Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
Jun 6th 2003, 12:09 am
#1
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Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
the southern section.
--
-Jim
If you want to reply by email its --> ryan at jimryan dot com
Please use BCC and lets all avoid spam
have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
the southern section.
--
-Jim
If you want to reply by email its --> ryan at jimryan dot com
Please use BCC and lets all avoid spam
Jun 7th 2003, 6:58 am
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
I'd first suggest that you revise your intentions and try the northern
part of the country. Donegal is exceptional. Newgrange N of Dublin
should not be missed. For music you should visit Doolin in the Burren
south of Galway. All of these are in the northern part of the republic.
There are things to see in the south but not exclusively.
FFM
jtpr wrote:
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
>
part of the country. Donegal is exceptional. Newgrange N of Dublin
should not be missed. For music you should visit Doolin in the Burren
south of Galway. All of these are in the northern part of the republic.
There are things to see in the south but not exclusively.
FFM
jtpr wrote:
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
>
Jun 7th 2003, 9:50 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
On Fri, 6 Jun 2003 08:09:24 -0400, "jtpr" wrote:
>We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
>have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
>to see?
1. Guinness
2. Green Spot
3. Red Breast
etc. 8
-- Larry
>We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
>have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
>to see?
1. Guinness
2. Green Spot
3. Red Breast
etc. 8
-- Larry
Jun 7th 2003, 6:29 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
jtpr wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
> --
> -Jim
OK, the following list covers the west coast from the bottom (not in order,
though!) to as far north as Co. Mayo, and it includes a few things that
'sophisticated' tourists might turn their noses up at (who cares?), but
you'd have time to do most of it in two weeks - and as another poster said,
you'll be missing out if you don't get further north than Shannon! I've
ignored Dublin, the east and centre of the country, because I wouldn't want
to spend holiday time in Dublin, and I don't know much about the east or
middle. Anyway - here's my list (which is longer than 10, and based on
personal preference!)
1. The Cliffs of Moher (although they don't do much for me, other people
seem to like 'em!)
2. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - yes, it's touristy, but it's good - and
visit Durty Nellie's pub while you're at it.
3. Doolin (as mentioned by another poster) for traditional music
4. The lakes of Killarney - go up to Moll's Gap, and look out over the lakes
from Ladies' View. Spectacular.
5. Kylemore Abbey (Just for the view of it. Rather than looking round the
place, spend your time in the nearby Connemara National Park - very
informative visitors centre which helps to put the western Irish landscape
into context, and will make your experience of it more meaningful).
6. The Doolough Pass (the drive from Kylemore, up through Leenane, along
both sides of Killary - Ireland's only fjord - and on into Co. Mayo is
breathtaking - look out for famine and other memorials by the side of the
road)
7. Blarney Castle - not that it's great to look at, but kissing the Blarney
stone (despite rumours about what local lads do to it at night) is one of
those things which - although tacky - just have to be done.
8. One of the 'Rings' - the Ring of Kerry being the busiest, tourist-wise.
The Beara peninsula is my favourite.
9. Moran's 'The Weir' Oyster Cottage, just to the south of Galway, in (I
think) Oranmore. You won't get native oysters in July, but even so, the
seafood there is wonderful.
10. Galway city - I just really like Galway!
11. Croagh Patrick (Irland's holy mountain) and the National Famine Memorial
at its base.
12. Achill Island, Co. Mayo - Ireland's largest offshore island (though its
connected to the mainland by a short bridge!) Achill is famous for its local
amethysts (although you'll find many of those on sale in the shops are
imported) and seafood. I think their seafood festival is at the beginning of
July, but I'm not sure. Look out for the wild Gunnera plants with massive
leaves which grow everywhere. Also visit the Kildownet old cemetary where
there's a famine grave, the deserted village behind Keel, and the gorgeous
little cove at the end of the road in Keem.
13. If you're anywhere near Mallow in Co. Cork, try to get a booking for
dinner at Longueville House - it's a small, family run hotel, but the food
served in the President's Room is fantastic, the service is impeccable and
also friendly, and many of the ingredients are home-produced. Not cheap, but
worth every penny.
