In a tad over a month now, I’ll be heading off to Ireland to spend a couple of months in Cork, working at UCC. Naturally, I’m quite excited about this, but it brings up two major questions for me, namely:
What should I see?
What should I bring?
And since there are enough of y’all Irish Dopers out there, I thought you might be a good resource to supplement the travel guide sort of things which I have yet to get around to looking for.
For the former, be aware that, being only a poor broke grad student, I’m not going to have many options in the way of transportation.
For the latter, I’m thinking more along the lines of little goodies that one rarely thinks about when travelling. For example, I’ll need one of those adapter-dealies to convert from the US three-prong power cords, I assume? Other stuff like that is what I’m after.
Yep - they look like this. The converter is on the left, that converts the electricity. The thing on the right (adapter - on the side it’s not showing is three prongs unlike the US plugs) is what you need to plug into the Irish mains (wall outlets). The only thing I needed the converter for was a hair dryer. My other electronics - digital camera, laptop, and cellphone - could handle the 240 voltage, check your electronics labels. I could have used more than one adapter plug - sometimes I wanted to charge more than one thing.
What to see - I only spent two nights in Cobh (near Cork) and the Heritage museum was interesting. Blarney Castle is nearby, I wasn’t that impressed by it, but it was OK.
There you go, things to do in ireland!
About being a poor student and all that, if youve got a student card, prices are reduced in rail and bus services, youd probably be able to travel from cork to about anywhere else in the country for under €40. Could be less.
ok considering I think I sound like a tourist information board I am shutting up now.
Enjoy your trip!!
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions so far, guys! I suppose now would be a bad time to mention that I’ve never met a beer of any sort that appealed to me? Although I suppose I’ll force myself to develop a taste for Guinness while I’m over there or something.
When visiting Dingle Peninsula stay at Crutchs Hotel, at the Tralee end of the Connor Pass. It’s run by Mr Ronald Mc Donald, who is a very nice man and will cook you anything you want for breakfast or dinner. When my friends and I stayed he also gave us the key to the bar and a pad and pen so we could write what we drank and pay for it in the morning.
None of the above is a lie.
Go and see a GAA match (Croke park if you can).
Come to Dublin, get on one of the tourist buses, and get off if anything looks interesting.
If you like American candy or chocolate, stock up. We don’t have it here. You’ll have to learn to love Cadbury’s.
Don’t throw words like “muck-savage”, “Bogger” and “Culchie” around lightly in Cork. They don’t like it
Actually if you’re going to Cork, the Murphy’s is better there than the Guinness - Guinness in Dublin, Murphy’s in Cork is a good rule.
Other than that, I’d do the whole tourist thing - Ring of Kerry, Dingle Pennisula, Rock of Cashel, The Book of Kells etc… take a few weekends off, hire a car and go driving.
Ireland is very beautiful and if you get the weather, you’ll love it.
West Cork and Kerry are spectacular and are pretty accessible from Cork City. If you’re fit and don’t mind the hills, you could go by bicycle. If you’re a student, the posh nosh in Kinsale probably won’t be on the menu but it’s worth a visit to have a pint and people watch. If you’re into sport, try to take in a hurling match (preferably a Munster Championship one) at Parc Uí Caoimh in Cork or Semple Stadium in Thurles. Tickets can be hard to come by but you’d love it. You could also go (horse)racing in Mallow - it’s cheap to get in with a student card and you don’t have to part with much of your hard-earned to have an interest.
In terms of things to bring, don’t bother with chips because there will be an abundant supply on the shoulders of your neighbours;).
Connemara is lovely. It’s worth the trip to see an (relatively) untouched area. You can visit the Aran Islands while here, too. I think you’ll find the west is a really culturally rich area and the people are generally very warm and hospitable (No comments from the Jackeens necessary). The countryside is beautiful and really unique.
If you’re coming from the States, could you bring me some Reese’s Peanut Butter cups? I think ruadh would like some, too.
Do bring your ATM card (the transactions will just hit your balance in Euros). “Changing Money” is a foolish waste of time.
If you’re bringing a camera, only take it out when you know there are specific pictures you want that day & put it back in your room after.
Speak in low tones and try not to draw attention to yourself.
Your US cell phone is useless; Europe is on a different standard. Leave it home.
Bring a PDA with all your friend’s email addresses: most pubs have email stations that you can rent time from. Also having all your family’s and company’s addresses/phone numbers is never a bad thing.
Leave your Political Opinions Home. Your dentist will thank you.
Don’t try to pick up women. They’ve heard more lines than you’ll ever live to say and they’re not impressed. If they like you, they’ll come up to you at the end of the night. But Celebacy will tap your shoulder more often.
