Irish people listen up!

[Cal]

I'm going to Ireland this month for 6 days (I'm American). Where do I need to go/do? I'm going to be based in Waterford because we got a great deal for a condo there but we are planning on traveling around the lower half of the country. If you live in Ireland or have traveled there, give me some tips!

[Cal]

bump

[skizzbot]

I live nowhere near Ireland, but I would recommend you drink massive amounts of beer. That is all.

[eurotrash karlos]

....... Dublin, Guinness factory tour ...... beer, hhhhmmmmmm ......

[Pintman]

Originally Posted by Cal

I'm going to Ireland this month for 6 days (I'm American). Where do I need to go/do? I'm going to be based in Waterford because we got a great deal for a condo there but we are planning on traveling around the lower half of the country. If you live in Ireland or have traveled there, give me some tips!

If you're in Waterford, rent a car and go barreling west toward the coast. Kerry is beautiful. Dingle is a nice little town where Gaelic is still widely spoken. Walk into a pub and they'll instantly switch to English because you look American. From Dingle, drive through the spectacular Conner Pass. Head up the coast to Galway and see the Cliffs of Moher, very popular with tours, or Loophead and Loophead Light, which are just as beautiful and a lot less touristy.

By all means, hit as many pubs as you can. Not so much for the drinking (although I was given my name in Galway), but for the social part. Very different vibe from bars in the U.S. In small towns they're community centers, and getting to know the people is the best part of Ireland.

If you still have time, drive through Connemara. Parts of it are largely deserted because everyone left for the USA in the potato famine. You'll see lots of stone shells of long abandoned houses.

P.S. I can take or leave Dublin, but if you want city, it's there or Cork.

Sláinte, and drink a Beamish for me.

[Rhian]

I love Dublin, but can do it in a day, Trinity College and the Book of Kells, anything in Temple Bar - Bono's bar is called The Kitchen, Grafton Street is a pedestrain mall.

Totally agree about Kerry, and Galway, it's stunning.
There is a tiny town called Ennistymon that is purely magical. Bunratty Castle has ceillighs on Friday and Saturday nights, full course dinners and drinks included.

If you can get to the Cliffs of Mohr, it's also a must see. Incredible.

Waterville is also cute, and you can have dinner or lunch at Charlie Chaplin's former house.

I kissed the Blarney Stone, and it was nuts, and kinda gross if you think about it. But free hanging upside down 200 feet in the air was pretty fun.

Pics of your travels!

[Rhian]

Originally Posted by kaligula

You visiting Dublin? If so, do you know when?

I'm an Irishman from Dublin, by the way. I'll give you a shot of my blowgun.

oh! I love that you call the river Sniffy Liffy and Molly MacGuire is the Tart with the Cart.

[lizzy1e]

I only know Dublin, Galway and Donegal (waaay up North, so I assume you won't end up there). In Dublin I highly recommend the City tour by bus... one ticket and it's valid for 24hours, you hop on and off at various spots of interest... I recommend leaving the Guinness Brewery until last so you don't get stuck without seeing anything else. Dublin Bus City Tour Hop-on Hop-off - Dublin Tours - Seeing the Best of Ireland
If you do end up in Galway, I *don't* recommend the bus tour... nearly died of boredom... just walk around for yourself. Walk down Shop Street, stop at a few taverns...

[Motorboat]

Im from Belfast (North of Ireland) you should definitely check Belfast out, has much more history than anywhere in the south! But yeah Dub is good for the touristy stuff, Galway has a good nightlife scene, its like Dub but smaller/less expensive- Dub is so overpriced!

Are you into sports? I recommend taking in a GAA game, either Gaelic Football or Hurling (the worlds fastest ball sport).

You will have a blast.

Up the ra.

Motorboat.

[mushroomking]

Hi Cal,

I'm from and listening in Dublin and would say if your spending Patrick's Day in Ireland it really doesn't matter where. Its all a party supper party that week. I agree with all the places above and say, don't stay in Dublin more than you need to, tho the parade and afters is worth a picture. For the real Ireland, head as far west as you dare on the crazy roads. There, just relax and suck it all in. Kerry and the Cliffs of Moher are the best. But you could easily spend you whole holiday in the car if try too hard to see it all. My view as a surfer is if its on the west coast it cant be bad. Around Clifden, Galway is my fav.

Up the yard.

Jay