Bringing friends home to Ireland

Tristram

So as the title suggest I have a few friends who are thinking of heading to Ireland at the end of December. I will be home for a fortnight around Christmas so the timing is good in that they can stay at mine and I can drive them around. When it was just an idea I simply thought it would be cool to have them over, which it undoubtedly will be. However, now I’m wondering what the hell we will actually do.

They plan on coming around the 29/30th of December and in typical Japanese fashion hope to see everything under the sun in the space of four or five days. It was only when I tried to think of places I realised how crap a tour-guide I’m likely to be. I know there is an incredible amount to see and do but I seem to be struggling. Guinness Brewery, Trinity and the Book of Kells, Grafton Street. Wicklow Mountains. Giants Causeway. Cliffs of Moher.

There is the nightmare scenario of everywhere possibly being closed for the New Year or it snowing like last year and being trapped in my small town. We will be based in Kildare and driving anywhere and back in a day shouldn’t be too much of a problem given the epic drives that are regular feats here.

Wanted to open this up to the good people of boards. Please help make my friends trip a success! All ideas appreciated!

Rasmus

You seem to have planned to pack in a lot already for 5 days. Perhaps stick in Newgrange as well though, and while in Wicklow, Glendalough.

P. Breathnach

At that time of year I would not try to do very much long-distance stuff, and I would prefer places that are still worth visiting even if the weather is bad.

Where is your base?

Stinicker

Drive them around the Ring of Kerry, I'm sure they will love the scenery! Are these Japanese tourists? If so I once met some Japanese and they loved the Aran Islands!

Tristram

Rasmus wrote: »

You seem to have planned to pack in a lot already for 5 days. Perhaps stick in Newgrange as well though, and while in Wicklow, Glendalough.

None of what I mentioned is confirmed as part of an itinerary Rasmus. Just ideas that popped into my head. I have no idea how I would work them together into a cohesive itinerary. I guess I would like help with that too.

P. Breathnach wrote: »

At that time of year I would not try to do very much long-distance stuff, and I would prefer places that are still worth visiting even if the weather is bad.

Where is your base?

Based in Kildare Breathnach. Weather will probably be a drawback alright. Can you recommend places worth visiting despite the weather?

Stinicker wrote: »

Drive them around the Ring of Kerry, I'm sure they will love the scenery! Are these Japanese tourists? If so I once met some Japanese and they loved the Aran Islands!

Yeah Stinicker, Japanese tourists. Young. I’d like to get some kind of balance between outdoorsy rural stuff and urban. There must be loads to do just in Dublin. Sadly, having spent so much time there it all just seems ordinary to me and I’m not sure what people from abroad might appreciate or what might be open at that time of year.

P. Breathnach

Obviously you have to visit the National Stud and the Japanese Gardens!

I'd suggest a flexible approach. Have a list of options, and be guided by the weather forecast on what day to implement them.

For example, you put Glendalough on the list (following a nice route via Blessington and the Wicklow Gap to get there, and back by the Sally Gap). But look for a day with a low probability of rain and with good visibility. And if there is heavy frost, you might have to modify your routes.

Newgrange can be done on a wet day, even if it is better to have dry weather. You could tie in a visit to Trim Castle.

The open-top bus tours in Dublin are surprisingly good, and they might open your eyes to what the city has to offer -- which includes lots of interesting stuff where you would be protected from the weather (museums, art galleries, Guinness tour, Jameson's old distillery, cathedrals, Kilmanham jail).

If you want scenery, and the Wicklow Mountains don't do it for you, Galway and Connemara are only two hours away. But remember that December days are short.

Darlughda

A good idea would be to note good local pubs in areas that you may be visiting, eg, Cliffs of Moher.
Traditional Irish music that is played by local, talented musicians tend be a big hit with the Japanese, ime.

Try to avoid the obvious big tourist diddley dee joints, (maybe even visit the Trad forum for some suggestions?)

Don't forget you will need some down time as well, it can be very tiring trying to tour guide an intinery in a few days, let alone over the Christmas/New Year period.!
So, if you have a list of recommended trad music sessions in cosy pubs, you will be onto a winner.

Tristram

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Obviously you have to visit the National Stud and the Japanese Gardens!

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I'd suggest a flexible approach. Have a list of options, and be guided by the weather forecast on what day to implement them.

For example, you put Glendalough on the list (following a nice route via Blessington and the Wicklow Gap to get there, and back by the Sally Gap). But look for a day with a low probability of rain and with good visibility. And if there is heavy frost, you might have to modify your routes.

