Two weeks in Ireland.
Beautiful, peaceful, and highly recommended if you are looking to relax.
If you are going to the Southwest - Kinsale is beautiful. Highly recommend the Perryville House. Beautiful converted townhouse/mansion. The owner is an excellent host and guide. The guidebooks don't really do this B&B justice. Besides being comfortable, gorgeous and just plain interesting (original owner was a pirate!) it's also right in the middle of town.
Re: the famous Ring of Kerry (a long coastal road with spectacular views on the West coast). It's great, but it's also possible to miss vast parts of it due to the weather. If it's raining or foggy, try to adjust your trip if possible to see on another day. Also we got the word from some wise and friendly locals... The Ring of Kerry is not the best part.
Apparently, the Ring of Kerry had been a big tourist destination since Queen Victoria visited and declared it something that shouldn't be missed. Therefore, it yet another example of the influence of the English. The truth is, however, that Dingle, which is bout an hour and a half to the north, is more spectacular. We had a sunny day in Dingle and it was just amazing. Treeless, sweeping hills of grass and stone. Well worth waiting for the sun.
One issue, I've always loved Guiness and Murphy's stout - often get the "draft" versions that come in cans with the little nitrogen widget. Ireland has ruined that for me. Guiness from a tap in Ireland is so much better than that... it's ruined for me. They've lost customer by being too good. A sad, sad day.
Reply to this Good stuff. I did a paper on the Irish spoken in Dingle once. Did you meet any speakers while you were there?
Reply to this No one actually speaking Gaelic, no. But we did meet quite of few excellent storytellers.
Reply to this I totally agree with you about Dingle. My mother and I had a beautiful ride around Dingle while we were in Ireland last year. I would recommend that drive to everybody going to Ireland.
Reply to this It's definitely high on my list of places I want to visit soon. A shame about the Irish though. It's dwindling so fast even in the Gaeltacht.
Reply to this No (well, maybe, but not here). I meant about Irish Gaelic. The OP didn't encounter anyone speaking it.
Reply to this Ah, yes. That's true (I am the OP). However, all the street signage across the country was in both languages. And in DIngle the signs are 100% Gaelic. Also, I did get schooled on a few Gaelic phrases while at pubs.
Reply to this That's awesome! Although I doubt the signs do much good to the unfamiliar, given the complexity of Irish orthography.
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