Banana tourism

DanielODonnell

Notorious historical sites like the hill of Tara, Emain Macha and the Grianan of Aileach don't receive a massive amount of visitors but they would rather go to some tayto theme park place or sit in a pub in Dublin. I took a dander to the Griannan of Ailech last summer and most of the tourists had local brogues.

I think it is a messed up world when people would rather go to the set of some banana tv show like Game of Thrones in Antrim rather than visit historical sites that shaped the nations past.

I am sure pubs in Cork city get more foreign visitors than the Rock of Cashel would and of course Dublin will receive more visitors on St Patricks Day than Downpatrick county Down would. It is all about pumping money into the cities you see.

beertons

Talk about a let down, I thought this was about a banana farm in Gweedore.

Zaph

Why would the tourist bodies in the Republic be pumping money into attracting people to Downpatrick? That has nothing to do with pumping money into cities and more about pumping it into the right country.

Mr. Incognito

Is this like the Pink Pound?

Stops for the gheys?

than visit historical sites that shaped the nations past.

Next stop the Magdalene Laundries and the Tuam Baby Home.

gramar

I thought this was about a Bananas in Pyjamas theme park.
Disappointed now.

Arghus

Notorious?

http://cruisepeople.co.uk/freighters.htm
You used to be able to cruise on the banana boats going over and back from the Caribbean.

You can still book onto freighters going to Asia.

goose2005

but are we any different when we go abroad? When we go to Spain we go to the beach, not to Roman Tarragona or ancient Córdoba

Annasopra

Was there a fyffes visitor centre set up or something?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Annasopra

Is this tourism for the 5 million we eat every year here?

gw80

goose2005 wrote: »

but are we any different when we go abroad? When we go to Spain we go to the beach, not to Roman Tarragona or ancient Córdoba

I went to tarragona whilst on holiday in salue,
Went to the ampiteathre in all that, I loved it but herself and the kids were bored out of their uncultured minds so back on the bus back to what I consider hell on earth, salue.

Sofiztikated

That's the joy of tourism.

You can go and see whatever the **** you want.

pajo1981

goose2005 wrote: »

but are we any different when we go abroad? When we go to Spain we go to the beach, not to Roman Tarragona or ancient Córdoba

I visit Tarragona every time I stay at Playa de Bara. Get pissed in the evening though.

pajo1981

Sofiztikated wrote: »

That's the joy of tourism.

You can go and see whatever the **** you want.

He wants to spread the misery so they get an authentic Irish experience. Throw in dull wet weather for the icing on the cake.

sjb25

Arghus wrote: »

Notorious?

B.I.G!!

Capt'n Midnight

beertons wrote: »

Talk about a let down, I thought this was about a banana farm in Gweedore.

Or the banana factory down in Cork.

weekday

fukk this country

Glenster

DanielODonnell wrote: »

I think it is a messed up world when people would rather go to the set of some banana tv show like Game of Thrones in Antrim rather than visit historical sites that shaped the nations past.

In fairness the hill of Tara is boring as sh*t. Its basically just a bumpy field.

Don't know what you're on about bananas for.

Widdershins

Glenster wrote: »

In fairness the hill of Tara is boring as sh*t. Its basically just a bumpy field.

Don't know what you're on about bananas for.

It's true, there's not much to actually look at in *some* of those places but it's more about the feeling, and the stories behind them.

I would love if we made more of our heritage sites. I'm sure a lot of people have no idea what or where half of them are. I can't get enough of them and one of my worries is that the built structures are going to fall down and go totally to ruin.

A beach resort is my personal idea of hell.

ceegee

DanielODonnell wrote: »

Notorious historical sites like the hill of Tara, Emain Macha and the Grianan of Aileach don't receive a massive amount of visitors but they would rather go to some tayto theme park place or sit in a pub in Dublin. I took a dander to the Griannan of Ailech last summer and most of the tourists had local brogues.

I think it is a messed up world when people would rather go to the set of some banana tv show like Game of Thrones in Antrim rather than visit historical sites that shaped the nations past.

I am sure pubs in Cork city get more foreign visitors than the Rock of Cashel would and of course Dublin will receive more visitors on St Patricks Day than Downpatrick county Down would. It is all about pumping money into the cities you see.

Strangely enough most people arent going to spend their limited holiday days visiting places where there USED to be interesting stuff. Historical sites are boring as hell to a lot of people unless theres interesting monuments/builfings to look at.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Badly Drunk Boy

beertons wrote: »

Talk about a let down, I thought this was about a banana farm in Gweedore.

Do you realise that people would rather have afternoon tea with Wee Daniel and Majella than visit the banana farm in Gweedore where the Banana Split was invented? It's a travesty!!

Those bananas helped to end the Civil War, the Irish one. And the Spanish one.

ben.schlomo

Historical bananas for all, pubs for nobody!

The hill of Tara is very atmospheric despite only being a lump in a field, The OP post has a whiff of, how dare people enjoy themselves when they could be miserable instead.

