Going to Ireland on Holiday

Marwyn

Gidday all, Im all the way over here in New Zealand and planning my big OE, of which, Ireland is my first stop as my ancestors came from Castlemaine and Wexford.

So the big question is.....I dont want to stick to the big tourist spots, Im wanting to see the countryside, have a beer in village pubs, see some old buildings.

Where do you recommend?

Have you got a favorite town you like to visit and why?

podgeandrodge

Hi Marwyn, how long do you plan on staying in Ireland? Do you plan on covering a lot of the country or concentrating on one area? I'd say you will be given loads of ideas come tomorrow (Monday) when everyone is back at work and not working

Seen as you are probably going to Castlemaine in Kerry, as a starter have a look at Castlegregory - last time I visited it still had a "old village" feel to it.

http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/castlegregory/

Marwyn

Hiya Podge, I have no time limit, Im wanting to do from one end to the other and everything in between.

Ive always had a pull toward Ireland, me Mum says Im very much like her Grandmother that came from Castlemaine, and at the moment we are planning our 30th family 'O'Kelly' Reunion and Ive been organising lots of Irish traditions and history facts so the next generation can learn about our roots.

So this has made me pull finger out and start planning my trip, cant bloody wait and hopefully I do it sooner rather than later......

Cheers for the link, Im having a read of it now.

finbarrk

Call to Dingle in Kerry anyway, also try a trip to the Aran islands, get a ferry from Doolin in Co. Clare.

questionmark?

Avoid the tourist hotspots but still visit the touristy areas if you get me!?!

Visit dublin but avoid temple bar

Dont go to Tipperary for the rock of cashel avoid it instead visit cahair castle just up the road which IMHO is much better( No I'm not from either but I am from Tipp)

Yes do the ring of Kerry but avoid Killarney its just a money spinner go to Ballybunion instead yes its touristy but much better value and not as much of the cheesy "Oirish" thing you get in Killarney.

Go down to cork and see the Beare peninsula which is absolutely stunning.

Go to Lismore in Waterford instead of seeing the waterford crystal factory in the city.

Stop off in any random pub in any random village instead of going to a place that says traditional irish pub in a tourist hot spot just visit a normal pub much better.

The list goes on and on.

It all depends on what you are looking for from your visit to our shores either way I hope you enjoy yourself.

Marwyn

Awesome, thanks....Yeh Im not keen for any of the tourist cheesy shyte, Its bad enough over here with that sort of money making clap trap towns.

As long as there are normal pubs with nice roaring fires that do pea pie and pud.

Freddie59

Hello Marwyn. As you'll be in visiting Wexford, you'll be in one of the most scenic areas of the country (the South East).There are some great pubs in the area including Jack Meade's Pub under the bridge (just outside Waterford City).

There is a smashing drive along the coast from Passage east in Waterford as far as Dungarvan. Again you'll pick up some nice pubs along the way.

On a side note, the Waterford Crystal factory is no longer open:( but the largest Waterford Crystal visitor Centre in the World is located on the Mall in Waterford City.

While there, try T&H Doolan's Pub in George's Street.

If you're in Kerry, there is an abundance of pubs, especially in Kenmare!

Enjoy!

Daisy M

Hi if you make it to mayo take a trip to westport house it is a tourist attraction but a lovely house and gardens, with a lot of history thrown in. It has strong links to grace o malley also known as grainuaile the pirate queen. Westport is a beautiful town really senic and lots of the type of pub you are looking for. Also if you are near wicklow which is beautiful take a trip to wicklow goal, it tells so much history of Ireland and also covers quiet a bit about Irish people been deported to Australia as a punishment for their crimes! Enjoy your trip hope you trace a few relatives.

Marwyn

Cheers for all this guys, much appreciated, many things getting jotted down in my little green book.

chughes

Check out Glendalough in County Wicklow. It's one of my favourite places in Ireland.

mikedragon32

+1 on Glendalough. Was there today, absolutely beautiful. While there take a drive along the Sally Gap.

FoxyVixen

Check out Strandhill in Sligo. Best surfing you'll get in Europe Mullaghmore beach is also nice and quieter than the other two beaches round Sligo. Think you'll be surprised the beaches in Ireland. Been to NZ few years back, lived their for 6 months (LOVED IT!!) and lived for 2 years in Oz. Do be careful though because the Atlantic is a differant kettle of fish to read

Beside Strandhill climb Knocknerea mountain. Queen Maeve is buried up there under a pile of stones. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlsli/legend3.html

If art is your thing, ya can see Yeats grave out Drumcliffe area. He was a well known poet. If out there, get your lunch at Yeats Tavern, best food for the prices there. Worked there few years back. Nice Irish feed and there's a fire there

Head out to Markree Castle in Collooney and enjoy a horse ride around the castle which is now a hotel http://www.markreecastle.ie/

