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Shamrock Holiday

17:24 / 01.05.07

Greetings Barbelith.

A lady friend of mine and I decided a few weeks ago we would like to visit Ireland this summer. We'll probably be travelling there for the last two weeks of July. If there are any Irish Barbeloids here, could they perhaps share some information on what interesting places and historical sites to visit, what pubs to crawl around in, what town and cities to venture to and which ones to avoid?*

We are both quite interested in pre-historical sites and museums, culture but also have a great desire for the experience of foreign pub-life.

I've done some searching on youth hostels and cheap accomodations, mostly around Dublin since that's probably where we will be starting. Paddy's place and Brown's Hotel seemed reasonably good and cheap, but other recommendations around the land of Eire are warmly welcomed. Also, if any one would be inclined to take it two Dutch travellers for a night or two, this would also be highly appreciated.

*English (or other) Barbeloids who have been to Ireland are very much welcome to share their stories and recommendations as well.

17:56 / 01.05.07

Well, I'd recommend here. Its central, on the southside (which is just generally nicer and more touristy) and near the better pubs. It always seems to have a good vibe going on too.

There's a list here, which you've probably already gone through

Pretty much everything is in walking distance in Dublin, but it is quite near the National Gallery, National History Museum, etc. Will post back if I think of anything more.

Leigh Monster loses its cool

18:45 / 01.05.07

I just spent the semester in Cork, and I found I was happiest when I got out of the city on the weekends and just wandered around the more rural areas. I usually found that the most famous touristy spots in Ireland weren't usually that much better than similar, lesser-known attractions. There's a lot of really beautiful stuff to see, and if you're going to go to, say, an old abbey, you might as well go to one that's not crowded with tourists, because chances are the one that no one's heard of is just as nice. I really liked just picking a town on the map and going there--once you're there, people are really friendly, more so than in the cities, and usually really good about telling you what's worth seeing and doing in the area. West Cork and Kerry was where I did most of my rambling, and the area is very very beautiful, so I highly recommend getting down there if you can.

21:51 / 01.05.07

Seconding Laoi's recommendations, and if you're up for exploring a lot of Ireland, other than one specific region, I'd recommended the more northern parts of Clare and Galway, specifically the Burren. There are a lot of neolithic monuments about that part, as well as the beautiful landscape of Mayo and Galway just a little further north.

Galway city itself has a nice pub life and is a lot quieter and less yoof-ish than Cork, Limerick and Dublin. I'd say steer clear of the obvious tourist traps of Adare in Limerick and Killarney town itself. The surrounding countryside of Killarney is absolutely breathtaking, with some nice cycling to be done about the place. I'm just wracking my branes to recall other nice places I've visited. Most recently with college, I spent a week or so in Antrim, near the giant's causeway. It's a lovely county, but you'll need to carry some British pounds with you too, because it's in Northern Ireland.

And remember, every pub on the island of Ireland has a smoking ban in place now.

08:48 / 03.05.07

Oddly enough, I was just about to start searching for a thread like this! I'm heading to Ireland in a couple of weeks, for just 8 days though. The plan so far is Dublin - Belfast - Derry. Any recommendations for Northern Ireland?

12:38 / 03.05.07

If you are into 'prehistoric' then you have to visit Newgrange which is very famous. It is definitely on the 'tourist trail' but it just feels like a really sacred spot.

Built 6000 odd years ago and older than the pyramids, it is a perfect example of that type of Neolithic engineering and supposedly the oldest roofed structure in the world. I'd say it is part of the heritage of any European or world citizen for that matter, not just us Hibernians. I could blether all day about it & its historical and mythical associations. Its a very special place. Baz - it is just on your way from Dublin north to Belfast.

If you want somewhere just as special, but more 'secret' there is a delightful miniature version of Newgrange in a place called Four Knocks somewhere amongst the winding roads of Meath. Its probably nearly as old as Newgrange but you will probably have it all to yourself. One of the carved rocks there has what is thought to be the only carving of a face in a Neolithic 'Celtic' monument.

The gateway into it is locked but you just have to collect the key from a Mr White in a house 'down the hill and on your right!' Its like a quest finding the site and then the key! You'd definitely need your own transport to do this.

All of Meath, just North of Dublin has some lovely spots. At the hill of Tara, formerly the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, you will really feel that you are on a sacred site, its so quiet. Although its not far above sea-level it is the highest spot on a vast plain and it feels like you can see all of Ireland from there...

See it now, before the government completes a 6-lane highway just 1/2 a mile away.

