Two of my friends and I are staying in Ireland for two weeks. Jillian is leaving after 10 days, and then Chris and I are vagabonding through Europe. While were in Ireland, are there any cool places (off the map, as it were) to go visit? Shows to see? Groups to get involved with? Beer to drink? I'm a little ignorant of the area - all I know is some Irish folk songs on the guitar and stereotypes 😊 - mixed with some brief academic knowledge.
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Reply to this You could try this guide which has a nice trip in the south-west of Ireland which we followed. For a unique experience try the Dursey Island cable car in Co. Cork -
Dursey Island ; we did it in May 2005 and there were few tourists in the area. Mizen Head is also nearby and the Beara penisula includes the stunning fishing port of Castletownbere with Bere island closeby (and possible by 'ferry').
You will find some trad music sessions in the area but shoud head to Co. Kerry (Dingle etc) or Co. Clare (Doolin, Milltown etc) for the real music action.
Enjoy your planning.
Reply to this Am enjoying your blog Alex - great stuff! Yes - Ireland is often very good in the New Year but do check the price of living before you come - it has got so expensive.
Reply to this You should visit
Newgrange ! It's the best known Irish passage tomb. It was constructed around 3200BC, this makes it more than 500 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt and 1,000 years more ancient than Stonehenge!
Reply to this Hi there, one of amazing part of Ireland for me was Galway and the Connemara Region, the Cliffs of Mohers.
The cheap way to see this part of this beautiful island is buy a round bus ticket in Galway. Rent a car is quite expensive. Dublin of course ia a beautiful city.
Have a nice trip
Sila
Reply to this Hello,
please have a look at photos on
this page , it will give you some inspiration as to what to see in Ireland.
I strongly recommend the islands on the West Coast : Dursey, Cape Clear and Blasket.
Denis
Reply to this Hi there,
I'm actually from Irelnad nad have just joined the blog cos am going travelling to Asia and Australia next Nov. If I can help just ask. You'll probably arrive in Dublin but if you have the time the real spots to visit are Wexford - go to Kilakee and hook head (beautifuk scenery and you can even spot whales from the rocks around this time of the year). Wexford is known as the sunny south east. Then if you are able to head toward Kerry and Killarney you'll see the real old Ireland not tthat terribly touched by the cosmopolitan bug unlike Dublin.
Kerry and Cork have fantastic views, and from Dublin depending what way you are travelling you should make the trip to Kerry/ Cork in 6-7 hours , the country really isn't that big.. There are day trips to some of the Aran Islands ( off Galway - another great spot for the craic and the ceol), the Aran Islands are very reserved and the locals even speak As Gaeilge there still, But if you can get to the Aran Islands you've truly visited Ireland and you can small and feel how it was years ago, smell of turf and the damp sea air.
I hope this has helped you.
Deborah
Reply to this Hi Alex,
Visting the islands can be a bit miserable in winter but if the weather is mild certainly go for it. Sherkin (ferries from Baltimore, County Cork) is a favourite of mine. Other than that Clare is fantastic, it has loads of beautiful villages and towns and the Burren is gorgeous if you go for the barren look! Strandhill in Sligo is a fab little surf village with a good local pub to get stuck into. Belfast is a happening town and the Antrim coastline (Giants Causeway, Bushmills village) is well worth a trip, weather permitting. Public transport is pretty sparse in Ireland so you will need to get a car to visit many of these areas (but not all). You will find live music everywhere in Ireland, from trad in every tourist town/pub to small gigs in many of the larger towns. Check out www.entertainment.ie and www.ticketmaster.ie to get an idea of what is on while you are here. Enjoy the trip! Slán, EdAm.
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