Touring Ireland any advice?

Question

We are going to visit Ireland for the first time at the end of the month for a week - we will start in Cork where we have friends but after that we want to tour around and see as much as we can - what do you reccomend to see in Ireland?

Answer 1

if you want a true irish experience, go to a remote town/village and stay in a b&b.

Go to the pub.

have the best night of your life (better than your wedding night.probably)

Answer 2

No matter where you go in Europe, if you can find castles, go to them.

Answer 3

DON'T drive around the Ring of Kerry.

DO see the Cliffs of Moher.

DO see a show in Limerick.

And, in between, DO visit Rooney's Bar in Quilty and have a bite at the Chipper. And say 'hi' to the Galvins for me.

Answer 4

you dont say how long you have so you may not fit all these in. start by kissing the blarney stone before you leave cork for kerry to visit muckross house and gardens, killarney national park, torc waterfall, dingle, blasket island. move on to limerick city for some shopping. after that go to bunratty castle, just outside the city. try to book one of the banquets for later that evening. drive through the burren in co clare, if you have five hours to spare look for fr teds house, on to cliffs of moher, doolin cave, inis oirr, the smallest aran island can be got to from here. when you get to galway, see the city, gamble in salthill, move on to the gaeltacht, get a boat to inis mor or inis meain, the other 2 aran islands, visit padraig pearses cottage, go around connemara, visit kylemore abbey, go to inisbofin if the ceili band are playing. move on to mayo, climb croagh patrick, visit ballintubber abbey where pierce brosnan got married, visit ashford castle in cong, location of the film the quiet man. if you get that far, you've covered the best bits, in my opinion.

Answer 5

here are some of the things to do in ireland

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

rubydogsgreen

got it exactly correct...listen to her/him!!

Answer 7

I live in Cork!!!! Nah Kerry is nice enough I suppose and around the western coast (Galway and Mayo). Then you could head up to Donegal and back then around to Dublin (I wouldn't stay there too long tho lol)

Answer 8

Well, you're flying to the right place, for a start. Dublin is alright, but it still feels very much like an English city, especially when compared the West and South!

You don't say how long you have. If you don't have long, I'd go with someone else's recommendation and stay in a B&B in a small town to get the feel of the place, and do day tours around. Look for someplace that has trad music sessions in the local pubs, there are many ....!

Do not attempt to drive too far in a day. If you are American, not only do you have to negotiate driving on the other side of the road on the other side of the car, but you also have to deal with much smaller and slower roads. Distances might look short on maps, but to give an example, it takes 3-4 hours to drive from Cork to Dublin, and even then in favourable traffic conditions. Take this into consideration when planning trips.

Bunratty is great, as is King John's Castle in Limerick. There's also the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, Loop Head, Connemara, the cities of Galway, Cork, and Limerick in the west, Waterford and Kilkenny to the South-East, the three Kerry peninsulas, West Cork .... if you're into castles, google Castles in Ireland and see what you come up with. Likewise Megalithic Remains. I live fairly near a stone circle that dates from about 3,000 years ago.

And don't forget - the weather is a talking point all on its own, for good reason. Yes, bring t-shirts and shorts. But also bring good shoes, socks, warm clothes and most importantly, a raincoat. The chances are you will need it.

Answer 9

the giants causeway was amazing, the Cliffs of Moher, and go to the show in Bunraty (sp?) castle.