And if you're in Dublin definitely visit Mulligans of Poolbeg St, between Trinity College and the LIffey. Still has the old-time vibe and the best pint o Stout in Dublin outside the brewery. That wall of sound that hits you on a Sat night as you enter is the sound of human beings talking to one another! No piped music, no tv. SHOCKING!

11:22 / 04.05.07

Thanks a heap for the advice, all of you! I'm really looking forward to visiting all the historic sites, and partaking of Ireland's famous spirits. Especially the prehistoric have always fascinated me, mysticism and all.

One question though.

Since there is a smoking ban in Ireland, have most of the pubs created an outside "smoking garden", or other arrangements for the nicotine addicted? Also, do you know if it's illegal for me to carry five packs of rolling tobacco and papers with me to Ireland? I'm asking the latter because I don't like filter cigarettes, and I'd rather roll my own. I'm assuming that in Ireland such tobacco is rather hard to find, as in most other european countries.

14:29 / 04.05.07

Yes, just about every pub has an area outside for smokers. These spaces can be quite jovial and sociable from what I've seen, although for myself I've always been more on Superman's side of the argument than Nick O'Teen's!

Some places have a rooved area, but they aren't allowed to have windowpanes otherwise they'd qualify as 'indoors' and defeat the purpose.

Luckily Ireland's smokers have global warming on their side.

I don't think you'll have any problems with the tobacco. If it was half a truckload they might ask questions!

22:14 / 14.05.07

Thanks for the help so far! Any Belfast Barbelithers out there that can reccomend some good pubs or places to eat?

22:41 / 14.05.07

Nope, not from the North, but I wanted to post this link before I forget again! (it does cover Ulster, though)

Megalithomania is a list/index/review site of hundreds of prehistoric sites around Ireland. Their megalithomap is especially good. Some of the best fun I've had is trying to follow maps through fields, along uncharted lanes and narrow country roads, climbing walls and fences, scaling slopes and hills and following disused railway lines, all in order to track down a dolmen or a mound or a stone circle or wedge tomb that happens to be located in the modern-day back garden of the mansion of some posh South-Dubliners. Or overgrown in a forest half-way up a hill. Or on the grass beside a bus-stop in the suburbs.

Ireland's full of these sites (as is England, I think.. though Wales doesn't seem to be - at least not listed anyway). The site has pictures, reviews, and fairly good directions, and includes several more modern ruins, churches, crosses, and round towers and the like. If you're driving around, you're sure to come within 1km of many interesting sites. Although in my experience the harder to reach it is, the better the buzz when you get there.

22:55 / 14.05.07

Sorry for the double post, I just wanted to post one of their cooler pics (portal tombs nearly always win!):

Probably these sites should be cordoned off, so that people can't spray-paint them, push them over, or whatever, but nothing compares to seeing them up close, feeling the weight of the rock, and experiencing the space they create.

00:32 / 15.05.07

Fascinating stuff, Conc'. However, that Megalith site does list a few places in Wales here. I'll definitely be seeing if I can get to some of these if the opportunity arises. Good stuff.

01:25 / 15.05.07

Indeed it does, but not as many as I'd like to know about. I'm sure Wales, even in or close to Cardiff, just has to be as many of these sites, especially given that Wiltshire is not too far away (Stonehenge itself allegedly having had its stone sourced from Wales). I just need to make the effort, and find a similarly-detailed index of Welsh monuments!

06:38 / 15.05.07

Ah, too true. There's always these to start you off.

09:16 / 15.05.07

Thanks a heap Red Concrete, that site looks really interesting. We're probably going to try and avoid the too touristy megalith-sites if we can, although as tourists, we'll probably end up at a few of them at least.

We're also looking for nice castles or medieval sites, and if anyone can give us the heads-up on some interesting places that originated in those times, it would also be very much appreciated.

uncle retrospective

10:39 / 15.05.07

A very, very important to take into account we you come to Ireland (more so Dublin) is how expensive it is, it's €5+ for a pint so save up.

If your looking for someone to meet up with for a pint and/or a wonder round Dublin PM me.

22:16 / 17.05.07

A very, very important to take into account we you come to Ireland (more so Dublin) is how expensive it is, it's €5+ for a pint so save up.

1st reaction: !!!!???!!!

2nd: Well... that's what a Guiness will cost in Toronto anyhow... but damn!

22:24 / 31.05.07

Um... if anyone is around, we're (i.e. me and uncle retrospective) meeting at 8pm at Anseo tomorrow, Friday June 1st....

Gathering thread here?

22:24 / 31.05.07

...sorry... that's Anseo on Camden St. in Dublin...