Holiday in ireland?

Question

were going on a touring holiday to ireland starting at the giants causeway and working down any ideas of places to visit?we want to see the real ireland and not the touristy bits real irish villages and pubs etc any ideas would be great thanks

Answer 1

Clonakilty, Wesy Cork in the south of Ireland, recently won the European Union Tourist Destination of the Year (maybe not that exact wording) so I guess that there would be a great place to go to. Also you could try Oranmore, Co.Galway, or Dublin, or Bray, Co.Wicklow. All these places are good, simply because they are Irish.

Answer 2

Don't forget to visit Cork.  It has the largest coastline and the largest beaches.  Visit Blarney castle when you are there and Fotofarm the wild life park.  Lough hyne is another famous place to go and East Cork ferries.  The Jack lynch tunnel is a spectacular view at night.  There is really too much to mention here.  Why not Google your search and get all the information you require.  Good luck on your travels and hope you really enjoy yourselves.  Before I finish relations of mine have a pub in Midleton Co Cork if you fancy a pint or two.  The pub is called "Banners pub" and it is in Connolly Street, Midleton, Co Cork.

Answer 3

I tend to agree with supergrover. Galway has become very "touristy" over the past decade and the "alcohol-culture" among young people means that cities or towns are not the places to be late at night. Putting it bluntly, our towns and cities are not safe at night anymore.

You won't regret travelling down the west coast from Donegal, through Sligo (Ben Bulben and Drumcliffe where W.B. Yeats is buried), Mayo (The Museum of Country Life near Castlebar), Connemara (beautiful scenery, Maam Valley, Leenane where 'The Quiet Man' was set - be careful of sheep sleeping on the road), Clare (The Burren and Ailwee Caves), maybe cross on the ferry from Killimer to Tarbert, west Kerry and west Cork (again, avoid the bigger towns).

Have a nice holiday!  :)

Answer 4

Make some time for Galway. Great town and has everything. Depending on what part of Summer you could catch the arts festival, the galway races (a unique experience), or the oyster festival.

Best pint of guiness to be found in Neachtain's (Tigh Neachtain).

Saturday morning market near St Nicolas' Church.

Good fun! Enjoy the country

Answer 5

to be honest the tourist places are the best places to visit 2 to get the most out of ur trip to ireland. but who says u can't do both. i dunno if u are getting a car but if u aren't hire one even just for a few days. then when travelling from place to place go through towns n villages instead of d main roads. then u will c non tourist places in ireland but also u will c d tourist places at d same time so u will have d best of both worlds. s here r d best tourist places in ireland (unfortunately i have no information on nothern ireland as i'm from d republic n have never been in d north)

In Dublin(city)

1.viking splash tours dublin-its an exciting tour of the city.You go on borad a WW2 vehicle and let the costume guides tell you about the great sights .You then drive inton the Grand Canal Harbour to continue your tour by water.Don't worry,you won't get wet.departure points are 64-65 patrick street(close to St. Patricks Cathedral),St Stephen's Green North.tours are every 30 mins.you can buy tickets at departure points.there is 30% discounts off adult price for 10am tour only if booked at least one day in advance.

2.Trinity College i.e. the book of kells-visit the world famous 8th century illuminated manuscript which features the 4 Gospels.The Libary's Long Room is also spectacular as it is 200 feet in length.It houses 200,000 of irelands most important books.be prepared to queue but it goes fast.

3-Dublin Castle-It was built between 1204 and 1224 and was the seat of English rule and goverment untill 1922.It is used for state functions and is open to the puplic.

4.Ha'penny bridge-this is a well known and loved symbol of Dublin.It became known as the ha'penny bridge cos of the toll people used to be charged to walk across it.

5-Dublin Writers Museum-it displays collections of rare editions used by artists.

Killkenny

1.Kells-a tiny medival village in the Nore vally renowed of its beuty and authenticity.

2-Killkenny City-visit the lovely city and its castle.

Wicklow

1.Glendalough-the town has become one of the most visited sites fo wicklow.the 6 century manastic settlement is the most important of its kind in Ireland.Access to the site is free.