Newgrange can be done on a wet day, even if it is better to have dry weather. You could tie in a visit to Trim Castle.

The open-top bus tours in Dublin are surprisingly good, and they might open your eyes to what the city has to offer -- which includes lots of interesting stuff where you would be protected from the weather (museums, art galleries, Guinness tour, Jameson's old distillery, cathedrals, Kilmanham jail).

If you want scenery, and the Wicklow Mountains don't do it for you, Galway and Connemara are only two hours away. But remember that December days are short.

The weather is a real concern alright but nothing to be done about it other than keep an eye on the forecast and plan accordingly like you say. I haven't been to Newgrange since I was in primary school. Don't remember a huge amount about the trip. Not sure I've ever seen Trim Castle. Is it a ruin or open to the public?

A few people have mentioned the open-top bus tours alright. I think it would probably be best to spend time in the city where there is more to see and do close together. Not losing a lot of time travelling and can hide from the elements inside. Thanks for the suggestions for Dublin! How about Galway city? Worth a day trip? One of my friends wants to head to the Cliffs of Moher which would have us on the west coast at least one day.

Darlughda wrote: »

A good idea would be to note good local pubs in areas that you may be visiting, eg, Cliffs of Moher.
Traditional Irish music that is played by local, talented musicians tend be a big hit with the Japanese, ime.

Try to avoid the obvious big tourist diddley dee joints, (maybe even visit the Trad forum for some suggestions?)

Don't forget you will need some down time as well, it can be very tiring trying to tour guide an intinery in a few days, let alone over the Christmas/New Year period.!
So, if you have a list of recommended trad music sessions in cosy pubs, you will be onto a winner.

Good thinking Darlughda!

Appreciate the suggestions! Please keep them coming!

undo

I have had many friends visit me here in Dublin and quite a number of CouchSurfers as well. I find the city to be a mixed bag to be honest. Some people just fall madly in love with something about it (no idea what) and can spend weeks on end exploring things. Many others though find that after one, two days at most they have seen everything that interests them.

If you plan it well, you can do Dublin in one day and really not miss anything important.

Some of the "top sights" are rather unimpressive, especially for those who have seen a bit of the world out there. For example, I would not subject my friends to the torture and rip-off of the Guinness Storehouse. I would also skip Dublin Castle. Ireland has plenty impressive castles. The Dublin one is nothing against them. The Book of Kells is not really interesting - though the Long Room is nice. If there is no queue, go for it. Otherwise, just skip ahead in your schedule.

Some of the free attractions, like the BoI/former parliament and many of the parks are quite nice - though in the middle of winter, I guess the parks will be pretty barren.

If you leave early for Dublin and spend an entire day in the city, I think you can move on and show them the beautiful countryside that Ireland has to offer for the rest of their stay.

Tristram

Thanks undo. Any idea what the best museums or galleries in Dublin are?

undo

I personally really like the Museum of Modern Art in Dublin. It is housed in an old building but full of modern paintings and sculptures, making for an interesting sight.

The fact that museums are free is really great about Ireland. You can take your friends to a museum - if they hate it, don't waste your time, leave after 5 minutes... no harm done. no money wasted on tickets .

P. Breathnach

People differ. I found the Museum of Modern Art was not to my taste at all. I did like the building, though. I'd start a museum/gallery tour with the National Museum on Kildare Street, which features many of the treasures that are regarded as iconic of Ireland. I also like the Hugh Lane Gallery on Parnell Square (some nice impressionist works in the collection).

Newgrange: pleasant interpretative centre which is fun but a bit of a con because nobody knows enough about the builders of Newgrange to give any sort of interpretation. The tumulus itself is visually impressive and, if you are among the limited numbers who get in, it is a memorable experience. Also on the site you have the tumulus of Knowth surrounded by baby tumuluses.

Trim Castle has been restored, and is open to the public. I went to check if it is open in late December and found http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/TrimCastle/. Note the tabs on the left, which link to other places that might (or might not) interest your visitors.

I did the open-top tour of Dublin with visitors, and was fairly impressed. If it would not offend your dignity too greatly, it might be worthwhile doing the tour before they come in order to get your head around the possibilities.

thesimpsons

don't forget to include something like going to a rugby or GAA match, take them horseriding maybe, hiking - if the weather is bright and dry(ish) it'd be nice. even if theres no big matches on you can get tickets to, they'd be club matches worth going to see. Theres only so much museums and castles to go see. How about a concert too - even a local band would be good. we had chinese visitors here last year and these are the things they loved.