Cutie 3.14

Yes but, OP, there is no proper transportation out to half of these locations, cities and pubs are handy for tourists. Even as an Irish person who lives here some of the scenic or historic attractions are a pain to get to!

I'm agreeing with you by the way and I know there are day tours on buses and whatnot but yeah, you'd want to be hiring a car and not everyone is willing/wants to do that so, easily accessed cities it is for them.

pajo1981

mariaalice wrote: »

The hill of Tara is very atmospheric despite only being a lump in a field, The OP post has a whiff of, how dare people enjoy themselves when they could be miserable instead.

Ireland's misery is world class though. Why wouldn't you want to share that.

Donal55

Glenster wrote: »

In fairness the hill of Tara is boring as sh*t. Its basically just a bumpy field.

Don't know what you're on about bananas for.

Post of the day.
LOL.

Dr Crayfish

Why the f*ck would anyone go to see the Hill of Tara? It's a barely noticeable mound of grass. Imagine the let down. I don't think it's even marketed as a tourist site as there's f*ck all to see.

Hector Bellend

weekday wrote: »

banana republic

i wonder does bob geldof read boards?

He reads the guardian. Tosser.

RobertKK

Ah sure Kilkenny as the medieval capital of Ireland does be full of tourists, with the Norman castle, the Cathedral with the round tower, museums, caves, and one can ignore all that if they still want to enjoy themselves, what is there on the Hill of Tara?

Somewhere like Killarney has the lakes and mountains.

Widdershins

Maybe you're meant to use your imagination at the Hill of Tara

fly_agaric

DanielODonnell wrote: »

It is all about pumping money into the cities you see.

You should issue an edict about what tourists are permitted to visit when they come to Ireland. That will show them. You could be like the "Pol Pot" of tourism for Ireland, driving them all out into the fields to learn about the True Country, away from the nasty cities!

(edit - without the genocide of course)

RDM_83 again

Widdershins wrote: »

Maybe you're meant to use your imagination at the Hill of Tara

With somebody who knows what they are talking about to guide you through the various remains and their possible symbolism/ritual uses its good, but I have to agree that on its own its just a hill opposite another hill (Skreen) with a decent view of the surrounding area.

Its selfish but I sort of like that a lot of sites aren't so heavily on the Tourist Trail though, somewhere like Poulnabrone has a constant stream of visitors piling of Paddywagon coaches through the summer so it lacks atmosphere.

suicide_circus

We don't want hordes of slack jawed lollygaggers trampling over out delicate ancient monuments tbh

Minderbinder

I went to Newgrange last year, followed the gps, arrived outside and they told me I had to drive around a few miles to go in another gate. I was literally there, could see it and there was only a wooden fence I'd have to jump. Another two cars arrived at the same place while I was there. It was too late in the evening to drive around.

The Rock of Cashel is also disappointing although I hear they've taken down the scaffolding that's been there for twenty years. It used to be a great sight on the Dublin road but when you go up there it's just an empty shell. In my opinion it would be better if they completely restored it to what it once was rather than trying to preserve ruin.

Glenster

Widdershins wrote: »

Maybe you're meant to use your imagination at the Hill of Tara

Favourite TV show- Testcard

Favourite Toy - A stick

Favourite Food - Dry Cream Crackers

Favourite Holiday - The Hill of Tara

Why do you like those things so much?

Because they I get to use my imagination.

Electric Sheep

I doubt many foreign tourists are going to Tayto Park. It is popular with the natives, though.

jimgoose

"He possessed the very best poverty, hunger and distress also. He was generous and open-handed and he never possessed the smallest object which he did not share with the neighbours; nevertheless, I can never remember him during my time possessing the least thing, even the quantity of little potatoes needful to keep body and soul joined together. In Corkadoragha, where every human being was sunk in poverty, we always regarded him as a recipient of alms and compassion. The gentlemen from Dublin who came in motors to inspect the paupers praised him for his Gaelic poverty and stated that they never saw anyone who appeared so truly Gaelic... There was no one in Ireland comparable to O'Sanassa in the excellence of his poverty; the amount of famine which was delineated in his person."

DanielODonnell

Zaph wrote: »

Why would the tourist bodies in the Republic be pumping money into attracting people to Downpatrick? That has nothing to do with pumping money into cities and more about pumping it into the right country.

I never said they should, I was referring to the situation as a whole, they should be pumping more money into the Griannan of Ailech in Donegal for example.

My point about Downpatrick is that Down/Antrim/Armagh should be where the tourists go for St Patricks day not Dublin.

hungry hypno toad

Glenster wrote: »

Favourite TV show- Testcard

Favourite Toy - A stick

Favourite Food - Dry Cream Crackers

Favourite Holiday - The Hill of Tara

Why do you like those things so much?

Because they I get to use my imagination.

Favourite Joke - What's brown and sticky?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.