Doing my bit for the Irish tourist board. VISIT IRELAND!

[The Original An Gadaí]

Okay, as one of the resident Irish domeheads I thought I would start a thread enticing you all to come visit. Our country is in the midst of an economic crisis. The Celtic Tiger just woke up with the dirtiest, most painful, groansome hangover in Christendom. It is my mission to get your tourist rupees, dollars, pesos, roubles, pounds and euros into the Irish economy. If anyone has any specific question about this green and pleasant isle just post but otherwise I'll start a series of posts on particular facets of the country that might be of interest to the domehead on the go.

[OneCentStamp]

Can you suggest a few activities for visitors that would be:

1) Reasonably safe;

2) Not horribly expensive; and

3) Off the beaten tourist path (i.e. not the Blarney stone or the Guiness brewery)?

[What Exit?]

For a family of four what would be a good way to see Ireland without being involved in a tour? My wife and I enjoyed greatly driving all over Scotland for 17 days for our honeymoon.

I love castles and ruins, is there anything like the Historic Trust?

Where is the best place to fly into?

Do they serve Bass Ale in Ireland? Guinness distributes it here.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Can you suggest a few activities for visitors that would be:

1) Reasonably safe;

Are there certain types of activities you specifically would enjoy?

As for safety, Ireland is a safe enough country with a few caveats.

Crime:
The city centre of the cities in the Republic have an omnipresent antisocial element. They'll largely ignore you if you ignore them but if you see altercations amongst them it is best to avoid the situation. Late at night in Dublin and other cities, in the areas where there are nightclubs there tends to be some drunken brawling and the like and unless out drinking yourself (or up for a fight) these places should be avoided at these times. I'm not too sure about the antisocial element in Northern Irish cities but it is worth noting that Republican and Unionist estates festooned with murals and flags are often unwelcoming to outsiders and there are a variety of these estates just outside the city centres of Belfast and Derry.

Road Safety:
Whereas Dublin is serviced with decent enough roads and there are motorways in much of the country outside the cities the less major roads are often narrow and winding and might be daunting to a driver unfamiliar with the terrain.

2) Not horribly expensive; and

In the cities admission to most museums/galleries is free. For people watching places like Dublin's St. Stephen's Green or Galway's Eyre Square or Spanish Arch are fantastic. If you have an interest in Irish history then Glasnevin Cemetery (about 20 minutes by bus from Dublin's city centre) is worth a visit and is also free. Although Dublin has been a notoriously expensive destination in recent years prices are going down at the moment. Two-for-one offers and the like are now common enough for leisure activities. If visiting the Cemetery the Botanic Gardens (also free) are a short walk and worth a visit too.

3) Off the beaten tourist path (i.e. not the Blarney stone or the Guiness brewery)?

Although Dublin gets a huge amount of international tourists they tend to flock to the southside and only select destinations on Dublin's northside. The northside of Dublin, although generally seedier feeling, has a variety of interesting places to visit imho. There is the aforementioned Glasnevin Cemetery, there's St. Michan's Church on Church St. where you can see centuries old mummies. There's the Old Jameson Distillery and The Cobblestone pub in Smithfield. There's the tranquil respite from the city that is the Blessington Basin and there are more pubs than you could know what to do with. The Phoenix Park, the largest city park in Europe is a must on a sunny day. Howth, a seaside village in the northside suburbs is another picturesque place to visit that is more popular with locals than international travellers.

Outside of Dublin, to the north, Co. Louth has numerous megalithic and mythic sites and the picturesque Cooley mountains. It also has the gem that is Carlingford, which is popular but not nearly as subscribed to by tourists as similarly picturesque and interesting destinations on the west coast.

