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MrsK914
LIF Infant
Member since 10/08 337 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Ireland Recommendations
Just boioked a trip to Ireland and now I need suggestions on things to do and see. Anyone ever been?
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Posted 12/18/08 9:03 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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melbalalala
Little Lady
Member since 5/07 5015 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
I'm going in 26 days so hopefully I'll have some scoops for you when I get back!
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| Posted 12/19/08 11:15 AM |
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MrsK914
LIF Infant
Member since 10/08 337 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
Thanks, that will definately help!
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| Posted 12/19/08 4:36 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
my parents are from there and I go over often to see family. where specfically are you planning on going? (meaning is there a general area of the country you want to focus?) when? that would help me narrow down things for you a bit....
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| Posted 12/19/08 7:15 PM |
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MrsK914
LIF Infant
Member since 10/08 337 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
We are going in Feb. We intend on traveling the country a bit. We are flying in and out of Dublin. We intend to hit Shannon, Cork and Limerick. Our families are from Cork and Limerick.
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| Posted 12/19/08 9:39 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
Posted by MrsK914
We are going in Feb. We intend on traveling the country a bit. We are flying in and out of Dublin. We intend to hit Shannon, Cork and Limerick. Our families are from Cork and Limerick.
Okay, ideally, I would fly into Shannon and out of Dublin or vice versa... because if you're goign in and out of Dublin, you will be doing backtrackking to get back to the airport when there is one right near Limerick. (FYI: Shannon is not an area - it's an airport.) Closest counties would be Clare and Limerick.
In Clare, I would hit the Cliffs of Moher and Drumoland Castle. Ennis is a lovely small city in Clare as well. Limerick itself, I don't know too much about, but flying in or out of Shannon, you're very close and you would also be very close to Bunratty Castle which is nice. you can tour it during the day time as well as do a medival type of dinner at night (I've never done the dinner). Limerick City I don't know too much about so sorry I can't direct you much there. It's a decent size city though so I am sure there would be some nice hotels, good pubs, etc. From Limerick, I would then head down to Cork. Cork is a huge county, and I don't know where your roots are... but there's a lot to do. Cork City is a great town... good restaurants and shopping. Cobh is on the coast and is where the titanic left from....very famous port. If you have time, I would take the time and head west to Kerry (next to Cork) and do the Ring of kerry... a stunning drive, although probalby a little more barren in Feb. than in the summer. It is stunning. Great cities in Kerry are Killarney (great hotels), Tralee and Dingle is beautiful.
Then from all that, you could head northeast towards Dublin. There a re a lot of counties you would pass through that you could stop in (Tipperary has the rock of Cashel) Wexford and Waterford, etc. Dublin city itself has a lot to do. you could easily do Dublin city in two days...max three. Things I would do in Dublin are Trinity College (Book of Kells) the Guinness brewery, St. Stephen's Green, Grafton Street and Temple Bar. Also, there is a lot of places important in Irish history in Dublin city such as the Post Office and the jail, which is interesting if you're into that type of thing.
Again, I would see if you could arrange to change one of the airports to Shannon because you will just be backtracking. My favorite part of the country is the north.... don't know how much time you have, but I LOVE Donegal (hence the username ), Sligo, Galway and Mayo---all beautiful. Belfast and Derry in the North are interesting cities as well.
GOOD LUCK...let me know if you need anything else!
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| Posted 12/20/08 9:35 PM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
I'm not sure how long you are going for, but if you are flying in and out of Dublin, these are the places I would recommend. I spent my first 31 years in Dublin, so I would be happy to help with any questions.
Dublin City: Trinity College, Grafton Street, St. Stephen’s Green are all in the one compact area on the south side of the city. If the weather is good, I would recommend an open-top bus ride. On the banks of the River Liffey you will find Dublin Castle, Dublinia (the Medieval and Viking heritage center), St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Temple Bar, the Guinness brewery and Irish Distillers. I was actually very disappointed with the Guinness brewery the last time I went there – they modernized it so much from what it was years ago – but I think Irish Distillers is still a charming tour.
Dublin suburbs: If you have time, take a trip on the Dart (Dublin Area Rapid Transport) to Dalkey, Killiney and Dun Laoghaire on the Southside of Dublin and Howth and Malahide on the Northside.
If you want to visit Cork and Limerick and then circle back to Dublin, I would head south first for the most scenic route through Wicklow (Powerscourt, Glendalough and Avoca are gorgeous and shouldn’t be missed. Arklow is a nice town and where my parents now live ), Wexford (Enniscorthy and New Ross), Waterford (you could stop at the Waterford Wedgewood factory for the tour on your way) and then down into Cork through Youghal and Cobh to Cork City. There is good shopping and nice restaurants in Cork City. In Cork you should go to Blarney, Kinsale and Clonakilty (Clonakilty is the “Michael Collins” town).
From Cork you could either go directly to Limerick or go to Kerry first and then into Limerick. If you go to Kerry, Killarney is the obvious and most touristity town to visit, but Kenmare, Waterville, Dingle and Ballybunion are so nice too. Kerry is a big county and you might need a couple of days to cover it.
Limerick is where my father was born and raised and it has it’s beautiful parts and not so nice areas (Limerick City is often referred to by the Irish as “Stab City”), but I used to love visiting family there. Limerick is a huge rugby town and if you are there on a Saturday in February you should try to take in a rugby match and experience the fun in the pubs before and after the match. Adare is a gorgeous town approx. 20 minutes south of the city. It’s full of thatched cottages and there is a big manor house.
My favorite county in all of Ireland is Clare. Shannon (which is a town and river, as well an airport) is on the border of Limerick and Clare. Do visit Bunratty Castle and Durty Nellie’s pub next door. My favorite towns in Clare are Kilkee, Quilty, Spanish Point, Lahinch, Doolin and Ballyvaughn. As beautiful as The Cliffs of Moher are, my DH was far more impressed with Loop Head - probably because there were no tourists and you can walk freely on the cliffs.
I guess the best option from Clare is to go on to Galway. Galway City is great! It’s a young, University City and there is lots of traditional music in the pubs and it’s good to just walk around the town and Eyre Square. Take a drive out West to Connemara and Clifden.
There are so many other great counties that you could visit (Kilkenny and Mayo are two of my other favorites), but if you have to fly back out of Dublin I would recommend driving from Galway to Dublin directly. It’s mostly motorway driving and you would make it in 3 or 3.5 hours. You could always save the rest for the next time you visit
Message edited 12/22/2008 11:14:16 AM.
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| Posted 12/22/08 11:13 AM |
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BunnyWife
Insert Witty Comment Here
Member since 5/07 8274 total posts
Name:
BunnyWife
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Re: Ireland Recommendations
These are all great recommendations! I'm gonna notebook this for our next trrp to Ireland!
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| Posted 12/22/08 11:17 AM |
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