"Chocolate box" towns & villages

thegreatgonzo wrote: »

The village at Lyons is nice but I'm not sure what you can do there

Have a cup of tea I'd imagine.

if youre heading to leixlip you may as well head to casletown house in cellbridge while you're in the area

John Doe1 wrote: »

Donegal is easily up there in terms of beauty with Kerry and the likes if not better:)

Donegal Town
Ardara
Rathmullan
Dunfanaghy
Killybegs

Take your pick (Not Bundoran!)

Also you can visit the highest sea cliffs in Europe (3 times higher than Cliffs of moher)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slieve_League

Mount Errigal is pretty impressive too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Errigal

Oi don't slag Fundoran!

But naw don't waste the petrol going to Donegal...take them to Monaghan....The lovely wee drumlins and a lake around every corner. Take them to Glaslough Village with its gorgeous stone buildings and drive up to Castle Leslie where they can meet the effervescent Sir Jack Leslie while admiring his ancestral piles....ooop pile.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with a trip to Monaghan unless you end up in Blayney hai and even it has some pretty sights.

Come to Drogheda.

You'll be welcomed off the bus by a friendly blow-in, with a cheeky "here give us a fag yea?" and a threateningly aggressive stance.

Make your way across the dual carriageway to sample the local McDonald's, it's the best one for 15miles. When you've had your fill (I recommend the McNuggets and the Shamrock Shake) you can nip in the Hole in the Wall pub for a pint of Hackenberg (€3.60)

Afterwards you make your way across West street, towards St Peter's Church, to see the severed head of St Oliver Plunkett, try not to get hit by a skateboarder as you mount the steps. When your bored of looking at an old relic (it's just Shank Godfrey, local councillor, canvassing) a trip down the ramparts for a leisurely stroll by the river is in order.

The Boyne river is well known in Irish folklore and mythology, for being the river with the most shopping trolleys dumped per head of population. I think it was 17 per person annually last count. You'll be doing well not to have been knifed for your valuables at this stage, so if you are still in possession of the coin of the realm you can look no further than the Green Door hostel off Poorhouse Lane to lay the head.

Also used as emergency accommodation by the HSE, some friendly 4am shouting and banter to be had with such local characters as Mad Mona and Black Friday.

When you settle your bill (€15/night) don't drink the coffee the train station is a short walk away to get your sorry arses back to Dublin. Don't forget to tell your friends.

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Another idea - a bit pricey - but a day trip to Belfast on the Enterprise. Have lunch and a living history bus tour. Not chocolate box stuff, but they'll be telling everyone about it for years.

Ah yes.. I'd love visitors to my country to hear about bombs going off and Catholic and Protestants fighting.
I'd rather them just see Howth and Dalkey

John Doe1 wrote: »

A lot of people would find that educational and interesting.

I much prefer Belfast to Dublin, it also has:

Titanic Museum
Botanic Gardens
Queens
Ulster Museum
W5
Belfast Castle
Queens Film Theatre
City Hall
Cathedral Quarter
Many funny, straight forward people

And you are only a stones throw from the glens of antrim

I would rather people see the real Ireland than some snobbish suburb.

If you are going somewhere on the east coast, go to carlingford.

Howth and Dalkey are snobbish?

Dublin has

Botanic Gardens
Trinity College
Many many museums
Dublin Castle
Temple Bar Film Theatre
City Hall
Cathedral Quarter
Many funny, straight forward people