driving is slow. There are no (well, few) superhighways that allow you to zip around. Daytrips are possible…just be aware of the time factor.
other thoughts…
I enjoyed staying at B&Bs, checking out castles, ruins, small town pubs & restaurants, etc.
if you’re looking to party, then Dublin is the place to be.
It’s entirely feasible to make a day trip to Wales, but you won’t get to see a lot of it.
Go to Belfast. Really. It’s a great city, the people are incredibly hospitable, the drink is unbelievably cheap, and most of all it’s not overrun by tourists, yet … uh, on second thought, stay away
Firstly, may I compliment you on your excellent taste in choosing to holiday in Ireland.
I recommend the following without hesitation:
Cliffs of Moher.
The Dingle Peninsula-home to the Conor Pass, Slea Head, The Blasket Islands.
Galway and the West - Yeats country, Connemara, The Arans.
Let’s not forget Dublin, what a city. Galway can be fun, too.
Wicklow - You have to see Glendalough.
Killarney - Muckross House and gardens, the three lakes.
Check out http://www.goireland.ie for help and suggestions on where to stay.
I’d suggest hiring a car and moving around. Drive on the left and remember ‘the cow is sacred’.
The public transport system can be ‘peculiar’ to say the least.
Motorgirl I envy you! Definitely go for 2 weeks if you can afford it, I spent only a week there and didn’t get to see nearly enough. I agree with Phobos and Robb Hill and suggest that you hop around rather than day tripping from Dublin. The B&B’s are an affordable and it’s a great way to meet the people.
I’ll second (well third) the recommendation for Glendalough. The countryside there is breathtaking. I’d also suggest staying in Doolin. It’s a tiny village on the West coast with ferry service to the Aran islands and a short drive to the Cliffs of Mohr. There’s also a great pub there called Gus O’Connor’s. The night I was there they had a jam session featuring traditional Irish music.
Of course, if you hit the pub first, it could be a short drive off the Cliffs of Moher.
Driving was great in the Republic: the roads were well-kept, other drivers were very good (remember not to put your headlights on during the day, as so many of us here in North America do, though). Many drivers will let you know that you can go ahead (giving you the right of way on narrower roads) by flashing their headlights. Gas is pricey, as it is all over Europe.
As I’ve said in another thread, the bed & breakfast route can’t be beat: clean, friendly and cheap. Plus. you get to meet some of the nicest people in the world. Best of all, when you pull into a town, just go to the local tourist office and they’ll book you in somewhere that meets your pocketbook or other needs. I found that asking for a room with an ensuite guaranteed a great place: many newer houses have been built with a b&b in mind, to help pay the mortgage. I did not have one single bad experience in b&b’s in Ireland.
If you do spend time in Dublin, don’t miss the Book of Kells at Trinity College Library. Religious significance aside, it is an important and beautiful artifact of western civilization.
First, Wales isn’t even on the same island as Ireland. You CAN visit Wales and Ireland in the same trip, but it’s not a quick jaunt.
As for driving… be prepared for the worst. I LOVE Ireland and I love country roads, but…
In the country, the roads are narrow, and fill with twists and turns. As a result, you can’t see what’s around the bend.
Around the bend, there could well be a herd of cattle or a flock of sheep crossing the road.
Around the bend, there could be a lorry (truck) or a guy driving at breakneck speed down the middle of the road (but who feels he’s driving safely, because he honked twice before rounding the bend).
So, be careful when you’re driving: the left side/right side change is the LEAST of it.
Beyond that, go anywhere and everywhere. The landscapes are beautiful, and the people are wonderful. I was epecially fond of Galway myself. But a few other things to bear in mind:
IF you go to Blarney Castle, do NOT kiss the Blarney stone. Not only will you be laughed at by the locals, but the kids in the neighborhood go up there at night and urinate on it!
The thing that will surprise a LOT of tourists is how young and cosmopolitan the Irish population is. Oh, in the countryside, the stereotypical laid-back Irishman still exists, but today, MOST Irish are very young and hip. And they vaguely resent American tourists who expect them to be quaint and rustic. If you go to a pub in Dublin, do NOT expect to hear fiddlers and jigs and reels! Young Irish are much more into contemporary pop and rock than the Chieftains.
Indeed, several young Irishmen I met were VERY impressed that I was from Austin, Texas! “Ah, from Austin, are yiz? Do ya know the Butthole Surfers? Ah, they’re f***ing brilliant!”
Truth is, NOBODY is less romantic about Ireland than a genuine Irishman! So, while you won’t have any trouble finding tour guides who’ll show you where to get “authentic” Irish grub like corned beef and cabbage, or to show you where “The Quiet Man” was filmed, be prepared for some snickers (real Irish find such cuisine and such movies unbearably corny).
Can’t believe nobody has mentioned Newgrange yet. Easy half-day trip from Dublin, has to be seen to be believed. And DEFINITELY go to Trinity College Library.
Oh yeah, and don’t forget to pay a visit to our fellow Dopers while you’re in Dublin. If you dare
It’s probably too far away, being it’s on the Southern Coast,
However, if I myself had a chance to go to Ireland, I’d go to Cobh. (Formerly Queenstown) It was the last port of call of the Titanic, and right there, about ten miles off the Old Head of Kinsale is the wreck of the Lusitania, which was hit by a torpedo in 1915 (as if you didn’t know)…
Then I’d go to Tipperary…no reason, it’s just that my dad said our family came from there…and I could sing the song…
It’s a long way, to Tipperary…(just like Crow, in MST3K: the Movie)
Damnit, I was trying to remember the name all day! I was going to recommend it, but I couldn’t recall the name. Ancient burial mound. Older than the pyramids, if you believe the literature. Aligned with the midsummer sunrise.
The ancestors were Welsh, that’s why we are considering a day trip there,
if the travel time is not prohibitive.
The goal would not be a thorough visit, just a visit.
Since the distance from Dublin to several points in Wales
looks to be less than the distance across Massachusetts,
if it were not water, a day trip would seem quite feasible to me.
However, since it is water, I am less than sure about the feasibility
of a day trip across what looks to be about 75 - 100 miles of water.
I am going to be visiting Ireland for the first time in the 1st week of October. While we will be spening much of our time in Dublin, I will be visting by ancestral city of Tralee. Can anyone recommend a good pub or nightly attraction there that isn’t touristy? Say, for example, that my grandfather and his father before him might have frequented.
There are very few pubs in Tralee that date back that far, unfortunately. Among the oldest bars I can think of are Jess McCarthy’s (Upr. Castle Street), Turners (ditto) and Quinlans (Lwr Castle Street).
None of the above could be described as ‘touristy’. Most bars in Tralee are not touristy anyway.
Thanks for the recommendation. Oh, and don’t worry about my mistaking Tralee for a city - I live in Chicago (not that there is anything wrong with smaller communities).
More on the daytrip to Wales: the fast ferry to Holyhead takes only about two hours from Dublin. Unfortunately, it takes you to Holyhead. Which is on the far north west tip of Wales and has little besides the ferry to Ireland to recommend it.
You could rent a car and travel around North Wales, but if you want to see any more of the country you’re better off taking at least a couple days.