14. A pub - a proper local pub, not one geared up for tourists. Try one in
the middle of nowhere, and remember that the Irish evening doesn't really
get going until after 10 pm. Pubs which I consider 'proper' don't usually
serve food, so eat before you go. Just sit quietly in a corner and listen to
the conversation! There might be music, there might not - it's the 'craic'
that's the attraction.
I could go on and on, but I've got to the 'hmm, what else should I mention?'
stage, so I'll stop! Hope it helps, and do let us know how your holiday goes
when you get back!
Jo
news:[email protected]...
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
> --
> -Jim
OK, the following list covers the west coast from the bottom (not in order,
though!) to as far north as Co. Mayo, and it includes a few things that
'sophisticated' tourists might turn their noses up at (who cares?), but
you'd have time to do most of it in two weeks - and as another poster said,
you'll be missing out if you don't get further north than Shannon! I've
ignored Dublin, the east and centre of the country, because I wouldn't want
to spend holiday time in Dublin, and I don't know much about the east or
middle. Anyway - here's my list (which is longer than 10, and based on
personal preference!)
1. The Cliffs of Moher (although they don't do much for me, other people
seem to like 'em!)
2. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - yes, it's touristy, but it's good - and
visit Durty Nellie's pub while you're at it.
3. Doolin (as mentioned by another poster) for traditional music
4. The lakes of Killarney - go up to Moll's Gap, and look out over the lakes
from Ladies' View. Spectacular.
5. Kylemore Abbey (Just for the view of it. Rather than looking round the
place, spend your time in the nearby Connemara National Park - very
informative visitors centre which helps to put the western Irish landscape
into context, and will make your experience of it more meaningful).
6. The Doolough Pass (the drive from Kylemore, up through Leenane, along
both sides of Killary - Ireland's only fjord - and on into Co. Mayo is
breathtaking - look out for famine and other memorials by the side of the
road)
7. Blarney Castle - not that it's great to look at, but kissing the Blarney
stone (despite rumours about what local lads do to it at night) is one of
those things which - although tacky - just have to be done.
8. One of the 'Rings' - the Ring of Kerry being the busiest, tourist-wise.
The Beara peninsula is my favourite.
9. Moran's 'The Weir' Oyster Cottage, just to the south of Galway, in (I
think) Oranmore. You won't get native oysters in July, but even so, the
seafood there is wonderful.
10. Galway city - I just really like Galway!
11. Croagh Patrick (Irland's holy mountain) and the National Famine Memorial
at its base.
12. Achill Island, Co. Mayo - Ireland's largest offshore island (though its
connected to the mainland by a short bridge!) Achill is famous for its local
amethysts (although you'll find many of those on sale in the shops are
imported) and seafood. I think their seafood festival is at the beginning of
July, but I'm not sure. Look out for the wild Gunnera plants with massive
leaves which grow everywhere. Also visit the Kildownet old cemetary where
there's a famine grave, the deserted village behind Keel, and the gorgeous
little cove at the end of the road in Keem.
13. If you're anywhere near Mallow in Co. Cork, try to get a booking for
dinner at Longueville House - it's a small, family run hotel, but the food
served in the President's Room is fantastic, the service is impeccable and
also friendly, and many of the ingredients are home-produced. Not cheap, but
worth every penny.
14. A pub - a proper local pub, not one geared up for tourists. Try one in
the middle of nowhere, and remember that the Irish evening doesn't really
get going until after 10 pm. Pubs which I consider 'proper' don't usually
serve food, so eat before you go. Just sit quietly in a corner and listen to
the conversation! There might be music, there might not - it's the 'craic'
that's the attraction.
I could go on and on, but I've got to the 'hmm, what else should I mention?'
stage, so I'll stop! Hope it helps, and do let us know how your holiday goes
when you get back!
Jo
Jun 8th 2003, 12:01 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
"jtpr" wrote in message news:...