Ballymote has loadsa cool birds to check out http://www.eaglesflying.com/AboutUs.htm

There's loadsa stone age graves and that around Sligo, some more known than others. Some still hidden away from the public

Obviously I hail from the Land of Hearts Desire (Sligo). An awful lot to see here. Had my mate over from Oz here and she loved every minute of it

Where in NZ are ya from if ya don't mind me asking? Stunning country you have. Always thought it was like Ireland - only excelled in beauty in its landscape. And to me beating Irish countryside is a hard thing to do

Marwyn

FoxyVixen wrote: »

Check out Strandhill in Sligo. Best surfing you'll get in Europe Mullaghmore beach is also nice and quieter than the other two beaches round Sligo. Think you'll be surprised the beaches in Ireland. Been to NZ few years back, lived their for 6 months (LOVED IT!!) and lived for 2 years in Oz. Do be careful though because the Atlantic is a differant kettle of fish to read

Beside Strandhill climb Knocknerea mountain. Queen Maeve is buried up there under a pile of stones. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlsli/legend3.html

If art is your thing, ya can see Yeats grave out Drumcliffe area. He was a well known poet. If out there, get your lunch at Yeats Tavern, best food for the prices there. Worked there few years back. Nice Irish feed and there's a fire there

Head out to Markree Castle in Collooney and enjoy a horse ride around the castle which is now a hotel http://www.markreecastle.ie/

Ballymote has loadsa cool birds to check out http://www.eaglesflying.com/AboutUs.htm

There's loadsa stone age graves and that around Sligo, some more known than others. Some still hidden away from the public

Obviously I hail from the Land of Hearts Desire (Sligo). An awful lot to see here. Had my mate over from Oz here and she loved every minute of it

Where in NZ are ya from if ya don't mind me asking? Stunning country you have. Always thought it was like Ireland - only excelled in beauty in its landscape. And to me beating Irish countryside is a hard thing to do

Southland

Rodin

Beara Peninsula rather than ring of kerry

Inis Mor

Great Blasket on a sunny day

Sceilih Mhicil

Newgrange

Carrick-a-rede rope bridge

Donegal

celticraven

Thanks for telling me about this thread!

Marwyn and I are going to inspire and cheerlead and coerce each other into doing this big Irish OE together

So, in the name of good research, when would be the best time of year to visit? And are there any annual festivals we shouldn't miss?

cheers from NZ :cool:

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

Thanks for telling me about this thread!

Marwyn and I are going to inspire and cheerlead and coerce each other into doing this big Irish OE together

So, in the name of good research, when would be the best time of year to visit? And are there any annual festivals we shouldn't miss?

cheers from NZ :cool:

WOOHOO hullo cuddly one.....

celticraven

oh dear, I'd better jump on one of those infomercial miracle workers! :eek:

I loooooooooooooooooooooooooove the look of the eagle place

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

oh dear, I'd better jump on one of those infomercial miracle workers! :eek:

I loooooooooooooooooooooooooove the look of the eagle place

9lbs, whats that in NZD? Bout 18 bucks? Not too bad a price.

Cosimo Salvatore

Obviously you must go to Galway. This is the place you need to go. And go during this http://www.galwayartsfestival.com/

celticraven

Marwyn wrote: »

9lbs,

for a fraction of a minute I thought you were talking about my weight... pml.;)

Marwyn

Cosimo Salvatore wrote: »

Obviously you must go to Galway. This is the place you need to go. And go during this http://www.galwayartsfestival.com/

Looks awesome......Cheers.

celticraven

Cosimo Salvatore wrote: »

http://www.galwayartsfestival.com/

wow, that must be a huge event! I had a look at past events, and I didn't realise that Human League was still going :eek:

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

for a fraction of a minute I thought you were talking about my weight... pml.;)

I need a hit over the head emote like TLP in here me thinks....Cheeky wench.

Im off to get ready for work, but will be back in later to listen to all the sexy wonderful irish accents......

celticraven

Have fun

This time zone difference thing could get a bit frustrating, but all in the name of research, I say

Daisy M

www.ballinasalmonfestival.ie This a great festival goes on for a week. Probably one of the best if not the best in Ireland.

celticraven

Ooooh, I like the looke of the Heritage Day *saves to wish list*


If we were to do a tour of the more off-the-track parts of Ireland, what would be the best and cheapest way of doing it? What's the cheapest (but still at least reasonably nice) accomodation? Transport?

The travel brochures make everything look so 'touristy', but I guess if we looked at our own country it would be the same

chughes

Have a look at this website to see if it's what you are looking for : http://www.paddywagon.ie/

celticraven

Thank you! The website looks verra verra interesting

Cosimo Salvatore

celticraven wrote: »

Ooooh, I like the looke of the Heritage Day *saves to wish list*


If we were to do a tour of the more off-the-track parts of Ireland, what would be the best and cheapest way of doing it? What's the cheapest (but still at least reasonably nice) accomodation? Transport?