In general the west coast is way more popular than the east coast with international travellers. This partly because the west coast offers more dramatic scenery and also perhaps a legacy of emigration where a huge percentage of Irish Americans will have ancestry from those parts that were depopulated since the famine . Northern Ireland, because of the troubles, is also generally less popular with tourists than the Republic but offers much in the way of things to see and do in a relatively compact space. The political mural tours of Belfast and Derry are fascinating and absolutely unique experiences. The Mountains of Mourne, The Glens of Antrim, Lough Neagh, Lough Erne, The Sperrins, The Ulster-American Folk Park, Carrick-a-Reed Rope Bridge, The Giant's Causeway, Bushmill's. I would nearly recommend visiting the north over the south (but that wouldn't help our economy!). Also while NI uses the GB£ prices are generally more reasonable than the Republic.

[The Original An Gadaí]

For a family of four what would be a good way to see Ireland without being involved in a tour? My wife and I enjoyed greatly driving all over Scotland for 17 days for our honeymoon.

Rent a car. Can you drive manual? You'll pay a premium to get an automatic car rental but they are available. Scotland probably has better infrastructure than Ireland but if you drove down any small single lane rural roads there you know what you can expect from some parts of Ireland. Roads overall have improved immensely here the last 15 years but don't expect to be able to make the same distances in US times. For example a 120 mile drive from Dublin to my cousin's house takes us over 2hrs, maybe 2hrs 30mins which I know could be done better in a US context (traffic permitting). Ireland is similar size to Scotland. You are never really more than say 5hrs drive from Dublin wherever you are on the island, maybe 6hrs.

I love castles and ruins, is there anything like the Historic Trust?

I don't know what the Historic Trust is exactly but there is http://www.antaisce.org/ which I think is something similar.
There are castles and ruins in every county in Ireland. Within Dublin they tend to be refurbished and functioning places like Dublin Castle and Malahide Castle. There are neolithic and megalithic ruins all over the country but there is a significant complex of them around Brú na Bóinne, just outside Dublin. This is where the world famous New Grange is located alongside less well known sites such as Knowth and Dowth and other prehistoric ruins.
Literally anywhere you might choose to visit will have castles or ruins etc.
Trim Castle, Co. Meath


Malahide castle, Co. Dublin


Rock Of Cashel, Co. Tipperary


There are numerous others.

Where is the best place to fly into?

Dublin is probably the cheapest destination and also has the most available flights but the best place to fly into would depend mainly on your itinerary. Dublin is a pretty good base to start from with good access to the rest of the country but I suppose if your touring concentrated only on the west coast then Shannon Airport would be a better bet. If you picked NI as your primary destination then Belfast might be a better airport but bear in mind that Belfast is only a 2hr drive from Dublin, Galway is only 3hrs from Dublin etc.

Do they serve Bass Ale in Ireland? Guinness distributes it here.

I looked this up before and there is some variety of Bass Ale available here but it might well be a different beast to the one you're familiar with.

[What Exit?]

Thank You An Gadaí.

I love the pictures, they make me want to go even more.

I can drive manual but I am rusty. Antaisce looks like what I was talking about. In Scotland we joined and were able to get into most sites in the trust with just our card. Family = €55 sounds reasonable and it sounds like it is the same deal .

The 6 hour driving time is about what I expected. We would end up going a different place every day. Do you know how well the Bed & Breakfast system is in Ireland? It was great in Scotland and the UK.

For the towns, where would the family friendly places to eat be? Would it be the taverns? A type of tavern?

[JohnnyClyde]

I've always wanted to visit, but I've never had the money. Someday I will. Here's a couple easy question for you: On a car with a manual transmission, is 1st gear closest to you or farthest away? I drive a manual every day, but I don't know how easy it would be for me to make the switch. Also, what's the pedal configuration? Gas on right and clutch on left, or the other way around?

[WhyNot]

Don't forget to tell 'em about the trippy Viking recreation/performance art tour thingy in Dublin. Good lord, I felt like dropped acid that afternoon! It was like an underground Ren Fair, several centuries off.

Dublin's Viking Adventure. Yes, it's touristy (although when we were there, on a March afternoon at 2:30*, there were only 5 people in the group). It's also fascinating.


*Dialect note: "half two" means 2:30. Yes, you have to be there before half two for the half two tour. *sigh* It was a rough day, and my only ignorant American "what?" of the fortnight, I swear. :wink:

[fisheroo]

One of my employees is going to Ireland to see U2. He has a couple of extra tickets. Hmm...