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
I haven't been to the south but what you want to see will be dependent
on your interests. I too loved Newgrange (not south) but probably
many people wouldn't be interested in a 5000 year old tomb. If I were
going South one of my "to Do's" would be Muckross House in part
because I am a gardener. You might want to give folks an idea of you
and your families interests. I went North mainly because of family
history and I loved our trip but if I go again I will definitely head
west to Dingle Penisula. Reality is wherever you go can be great if
you don't rush and stay open to new experiences.
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
I haven't been to the south but what you want to see will be dependent
on your interests. I too loved Newgrange (not south) but probably
many people wouldn't be interested in a 5000 year old tomb. If I were
going South one of my "to Do's" would be Muckross House in part
because I am a gardener. You might want to give folks an idea of you
and your families interests. I went North mainly because of family
history and I loved our trip but if I go again I will definitely head
west to Dingle Penisula. Reality is wherever you go can be great if
you don't rush and stay open to new experiences.
Jun 8th 2003, 3:01 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
Thank you all for the tips, and those that might come. I should have said
that the focus of our trip will be hiking. We are ocean lovers, so being
near the coast is good. We have 2 sons, 16 & 18. The oldest just graduated
HS and this is, in part, his graduation present. He is the outdoors type
and loves to hike, so this is what we want to do. We like to travel
unplanned, so all we are doing is booking a flight to Shannon, and the first
night somewhere, then seeing where luck will take us. By the same token, I
hate to get back from somewhere and having people say "You went to______ and
didn't see _______! What a moron!". So I just wanted to see if we could
kind of get rough draft of where to go. Have to say I'm not looking
forward to the driving on the "wrong" side, so I want to stay out of cities
in the very beginning. I did it in Sydney years ago, and it is a
distraction.
Given all that, I appreciate any advice.
-Jim
Oh, any body know where the "Ryans" and "Storins" would be from?
"Katherine" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "jtpr" wrote in message
news:...
> > We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> > have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> > to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling
through
> > the southern section.
> I haven't been to the south but what you want to see will be dependent
> on your interests. I too loved Newgrange (not south) but probably
> many people wouldn't be interested in a 5000 year old tomb. If I were
> going South one of my "to Do's" would be Muckross House in part
> because I am a gardener. You might want to give folks an idea of you
> and your families interests. I went North mainly because of family
> history and I loved our trip but if I go again I will definitely head
> west to Dingle Penisula. Reality is wherever you go can be great if
> you don't rush and stay open to new experiences.
that the focus of our trip will be hiking. We are ocean lovers, so being
near the coast is good. We have 2 sons, 16 & 18. The oldest just graduated
HS and this is, in part, his graduation present. He is the outdoors type
and loves to hike, so this is what we want to do. We like to travel
unplanned, so all we are doing is booking a flight to Shannon, and the first
night somewhere, then seeing where luck will take us. By the same token, I
hate to get back from somewhere and having people say "You went to______ and
didn't see _______! What a moron!". So I just wanted to see if we could
kind of get rough draft of where to go. Have to say I'm not looking
forward to the driving on the "wrong" side, so I want to stay out of cities
in the very beginning. I did it in Sydney years ago, and it is a
distraction.
Given all that, I appreciate any advice.
-Jim
Oh, any body know where the "Ryans" and "Storins" would be from?
"Katherine" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "jtpr" wrote in message
news:...
> > We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> > have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> > to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling
through
> > the southern section.
> I haven't been to the south but what you want to see will be dependent
> on your interests. I too loved Newgrange (not south) but probably
> many people wouldn't be interested in a 5000 year old tomb. If I were
> going South one of my "to Do's" would be Muckross House in part
> because I am a gardener. You might want to give folks an idea of you
> and your families interests. I went North mainly because of family
> history and I loved our trip but if I go again I will definitely head
> west to Dingle Penisula. Reality is wherever you go can be great if
> you don't rush and stay open to new experiences.
Jun 8th 2003, 7:45 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
"Jim Ryan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Oh, any body know where the "Ryans" and "Storins" would be from?
