Kevin's Watch

OK, I leave soon for my vacation to the Emerald Isle! I'll be there a week...going to Dublin, Galway, Killarney and Waterford (that one is Mrs. Lunatic's idea and Zen may need to lose his credit card...accidentally of course. ) Anyway, besides the obvious stops LIKE THE GUINNESS FACTORY Anyone have any other suggestions for things to do?

The Aran Islands

Depends are you hiring a car If you get good weather which is never gaurenteed in Emerald Isle,while you are in Killarney which is a lovely town you could do the Ring of Kerry it brings you along the coast and the views and landscapes are second to none.
Check out the tourist Information places as they will very helpfull and will know of events going on around where you are visiting.
In general if you enter any pub or hotel irish people are very welcoming so you should have a grand time just dont hope too much on the weather

I'll ask my partner. He's Irish (although from Cork in the south) but he'll know all the good places to go. I think he used to go to Galway a lot with "da boys".

I am so jealous...hope you have an awesome time. The one thing most of my friends do while they are there is the kissing of the blarney stone.

I am so jealous, too. Have a great time!!!

Nothing helpful to say. . . except I'm Scots-Irish, and very jealous. Have a fantastic time, and take lots of pictures to share with us!

Wyldewode wrote:Nothing helpful to say. . . except I'm Scots-Irish, and very jealous. Have a fantastic time, and take lots of pictures to share with us!

All the above applies to me as well.

Cail wrote:All the above applies to me as well.

I thought you might be. Scots-Irish . . with your completion and hair color. And then there is the kilt picture I seem to remember. . .

Oh yeah. The only thing I'm missing is the red hair.

Zenlunatic wrote:OK, I leave soon for my vacation to the Emerald Isle! I'll be there a week...going to Dublin, Galway, Killarney and Waterford (that one is Mrs. Lunatic's idea and Zen may need to lose his credit card...accidentally of course. ) Anyway, besides the obvious stops LIKE THE GUINNESS FACTORY Anyone have any other suggestions for things to do?

Dublin's the only place I'm familiar with on your list. Temple Bar area is nice, but maybe it's got a bit too tourist-y these days. Ann Street, off Grafton Street, is a nice place to have a glass of wine or coffee and watch the world go by (It's also where the best buskers used to play - not sure if that's still the case). You can various themed tours, eg a literature one, if that's your thing.

Been to Galway once and wasn't too impressed - it is VERY tourist-y and full of stags and hen nights.

Investigate The Burren before you go, if you're into wild rugged landscapes! Never been, but it always appealed to me. Standing stones and weird rocky plains.

The west coast of Connemara and Mayo are stunning and might be worth considering.

Way way out of your way up north, but you could spent a great day at Giant's Causeway/ Carrickanrie rope-bridge/Bushmills brewery (oldest whiskey brewery in the world). If you wanted to you can fly into city of derry airport which is close. And if you do go to my end of the country, for wild scenery drive the 'Inis Eoghain 100' - a scenic 100km drive through Inishowen peninsula in Donegal (The best part of Ireland imo, but I'm biased!)

Wherever you go, bring your raincoats! Or even better, a waterproof poncho that comes down to the tops of your wellies! (and if you wear glasses, a widebrimmed hat or cap!) More info available on request....

Edit - if you've got google earth, most of above-mentioned places will have photos posted on it.

Edit II - recommended light reading....'Trick of the Gae Bolga' by Patrick McGinley, anything by Colin Bateman, most by Roddy Doyle.
heavier reading...'Trinity' by Leon Uris, 'Star Called henry' by Roddy Doyle

Cail wrote:

Wyldewode wrote:Nothing helpful to say. . . except I'm Scots-Irish, and very jealous. Have a fantastic time, and take lots of pictures to share with us!

All the above applies to me as well.

Thirded, except I'm not Scots, just Irish.

ZL, my daughter Batsutousai toured Ireland with her college choir a couple of years ago. She *loved* the Cliffs of Moher, which is not far from the Burren. And yeah, the undine is right about the weather -- it was colder than she expected, and it rained nearly all the time. (They went in January.)

I've got my own wishlist of stuff to see in Ireland, whenever I get there, starting with the Book of Kells at Trinity College library in Dublin, and including family-related stuff in Kilkenny. Here's a picture of a statue of one of my ancestors. I told Batty to try to get the tour group to stop there so she could get a picture, but it didn't happen.

I've been dreaming of going to Ireland for years. One day I hope to actually make it. I've have several close calls, but it always falls through before it becomes reality. I was supposed to go for my honeymoon, had tickets and everything, and then my ass got dumped.

Poor poor pitiful me.

My partner says go to county Clare if you can. He said it's lovely. The Burren is also there (I went there when I was in Ireland). It's just this brilliant land form...kinda looks like an open cut mine. Limestone formation.

He recommends the Aran Islands (what Cyn said).

If you're into archaeology he said you have to go to Newgrange which is near Dublin.

If you want spectacular views go to The Cliffs of Moher which are in county Clare.

...he said a lot of other things but I can't remember what exactly they were (should have written them down).

Cagliostro wrote:I've been dreaming of going to Ireland for years. One day I hope to actually make it. I've have several close calls, but it always falls through before it becomes reality. I was supposed to go for my honeymoon, had tickets and everything, and then my ass got dumped.

Poor poor pitiful me.

Ouch. . . been there, been dumped nearly at the altar. 'Tis a wonder I didn't become a vengeance demon or something. . .

Mina Harker wrote:

Cagliostro wrote:I've been dreaming of going to Ireland for years. One day I hope to actually make it. I've have several close calls, but it always falls through before it becomes reality. I was supposed to go for my honeymoon, had tickets and everything, and then my ass got dumped.

Poor poor pitiful me.

Ouch. . . been there, been dumped nearly at the altar. 'Tis a wonder I didn't become a vengeance demon or something. . .

My eyes are not beady.

Emotional Leper wrote:
My eyes are not beady.

Thanks everyone for the tips. We will not have a car, taking the bus. We are going to do the Ring of Kerry (bus tour) and see the Book of Kells in Dublin, as for the other stuff you mentioned, we'll try and see as much as possible. I'll take lots of pictures! Cheers!!

Nice. Have fun!

My uni is actually paying for me to have a 'holiday' there in June. Rather a good deal, even if I do have to spend a good deal of time at a conference.

Ah, the homeland!!

Have a glorious time, and give the Blarney a kiss