[Sarahfeena]

Hey, fisheroo! Just popped into this thread for a minute because I saw your name...I haven't seen you around in a while! How're you doing?

All the info about Ireland is fascinating, AG! How I wish I could plan a trip there soon.

[fisheroo]

Hey, fisheroo! Just popped into this thread for a minute because I saw your name...I haven't seen you around in a while! How're you doing?

All the info about Ireland is fascinating, AG! How I wish I could plan a trip there soon.

Busy, busy, busy. The company is about twice as busy as the same time last year, which is great, but really curtails my wandering aimlessly on the 'net time. A little traveling- DC and Boston; tried to meet QED, but he was confused as to where he lived, the loser. I haven't even had time to ask him why he was suspended from SDMB.

I did catch the gay porn night in chat here, however. Total waste of good looking guys, if you ask me. I haven't had a chance to look at your "Ask a Catholic thread" yet, although I do consider myself a pretty good Catholic myself, (I have the 5 kids to prove it.) Perhaps I need to readjust my priorities when it comes to reading posts...

Unfortunately, speaking of, I barely have time to read any posts, let alone amuse you all with my fabulously witty yet insightful repartee.

Guess I'll just have to resort to the old standby of naked pictures instead.

Expect me to bug the hell out of you all come November or so. Maybe even play a little Mafia again.

Thanks for the shout out, Sarah.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Thank You An Gadaí.

I love the pictures, they make me want to go even more.

I can drive manual but I am rusty. Antaisce looks like what I was talking about. In Scotland we joined and were able to get into most sites in the trust with just our card. Family = €55 sounds reasonable and it sounds like it is the same deal .

The 6 hour driving time is about what I expected. We would end up going a different place every day. Do you know how well the Bed & Breakfast system is in Ireland? It was great in Scotland and the UK.

For the towns, where would the family friendly places to eat be? Would it be the taverns? A type of tavern?

B&Bs are generally fine here. You'd expect similar service to British ones. Some are quick quirky in a nice way and I have happy memories of staying in ones in Co. Clare.

As I don't have children myself I'm not too sure about the term family friendly. Any restaurant you can afford to feed your family in should welcome you in my humble opinion! "Pub grub" is generally reasonable with many places doing carvery lunches. In Dublin restaurants of various cuisines are more numerous than in other parts of the country but there are restaurants and cafes in every town. Everything from fish and chips to chinese food to swankier cuisine. As I say pubs and hotels tend to have reasonably priced good quality food and a decent variety. They often have childrens' menus too. Be aware though that many pubs do not welcome children after a certain time of evening, usually 7 or 8 o'clock. One thing I would warn an American traveller to this isle of is the relative expense of food in restaurants. While food in supermarkets here is not markedly more expensive (and indeed is sometimes much cheaper) expect to pay something like double what you would pay in a restaurant in the US. Remember though tips are not obligatory and a small tip (a euro or two) is more than enough in most cases. Typical "Irish" fare would be beef, turkey and ham, chicken goujons, wedges (aka jo-jos in the US), fries/chips, stew, salad etc.

[The Original An Gadaí]

I've always wanted to visit, but I've never had the money. Someday I will. Here's a couple easy question for you: On a car with a manual transmission, is 1st gear closest to you or farthest away? I drive a manual every day, but I don't know how easy it would be for me to make the switch. Also, what's the pedal configuration? Gas on right and clutch on left, or the other way around?

I can't actually drive sorry. Although I do know that the pedal configuration is Clutch, Brake, Accelerator from left to right.

[The Original An Gadaí]

One of my employees is going to Ireland to see U2. He has a couple of extra tickets. Hmm...

I'm going to see them too on the Friday.

[What Exit?]

B&Bs are generally fine here. You'd expect similar service to British ones. Some are quick quirky in a nice way and I have happy memories of staying in ones in Co. Clare.