Originally - Ryan from Tipperary and Storin/Storan/Storeen from Limerick.
There are certainly many many Ryans still in Tipperary, no idea about the
Storins. Many of them were moved to Connacht in Cromwellian times.
--
Trish
Dublin, Ireland
http://www.loughman.dna.ie
Dublin City Directory of 1850
news:[email protected]...
> Oh, any body know where the "Ryans" and "Storins" would be from?
Originally - Ryan from Tipperary and Storin/Storan/Storeen from Limerick.
There are certainly many many Ryans still in Tipperary, no idea about the
Storins. Many of them were moved to Connacht in Cromwellian times.
--
Trish
Dublin, Ireland
http://www.loughman.dna.ie
Dublin City Directory of 1850
Jun 9th 2003, 6:11 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
Galway>Connemarra>Westport>Achill island then off to (Inniscrone for a
seaweed bath! (Excuse the spelling)
"Frank Matthews" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd first suggest that you revise your intentions and try the northern
> part of the country. Donegal is exceptional. Newgrange N of Dublin
> should not be missed. For music you should visit Doolin in the Burren
> south of Galway. All of these are in the northern part of the republic.
> There are things to see in the south but not exclusively.
> FFM
> jtpr wrote:
> > We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> > have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> > to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling
through
> > the southern section.
> >
seaweed bath! (Excuse the spelling)
"Frank Matthews" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'd first suggest that you revise your intentions and try the northern
> part of the country. Donegal is exceptional. Newgrange N of Dublin
> should not be missed. For music you should visit Doolin in the Burren
> south of Galway. All of these are in the northern part of the republic.
> There are things to see in the south but not exclusively.
> FFM
> jtpr wrote:
> > We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> > have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> > to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling
through
> > the southern section.
> >
Jun 10th 2003, 1:56 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
> We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people that
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
Co. Donegal incl. Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck
Matt Molloys pub in Westport, Co. Mayo
The Burren (Co. Clare)
That huge reconstructed Stone Age temple just north of Dublin, the
name of which escapes me at the moment
The south was fine, everyone goes to Dingle and Kerry, but I had my
most enjoyable experiences generally in the north and west.
> have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss" things
> to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling through
> the southern section.
Co. Donegal incl. Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck
Matt Molloys pub in Westport, Co. Mayo
The Burren (Co. Clare)
That huge reconstructed Stone Age temple just north of Dublin, the
name of which escapes me at the moment
The south was fine, everyone goes to Dingle and Kerry, but I had my
most enjoyable experiences generally in the north and west.
Jun 12th 2003, 4:59 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Top 10 things to see in Ireland?
Thank you. We have rented a cottage for the first week in Kerry. I am
thinking now it might be a good idea to spend the second week doing B & B's
in the northwest.
--
-Jim
If you want to reply by email its --> ryan at jimryan dot com
Please use BCC and lets all avoid spam
"ifjed5555" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> > have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> > to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling
through
> > the southern section.
> Co. Donegal incl. Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck
> Matt Molloys pub in Westport, Co. Mayo
> The Burren (Co. Clare)
> That huge reconstructed Stone Age temple just north of Dublin, the
> name of which escapes me at the moment
> The south was fine, everyone goes to Dingle and Kerry, but I had my
> most enjoyable experiences generally in the north and west.
thinking now it might be a good idea to spend the second week doing B & B's
in the northwest.
--
-Jim
If you want to reply by email its --> ryan at jimryan dot com
Please use BCC and lets all avoid spam
"ifjed5555" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > We will be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of July. For people
that
> > have been there, what would you say would be the top 10 "don't miss"
things
> > to see? We will be flying into Shannon and probably be traveling
through
> > the southern section.
> Co. Donegal incl. Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck
> Matt Molloys pub in Westport, Co. Mayo
> The Burren (Co. Clare)
> That huge reconstructed Stone Age temple just north of Dublin, the
> name of which escapes me at the moment
> The south was fine, everyone goes to Dingle and Kerry, but I had my
> most enjoyable experiences generally in the north and west.
