Where are he best "non-touristy" places and things to do in Ireland?

Question

I'm taking a trip around Ireland in August, and I'm sick of visiting tourist meccas becasue they all seem to have the same feel. I'm looking to experience "the true Ireland", but I don't know where to start. Also I'll be relying on public transportation.

Answer 1

For a start, public transport is not helpful, because it brings you right to the tourist places. I would think your best bet is to hire a small car.

What you need is a way to get off the main roads and down to the hidden places. Make friends with an Irish family, and get them to take you to places where they like to go. Or do some research beforehand, get a map and really look at it, and find lesser known parks and villages on the coast and that kind of thing.

Answer 2

Public transportation is, unfortunately, not the way you need to go if you want to visit the non-touristy places. Your best bet is really to rent a car to get around...get to the out of the way places.

My favourite spot in Ireland is the Poulawack Cairn.  It's off the R480 on the Burren (the same road that takes you to the famous Poulnabrone Dolmen).  The buses can't get to it, so there are very few people there (in fact, last year when we went, we were up there for a few hours and didn't see another soul!).  It's a bit of a hike across the limestone floor of the Burren, but it's fascinating and totally isolated.

We also got a map of the Burren and took off in a car with just the map and a compass.  We found some totally out of the way places (one of which required us to walk across some farmer's land and go through the only non-electric part of an electric fence).  It was the best time!  I could have just done that for the whole trip and may the next time we go.

We also found much of Donegal to be less touristy than the southern and central west parts of the country.

Answer 3

ok i get ya, right what ya wanna do is pick random towns and try to get to them for the craic :)

a few suggestions

virginia in cavan has a hotel called the lake side manor, not at all touristy, great views, great people at the weekend, has a night club attached, you can hire a boat for €50 and explore the lake and see cool wild life, come back have a great meal, a few drinks and all very reasonably priced.

you have to stay a night in neenagh co. tipperary aswell at the weekend.

ireland's nightlife is typically dead during the week days, just a warning

visit the docklands in both dublin and cork

walk the cliffs at bundoren in donegal

visit skerries in north dublin

see the river shannon

the entire west of ireland is beutiful,i.e. galway, kerry, claire

go to a pub in a town in the west of Ireland whilst the GAA is on :)

go to a pub in Tipperary and watch a hurling match:)

see the phenox park and mabye visit the zoo if your into that thing

someone will always talk to you when you feed the ducks in St. Stepens green in dublin ( but if its from the bushes run away. Fast)

go on a random 30 min taxi journey, in whatever county you want, you will hear all the gossip:) or if its in dublin youl hear all the solutions to the --bleedin' state o' de country today :)

p.s. if you are relying on public transport enquire at the bus/train depots of ramblertickets as hoppin on and of will add up very very quickly from your pocket

hope this all helps:)

Answer 4

try islands close to south shore...take ferry and you are in willdness..I loved it...my the most favourite is Bear islan

Answer 5

The West is your best bet if you want fun but want to experience "old", traditional Ireland at the same time

Go to Co. Clare!!! (fly to Shannon Airport)

I have family who live in a town there called Ballyvaughan....and its absolutely beautiful

i defo think you should go for a thatched cottage in there.....theyre self-catering....so much more memorable and "real" than a B&B or hotel!

I have stayed in these before and it was great!

heres a link for accomodation

http://www.irishcottageholidays.com/acco...

Visit the little pubs and restaraunts by the sea - theres always live music.....and not just tourists!

Theres also lots of cool scenic things there too.

The burren (take a look at the Dolmens, theyre incredible!).

The Ailwee caves,

The cliffs of Moher

Theres also a "birds of Prey" sanctuary near the Burren - worth a visit.

Clare is small so you'll bump into locals there.....my only advice for you is too not be toooo flamboyant or anything (if you want to be "non-touruisty") Try to avoid fitting into the annoying "American Tourist" stereotype who loudly boasts about their "rish blood"

(sorry if that sounds mean!)

Of course, in every beautiful area/park/attraction in Ireland, you should expect tourists - theres no getting away from it.....

But that said, visiting a place like Clare is so much different to say, Dublin

You wouldnt regret it

Also, the public transport in Dublin is attrocious....and is practically non-existant in a rural area such as the West Coast!!

As already mentioned, I recommend you rent a car....

If you dont want to do that....then oh well, you'll just have to rely on the bad-bus-system like everyone else in Clare! lol

xxxx

Have a great holiday

Answer 6

there are many fairs which tourists would not normally go to such as cahiramee horse fair in buttevant co.cork . its a brilliant day out and ur bound to bump into many locals who will go for a drink with you and be genuinly very friendly

Answer 7

hi you

well visit cork and Dublin for starters anyway

Answer 8

non-touristy - stay away from Dublin then - it is filled with tourists.

The west is definitely where you should go.

Go to the White House Pub in Limerick on a wednesday night for Open Mic Poetry readings from 9pm.

Have a pint of Guinness in Tom Frawleys pub in Lahinch co.clare

Go to the Aran Islands

One guy hitch-hiked around Ireland with a fridge - read his book

Answer 9

That Tony Hawkes book was awful, the only reason he got anywhere was because of the publicity he got at the time & a certain amount of goodwill, which I don't think he deserved.

Answer 10

Look through the tourist/guide books - some of the tourist things are worthwhile (as in every country) and some are c**p/ a waste of time. Figure out a must see list and then once you have covered that - go where the tourists aren't.  Use the guide book as a list of where NOT to go. Rent a car if possible and get a map and just explore. You can do it by public transport as well, it might be a little limiting. You will hit some off areas that may be great or might be lame...but that is what the reality of any place is.

Talk to people in pubs and shops, get to know people. If you have any family - look them up. Locals are always the best tour guides anywhere you go.

I often get annoyed with tourists that come to the US and only hit the tourist traps that just reinforce their previous stereotypes of America and Americans - many travelers just visit places to reinforce their already formed views - sort of like those that come looking for the Quiet Man in Ireland. That is like thinking America is exactly like Disney-world. Let the places you visit and the people you meet inform you. You may waste a day or two - but go off the beaten path - even if you just pick a place on the map at random. Wing it.