The travel brochures make everything look so 'touristy', but I guess if we looked at our own country it would be the same

The best and cheapest way to travel here would be running. Most people here in Ireland run anywhere we wish to go. It saves money and is good fun. It takes about 6 hours to run around Ireland. Some people use cars, but most of us run. We run to the shops, we run to work and we run to many other places. Running and working, working and running. Running all the time.

On a more serious note, most of us use segways. We take segways to work, we take segways to the shops. All of us using segways. Segways and segways, segways and segways. Segways segways segways.

On a lighter note, you should maybe check out this site -

http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=173

The do bus tours etc. How about a Music festival eg http://www.oxegen.ie/

Or

http://www.electricpicnic.ie/

neaideabh

Athlone is halfway between Dublin and Galway and linked by our motorway network! It hosts the crossing point (from east to west) across the Shannon river and is the capital of the lakeland region! Lough Ree is just north of Athlone!

"www.athlone.ie"

Marwyn

Cosimo Salvatore wrote: »

The best and cheapest way to travel here would be running. Most people here in Ireland run anywhere we wish to go. It saves money and is good fun. It takes about 6 hours to run around Ireland. Some people use cars, but most of us run. We run to the shops, we run to work and we run to many other places. Running and working, working and running. Running all the time.

On a more serious note, most of us use segways. We take segways to work, we take segways to the shops. All of us using segways. Segways and segways, segways and segways. Segways segways segways.

On a lighter note, you should maybe check out this site -

http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=173

The do bus tours etc. How about a Music festival eg http://www.oxegen.ie/

Or

http://www.electricpicnic.ie/

Are you kidding? It only takes 6 hours to run around the whole of Ireland?

Are you teasing us?? lol

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

Thank you! The website looks verra verra interesting

Looksie ravey......http://www.carsireland.ie/

Marwyn

is mise astra wrote: »

www.ballinasalmonfestival.ie This a great festival goes on for a week. Probably one of the best if not the best in Ireland.

Motorbike show, noice!!!!!!!

Cosimo Salvatore

Marwyn wrote: »

Looksie ravey......http://www.carsireland.ie/

I wouldn't use that. This is where it's at - http://www.donedeal.ie/donedeal/

celticraven

running sounds just the ticket!



*checks in mirror for insane etched into forehead*
next you'll be saying that fluorescent lycra running gear is back in fashion :eek:


I picked up some travel brochures and some library books to peruse, so may be picking y'alls brains again shortly where's that Marwyn at? We have lots to plan :cool:

celticraven

omg I want!
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2024853
would someone kindly store this in their garage until we get over???

celticraven

neaideabh wrote: »

"www.athlone.ie"[/QUOTE]

looks very promising

hey Marwyn, this looks good: http://www.athlone.ie/whats-on/karma-club-athlone
(now, can some please explain just what it is? lol)

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

omg I want!
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2024853
would someone kindly store this in their garage until we get over???

That will fit me and my gear, yours can go on the roof........

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

neaideabh wrote: »

"www.athlone.ie"

looks very promising

hey Marwyn, this looks good: http://www.athlone.ie/whats-on/karma-club-athlone
(now, can some please explain just what it is? lol)

All I saw was 'Sin Sunday' WE HAVE TO GO!!!!

celticraven

Marwyn wrote: »

That will fit me and my gear, yours can go on the roof........

does that mean I'd have to get a suitcase called Louis?

Stinicker

celticraven wrote: »

Thanks for telling me about this thread!

Marwyn and I are going to inspire and cheerlead and coerce each other into doing this big Irish OE together

So, in the name of good research, when would be the best time of year to visit? And are there any annual festivals we shouldn't miss?

cheers from NZ :cool:

For time of year to Visit your best bet is the final two weeks of July to the first three weeks of August, this should give you the best chance for some decent dry weather over here.

However bear in mind this is also peak season so things will also be more expensive as it also during this time that Ireland's school children have their summer holidays (well from May to September actually), so it is peak season for Domestic tourism and flights will be more expensive also Irish people tend to do our summer getaways to Spain etc. during this time also.

However Tourism levels are dramatically down since the 2006/07 peak and prices and vistor numbers at the main attractions will be less than a few years ago, all of this is good for you the visiting tourist.

When you are in Kerry the 15th of August is an annual Fairday in Kenmare which dates back to ancient times, nowadays it is the biggest day of the year in the town.

The Killarney summerfest runs during the last week of July and has some music events laid on, this was a massive event mid-decade with major international stars but in recent years it has downscaled.