Meath

1.Newgrange-a lovely passage tomb that was made in the megalithic times.you have to go and see it if you are coming to ireland .also visit knowth and dowth.they are in the same place.

Cork

1.Cork city-the city is great for shopping.you can also go and see Shandon-north of the river lee,the shandon area represents corks eighteenth century status as the most important port in Europe dariy produts.

St Annes Shandon-this can be seen anywhere in the city.climb the tower for breathtaking views and take the opportunity to ring the churchh bells.

Cork City Gaol-its only a 30 mins walk from the city centre.an interactive tour takes you through teh prision.

Cobh(in cork)

1.The queenstown Story-2.5 million people sailed from cobh to america.the hertiage centre recalls this part of the history.

Blarney(in cork)

1.Blarney Castle-climb the castle and kiss the blarney stone which is said to give you the gift of the gab.

Kerry

1.the ring fo kerry-the 110-mile ring of kerry is famous for some of the most beutiful scenery in the world.you can drive around in a day.a would take a bus tour if i were you but choose a good one.

Clare

1.the cliffs of moher-they are without a doubt a spectaculr sight in the county.a 700ft drop of sheer cliff face of black shale and sandstone that together with the raging Atlantic below and the wheeling ,screaming birds in the sky provides one of the most hauting images found in ireland.be sure not to be blown of the edge!!Stay back form the side.

2.The Burren-this and area of unique natural beuty.miles of limestone slabls hide a myriad of undergroun rivers and lakes and above ground a huge varity of Artic,Alpine and Mediterranen plants can be found.DO NOT PICK ANY!!!!

3.Bunratty-go to the folk park and live the experience of how life was in ireland.local women bake bread and spin wool in the reconstruced farmsteads by open fires.go the Bunratty Castle-mediaeval banquets are one of the main attractions at the beutifully restored Bunratty Castle.BOTH ARE A MUST SEE!!!

Galway

1.Galway city-a lively spot people all over the globe come to this city.you have to visit this city.

2.Connemara-a vast area west of Galway City,has some of the most beutiful and dramatic scenery in ireland.It is a landscape of dry-stone walls,tiny fields and isilated framsteads

3.Arran Islands-3 islands make up the group know as the Aran Islands;inismore (the largest),Inismaan and Inissheer (the smallest of the 3)The islands are an examle of the sucessful preservation of a culture and language that has largely resisted the changes of the 20th century.

Ireland is a great country and there are loads more things to do.the above are just a few i could think of at the top of my head.I love ireland(and not just because i'm irish (and live in ireland)).i would suguest rent a car cos otherwise it will be impossible to see everything.

The best out fo the bunch are i.e. the most memorable :

viking splash tour

book of kells (line may be long but if you go to ireland it is one of those things you have to do)

Glendolaugh

Newgrange and knowth and dowth

blarney castle

ring of kerry(another must see)

the cliffs of moher

bunratty caslte

the burren

galway city

the arran islands

Answer 6

Take the road less travelled.  Don't be shy.  If you see tourbuses, keep going.  Enjoy.

Answer 7

Drive accross to Donegal, then south to sligo follow the road marked N17, to galway, plenty of villages and great tourists spots, espically ben bulbin in sligo, see glencar water fall in leitrim.

I could say that there are real irish villages in northern ireland, But Red post boxes and BT phone boxes can be seen anywhere in the UK.

Answer 8

visit sligo and leitrim DEFINITELY!!   sligo theres ben bulben and wb yeats' grave etc. then travel from sligo to calry through to north leitrim. parkes castle and the lake isle of inisfree!! travel along leitrim to ballinamore near the cavan border and i'll guarantee you'll get a warm reception!

Answer 9

Are you driving? The best thing about Ireland is that you can visit the Touristy bits like the Cliffs of Moher (which are truly spectacular and then drive a few miles and be right back in the countryside or at a tiny seaside town.

I also agree that Donegal and Sligo areas are beautiful and although Galway is a bit noisy, one needs to kick up your heels now and then. May I suggest a bicycle tour once you get to the West -along the banks of the Shannon and the Connemara - that way you'll see it all real slow. Here are some links that should help you. Drink a pint for me!