As I don't have children myself I'm not too sure about the term family friendly. Any restaurant you can afford to feed your family in should welcome you in my humble opinion! "Pub grub" is generally reasonable with many places doing carvery lunches. In Dublin restaurants of various cuisines are more numerous than in other parts of the country but there are restaurants and cafes in every town. Everything from fish and chips to chinese food to swankier cuisine. As I say pubs and hotels tend to have reasonably priced good quality food and a decent variety. They often have childrens' menus too. Be aware though that many pubs do not welcome children after a certain time of evening, usually 7 or 8 o'clock. One thing I would warn an American traveller to this isle of is the relative expense of food in restaurants. While food in supermarkets here is not markedly more expensive (and indeed is sometimes much cheaper) expect to pay something like double what you would pay in a restaurant in the US. Remember though tips are not obligatory and a small tip (a euro or two) is more than enough in most cases. Typical "Irish" fare would be beef, turkey and ham, chicken goujons, wedges (aka jo-jos in the US), fries/chips, stew, salad etc.

Wow, thanks again. I am a meat and potatoes guy over all and I enjoy Irish Pub Food. It is always a treat for me when I am in NYC or Boston to find a good Irish Pub. A good reminder about the tips, we must of come across as, well as Americans when we were in Scotland.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Well no waiting staff in the world begrudges a generous tip but it is not as de rigeur to tip as in the US.

[fisheroo]

Ok, I have made up my mind to come. Probably end of July to beginning of August.

I'll probably stay a couple of days in Dublin, then wander around somewhere.

You think renting a car is a good idea? What is public transportation like?

[The Original An Gadaí]

Ok, I have made up my mind to come. Probably end of July to beginning of August.

I'll probably stay a couple of days in Dublin, then wander around somewhere.

You think renting a car is a good idea? What is public transportation like?

Public transport in Dublin city is fine. Trains from Dublin to other cities are fine too although expensive. If you want to get out of the cities the best option is car rental or signing up for a tour, either multiday or day trip. I've done several tours out from Galway City that I've enjoyed immensely. They stop at various scenic places, places of historical interest etc. It's less flexible obviously than having a car but you can take in the scenery better in the sense that you aren't concentrating on navigating dodgy Irish roads. Do you mean end of July this year? Are you coming over for the U2 concerts?

[fisheroo]

Yes, in a couple of weeks. I'm flying in the 25th, and leaving August 2nd. I can be a little impetuous.

I'll see U2 either Sunday the 26th or Monday the 27th, or both.

How about boat rental? I saw a couple of options that looked interesting, but it seems that it's the high season, and a lot of them require weekly rental.

I think I am going to stay somewhere in Temple's Bar (?) for the first couple of days, then wander aimlessly throughout the countryside

And Thief, thanks for starting this thread. It made me talk to a couple of people and decide to go. So, you have successfully done your duty for the tourist industry.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Well fisheroo if you wanna meet up when you're over give me a pm. I live 15 minutes from Temple Bar.

[fisheroo]

Good possibility. I know a pub crawl is in the plans for Sunday the 26th. I'm not much of a drinker, but everyone else I am with is.

Be cool to meet, and isn't there others in Ireland, too?

[The Original An Gadaí]

Yeah, there's Yojimbo and ruadh from SDMB in Dublin and a smattering of other SDMBers/Domeheads from all over the island.

[fisheroo]

Cool. So a dope/dome fest Sunday, July 26th? Name a place near/in Temple Bar and a time, I'll see what I can do. I'll start a thread at SDMB as well.

I send out a weekly newsletter outside of Chicago, IL for an Irish pub called Ballydoyle Pub. I found your site and was hoping to "steal" some of your ideas to put in the newsletter. We are trying to entice people to Ireland as well...or at least educate them a little more in the history of Ireland. Please let me know if that is ok.

Thanks,

Nicole
nicole@ballydoylepub.com

[What Exit?]

I send out a weekly newsletter outside of Chicago, IL for an Irish pub called Ballydoyle Pub. I found your site and was hoping to "steal" some of your ideas to put in the newsletter. We are trying to entice people to Ireland as well...or at least educate them a little more in the history of Ireland. Please let me know if that is ok.