If you spend any time in Dublin I would advise you to go see our national sport GAA, during July and August the championship will be coming to its zenith and you could go see a Hurling or Gaelic Football match, my recommendation would be a Hurling match due to its unique Irishness, you will have no problem getting tickets as Croke Park holds 82,500 although if Dublin are playing in the Football it could be difficult, if you are here in September you would find it almost impossible to get tickets to both of the Hurling and Football Finals.

I would advise hiring a car and going exploring along the Western Seaboard, start in Wexford or Waterford and work your way along the South Coast and up the West Coast, you will always find nice affordable B&B (Bed and Breakfasts) which are usually family run affairs and it offers a nice way to see Rural Ireland. Just one thing Fuel in Ireland is insanely expensive at €1.53/litre now which would be about NZ$2.80/litre, so if you were to hire a car for a week or more don't forget to budget at least €100 - €150 for petrol!

How do you plan to come here? Etihad offers good deals from both Dublin and London Heathrow. Either way the Airfare will probably not be cheap considering Ireland and New Zealand are almost antipodal.

celticraven

Very helpful information, thank you!
I was in the travel agent's yesterday, and she said that the airlines here have their 'specials' in Oct and Nov for the following year, and that could knock off about $1000 off the price

Our petrol is sitting at $2.18 for unleaded (91) at present (thieving b*&%$*&), highest its ever been. What are the average prices there for staple foods like milk and bread?

Also, if we wished to avoid the high tourist season, would the spring or autumn side of summer be better, weatherwise? Or is that region-dependant?

saywhatyousee

Best time to visit would be may-June or the end August threw till the start of October.I would avoid July -august its very busy expensive and i never found the weather great most Julys

celticraven

Its great to be able be given information to help narrow down the wide range of choices available for a couple of avid wanna-be holiday adventurers like us two old ducks

Daisy M

celticraven wrote: »

Very helpful information, thank you!
I was in the travel agent's yesterday, and she said that the airlines here have their 'specials' in Oct and Nov for the following year, and that could knock off about $1000 off the price

Our petrol is sitting at $2.18 for unleaded (91) at present (thieving b*&%$*&), highest its ever been. What are the average prices there for staple foods like milk and bread?

Also, if we wished to avoid the high tourist season, would the spring or autumn side of summer be better, weatherwise? Or is that region-dependant?

When you say$2.18 do you mean per gallon? It is approx 1.46 e per LITRE here at the moment. Loaf of bread 1.90e , milk, 2.20e per 2 litre.

Marwyn

celticraven wrote: »

Its great to be able be given information to help narrow down the wide range of choices available for a couple of avid wanna-be holiday adventurers like us two old ducks

OLD?? OLD!!!???:eek:

Marwyn

is mise astra wrote: »

When you say$2.18 do you mean per gallon? It is approx 1.46 e per LITRE here at the moment. Loaf of bread 1.90e , milk, 2.20e per 2 litre.

Nope, she means per Litre. Cheapest crap loaf of bread here is $1.50, a decent loaf is between $3-4, I dont know how much a 2ltr of milk is as I only buy 3ltrs and thats around $5.90.

After the first Christchurch earthquake over here last september, some mongrels were putting the milk up to $15.

Daisy M

Marwyn wrote: »

Nope, she means per Litre. Cheapest crap loaf of bread here is $1.50, a decent loaf is between $3-4, I dont know how much a 2ltr of milk is as I only buy 3ltrs and thats around $5.90.

After the first Christchurch earthquake over here last september, some mongrels were putting the milk up to $15.

Sorry for some reason I thought ye were in usa, have no idea what was happening in my brain at that moment!

celticraven

Marwyn wrote: »

OLD?? OLD!!!???:eek:

now, didn't that wake you up quicker than a cuppa coffee or a can of red bull? pml


Oh for the days of petrol under $1.50 *sob* Think I might just get me a gypsy caravan and a plodding old horse . Sounds like the basics are certainly cheaper in Ireland than our blessed perfect slice of paradise

celticraven

Marwyn wrote: »

After the first Christchurch earthquake over here last september, some mongrels were putting the milk up to $15.

as bad as the looters and scammers :mad:

on the other side of it, I heard that one supermarket in one of the malls there decided to give away all his food to quake victims before it went off, and now the insurance company won't recompense him - beauracracy :rolleyes:

nancy121

Ireland is great place to explore on the more traditional side of UK as its remote areas are still the same as it used to be earlier. http://www.ireland-fun-facts.com/ireland-travel.html here are some of the world most remote locations located in or near Ireland. But to explore more you need to have the best mode of transport and the places that you have in mind can best be explored in your own car or in a rental car. If you want to hire a cheap car you car hire from http://www.pointcarhire.com/uk/index.html as they offer real good cars at best price.


Enjoy your trip.