Off Topic Thread 3.0

thomond2006

Bazzo wrote: »

Not a Haye fan but he's definitely tough. He broke his hand in the middle of the Valuev fight and still managed to win it.

For a half-second I was triggered. Then I realised.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

For a half-second I was triggered. Then I realised.

You realised he was talking about someone that could actually adequately compete into their mid-thirties?

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

You realised he was talking about someone that could actually adequately compete into their mid-thirties?

Neil3030

Buer wrote: »

You realised he was talking about someone that could actually adequately compete into their mid-thirties?

Jesus christ. No lube or anything, just straight in, dry as a bone. You cold cold bastard.

b.gud

Buer wrote: »

Except us, right? Right?!

During international windows everyone on the rugby form gets relegated back to the probably a d!ck category so it's not a great time to ask

Scythica

Me and missus are planning to do an Irish road trip. North and south.

I know the north quite well (at least down and Antrim) but open to any suggestions?

Want to cover most of the island in 10ish days. Newgrange. Cliffs of moher and usual touristy stuff really. National parks and that too.

Any unseen treasures you wouldn't normally hear about? Anyone done similar?

awec

Scythica wrote: »

Me and missus are planning to do an Irish road trip. North and south.

I know the north quite well (at least down and Antrim) but open to any suggestions?

Want to cover most of the island in 10ish days. Newgrange. Cliffs of moher and usual touristy stuff really. National parks and that too.

Any unseen treasures you wouldn't normally hear about? Anyone done similar?

Portlaoise, Mullingar, Bundoran, Dundalk, anywhere in Kildare, Drogheda. All towns you absolutely must visit.

Buer

Scythica wrote: »

Me and missus are planning to do an Irish road trip. North and south.

I know the north quite well (at least down and Antrim) but open to any suggestions?

Want to cover most of the island in 10ish days. Newgrange. Cliffs of moher and usual touristy stuff really. National parks and that too.

Any unseen treasures you wouldn't normally hear about? Anyone done similar?

Everyone knows about the Ring of Kerry but go 30 minutes south into west Cork and it's equally beautiful. The Healy Pass, Allihies and the Beara Peninsula are beautiful.

Can easily do the west coast from Donegal down to west Cork and see some top scenery in every county along the coastline. Mayo is a little underrated but since the Greenway came along is getting much more popular for areas such as Mulranny, Achill Sound etc. and down into Connemara. Limerick probably doesn't have the scenery but somewhere like Adare is a nice little town if you manage to avoid anything close to peak traffic times.

Alternatively, you can do the east coast and take in the more historic element of the country along with some pretty solid scenery along the way too.

10 days and the whole island is probably a little optimistic, to be honest. Even doing the west coast top to bottom will mean you're pretty flat out to see the majority of sights in those counties given the fact that you're going to be far from motorways.

thomond2006

Starting from Kinsale you could spend 10 days on the west coast alone! Factor in a day or two of rain that could derail progress.

Zzippy

b.gud wrote: »

During international windows everyone on the rugby form gets relegated back to the probably a d!ck category so it's not a great time to ask

WTF. Have you been snooping in the mod forum? That's official policy...

awec

How long are you going for Scynthia? You could spend a week in Portlaoise alone.

Scythica

Yeah I get that I'm being optimstic timing wise.

Trying to pull together a list of things we'd like to do, and then work it out from there really.

Heard a lot of good things about the Ring of Kerry and near Connemara. Was trying to work it around being up at the NW200 in May too.

I know we won't manage to see everything. I think its mad though that I lived there for 22 years and never really see a whole heap (outside of Co Antrim/Down/Stroke County. Tend to not to the tourist stuff when you live there do you.

We're not adverse to a lot of driving anyway. Did a banger rally once and got to Bucharest from Calais (2000+ miles) in a week. Sounds horrible but one of the best weeks of my life. So much going on!

Buer

awec wrote: »

How long are you going for Scynthia? You could spend a week in Portlaoise alone.

Sure I know a few lads who have been in Portlaoise for the last 15-20 years.

Scythica

awec wrote: »

How long are you going for Scynthia? You could spend a week in Portlaoise alone.

Somewhere between 9 - 16 days depending on how much leave we take.

irishbucsfan

Athy is beautiful in May supposedly

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Athy is beautiful in May supposedly

The most pubs per capita of any town in Ireland, if memory serves me correctly.

awec

Buer wrote: »

Sure I know a few lads who have been in Portlaoise for the last 15-20 years.

It really is a wonderful place.

awec

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Athy is beautiful in May supposedly

You're from Portlaoise right? Can't you help Scynthia out with some of the local attractions?

mfceiling

Ballinskelligs in kerry is beautiful. Do the "hidden" ring...it will take you past finian's bay and the skelligs chocolate factory. That'll put 2 hours on your journey and 2 inches on your waist.

errlloyd

Scythica wrote: »

Want to cover most of the island in 10ish days. Newgrange. Cliffs of moher and usual touristy stuff really. National parks and that too.