Thanks,

Nicole
nicole@ballydoylepub.com

As long as you credit Domebo.net and member An Gadaí that should be fine. Thank you for asking first, many would not. Good luck with the efforts.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Nicole, if you need any more top tips get on to me.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Okay so I thought I'd post again as I've recently holidayed* in Northern Ireland and could provide some pointers on that particular part of the world. Again, any questions anyone might have just post them and I'll try to get back to you.

Northern Ireland: The Basics

Northern Ireland is a largely self-governing statelet in the northern part of the island of Ireland that is a part of the United Kingdom. Sociopolitical strife in NI blew up into what could be classed as a low level civil war in the years 1969 to 1998, a period known as The Troubles (Obligatory Wikipedia Link). Since The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 Northern Ireland has largely been at peace with the major political players all dedicated to establishing a lasting peace and only sporadic dissident paramilitary activity. Northern Ireland (and Ireland in general) had a bad reputation as a holiday destination during the Troubles because of the perceived danger of visiting. Ironically, one of the current draws to this part of the world is seeing the legacy of the Troubles in museums and in the flags and murals on the streets of Northern Ireland's cities.

Northern Ireland has a number of motorways but also has its fair share of windy boreens that can feel daunting to travellers from parts of the world where highways are king.

The currency of Northern Ireland is the British Pound but the Euro can also be used in many locations, especially in the larger towns and cities. Northern Ireland is a cheaper destination by and large than the Republic. Although prices are coming down south of the border, hotels, food, drink are all more reasonably priced in the north.

Things To See:

Northern Ireland has a surfeit of places of historical, geological, and generally scenic interest.

The Giant's Causeway in rural County Antrim is a world-famous coastal geological formation, the result of a volcanic eruption over fifty million years ago. It is comprised of basalt columns that look manmade. It has been a famous tourist attraction for several hundred years and attracts visitors from all over the world. Various legends are attached to the site. You can find out more about it here.

In my opinion, while interesting, I don't think The Giant's Causeway is all that exciting, and should perhaps only be visited as part of a wider itinerary in the area, which includes other places of interest, such as the Bushmill's Distillery. I would definitely advise against taking a day tour to the Causeway from Dublin, as it is perhaps too long a haul for the reward. The Causeway gets thousands of visitors, so whereas photos like the one below show the causeway in all its singular splendour, you'll likely be sharing your visit with hundreds of other sightseers.



Political Murals (Mainly Belfast and Derry Cities)

A visible reminder that Northern Ireland is a divided society, political murals announce the cultural and political allegiance of an area. These murals usually appear on the side of houses or on walls, usually in more working class Republican and Unionist communities in Belfast and Derry. Taxi tours and bus tours are available in both cities usually priced at around £25. You could also attempt to visit these places on your own if you're feeling brave. The murals in Loyalist/Unionist areas usually commemorate fallen comrades, King Billy, or contain crests of the various paramilitary organisations in the area, some are more general cultural murals, celebrating aspects of Unionist culture in the North. Murals in Republican areas differ not only in the cultural content but also outlook. There is an internationalist emphasis in Republican murals with Palestinian, Catalonian, Basque and other flags in evidence, as well as murals of people such as Frederick Douglass.


I've done a taxi tour of Belfast and would recommend it especially to any visitor with an interest in Irish history.



There are numerous other things to see and do in the north so I'll post again soon. ;-)








TO BE CONTINUED!


*vacationed for our American readers

[Guizmeaux]

I'm not allowed back in Ireland after some unpleasantness in Sligo back in December '89. They have no sense of humour in border towns; my Iain Paisley impression, ("Laaarf, ye misserable heathen baarstards!") fell flat at midnight mass.

I hope the Garda managed to fumigate that car, but I think it's more likely they just destroyed it since the blood and vomit stains must have been quite extensive.

[The Original An Gadaí]

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/0...ublin.matador/

[Orual]

There is nothing that could possibly be more fun that going to see bog people.

[The Original An Gadaí]

Yeah the bog people are great, there's an egyptian mummy in there too in the National Museum. There are also "natural" mummies in St. Michan's. Dublin has it all for the corpse obsessed.