Not far from the cliffs of Moher just off the road to Galway is a chocolate cafe, shop and visitor centre called Hazelnut Mountain Chocolate factory. I saw a sign for it last time I was out west and couldn't resist having a look. Irish Times reckons it's got one of the top 10 cappuccinos in Ireland, and the Brownie I got was class. (Easily the best Gluten Free brownie I have had, but I don't usually order GF).

https://www.hazelmountainchocolate.com/

Stop for a coffee there, and pretend to the missus you just stumbled upon it.

If you get to Galway you should go out Inis Mor for a day. I think the ferry is about 25e and you can Rent bikes for 10e and cycle around the Island. See Dun Aengus and all that nonsense, but definitely go to the Worm Hole (Pol na bPeist). It is this bizarre blow hole in the cliffs on the west side of the Inis Mor. You park up your bike behind some house and walk across this sort of bizarre smooth rock ground to get there (following markings painted on stones there is no path). If it is a calm warm day, be prepared to jump in. I was there in late September. Dun Aengus was packed with people, almost no one went to the worm hole. It's west facing, and the heat off the sun was lovely.

Those are the two best things I did out west this year that I didn't see many tourists doing.

Zzippy

Few things I'd do, some I've done already and some on bucket list.

Night kayaking in west Cork with Atlantic Kayaking - Jim Kennedy is the guide and his tours have won loads of awards. All gear provided. Haven't done it yet but it's on my list when I get to west Cork. 3 hour tour after dark, hope for clear skies and bioluminescence in the water.

Aillwee Caves in Clare - great tour and doesn't take all day. Not far from Cliffs of Moher so get the two in one day. Marble Arch Caves in Fermanagh also a good underground tour.

Boat trip to the Skelligs - book in advance and hope for good weather. Stunning place.

Westport - Achill greenway - hire a bike and cycle as much or as little of the route as you want - bike hire bus will pick you up and return you to base.

Killarney National Park, Muckross House, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View - all must-see places around Killarney. Drive the Ring of Kerry too while in that area.

Kylemore Abbey in Connemara - stunning scenery, and a great walled garden. Tour of the abbey is meh but the place itself is amazing. 5 mins down the road to Connemara National Park and hike up Diamond Hill for incredible views.

Slieve League - highest sea cliffs in Europe, near Carrick in SW Donegal. More incredible views.

Something off the beaten track but a place I love visiting, especially in summer after rainfall. Halfway between Ballybofey and Fintown - a waterfall at Cloghan Lodge on the River Finn where you can watch salmon and sea trout leaping the falls. Don't forget the midge spray!

Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge nearby - jump up and down on the bridge to frighten the sh1t out of your missus

Titanic exhibition centre in Belfast - on my list of places to visit.

Zzippy

errlloyd wrote: »

Not far from the cliffs of Moher just off the road to Galway is a chocolate cafe, shop and visitor centre called Hazelnut Mountain Chocolate factory. I saw a sign for it last time I was out west and couldn't resist having a look. Irish Times reckons it's got one of the top 10 cappuccinos in Ireland, and the Brownie I got was class. (Easily the best Gluten Free brownie I have had, but I don't usually order GF).

https://www.hazelmountainchocolate.com/

Stop for a coffee there, and pretend to the missus you just stumbled upon it.

.

They make great chocolate too - stuff with salt and seaweed in it that sounds rotten but tastes amazing.

b.gud

Zzippy wrote: »

WTF. Have you been snooping in the mod forum? That's official policy...

I had been hacking your accounts one by one to see what sort of privileges mods get but after a couple of minutes in awecs account I had to stop, it scarred me

b.gud

Zzippy wrote: »

They make great chocolate too - stuff with salt and seaweed in it that sounds rotten but tastes amazing.

Are they the ones who have the shop on middle st in Galway? Went in there for a coffee once and it was nice and your man seemed pretty decent and told us a good bit about the chocolate that he makes

Zzippy

b.gud wrote: »

Are they the ones who have the shop on middle st in Galway? Went in there for a coffee once and it was nice and your man seemed pretty decent and told us a good bit about the chocolate that he makes

Was he a hipster? That's the place if so, although he seems pretty sound for a hipster

dregin

Scythica wrote: »

Me and missus are planning to do an Irish road trip. North and south.

I know the north quite well (at least down and Antrim) but open to any suggestions?

Want to cover most of the island in 10ish days. Newgrange. Cliffs of moher and usual touristy stuff really. National parks and that too.

Any unseen treasures you wouldn't normally hear about? Anyone done similar?

Look at doing the wild atlantic way, maybe?

thomond2006

IBF: Do you rate Mike Glennon?

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

IBF: Do you rate Mike Glennon?

I rate him as a backup. I don't rate him as a starter for anyone.

thomond2006

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I rate him as a backup. I don't rate him as a starter for anyone.

The Bears just signed him on what is really a one year deal when you look at the guaranteed portion.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

The Bears just signed him on what is really a one year deal when you look at the guaranteed portion.

Bears are very likely to take a QB with 3rd overall pick so Glennon could well be back up again. If the 49ers have a QB deal confirmed as seems inevitable, the Bears are likely to get the pick of QBs in the draft....unless Cleveland decide to go for yet another QB. Rumours are they're gonna stick with RG3 to see if he can stay fit for a year.