Tourist tips for Ireland

Stinicker

Hi,

I have friends coming over from Canada next month and I want to do something really nice for them.

It is their first trip to Ireland and I will be advising them of places to see and what to avoid etc.

They want to go to some of the less stereo-typical places here. They plan to hire a car and maybe drive across to Connemara and go up to Donegal and maybe come down through the Midlands before landing in Kerry and doing the Ring of Kerry etc.

Any tips, they are both in their late twenties and are a couple. Ireland is so boring I wouldn't know where to start as I never even consider it as a holidays destination.

trad

Best tip I can offer is not to use you as a guide

jack presley

trad wrote: »

Best tip I can offer is not to use you as a guide

Nor would I look for advice in After Hours.

Lyaiera

Go to pubs, say hello to people. See if you can get a chat going.

I ****ing love talking to tourists in the pub. I get to show them a bit of Ireland that's not going to be found in tour guides and I get to talk to (generally) interesting people who want to see more of the world than the best beaches.

Colmustard

Tell them to avoid walking down OConnell street alone at night.

I had to put an American wide to that as she was saying she was going to walk back to the Westbury from Madigans in North Earl street.

I ended up walking her to the taxi rank.

Bring them round to the different Dublin gardens they are all beautiful this time of year.

Anyone

Make sure they tell people they are Canadian.

LoYL

Show them why you don't think Ireland is a holiday destination.

Colmustard

A game of golf in the Deer Park is nice. Dollymount is a lovely walk, Blessington lakes, the Brazen head have good trad bands playing the weekend.

Take them to some festival going on somewhere in the empire.

Nodin

Colmustard wrote: »

Tell them to avoid walking down OConnell street alone at night.

I had to put an American wide to that as she was saying she was going to walk back to the Westbury from Madigans in North Earl street.

I ended up walking her to the taxi rank.

Bring them round to the different Dublin gardens they are all beautiful this time of year.

The wildlife in the garden of remembrance is well worth a look.

Stinicker

I have already advised them to totally avoid Dublin for obvious reasons, I'm thinking more offbeat country places.

Nodin

Stinicker wrote: »

I have already advised them to totally avoid Dublin for obvious reasons, I'm thinking more offbeat country places.

The Borris horse fair is a bit of craic, I hear.

gara

Asking for directions will only leave you more confused

ChunkyLover_53

Stinicker wrote: »

I have already advised them to totally avoid Dublin for obvious reasons, I'm thinking more offbeat country places.

Jaysus bud, the culchies in Dublin aren't that bad.

mikemac1

Skellig Michael

Einhard

Stinicker wrote: »

I have already advised them to totally avoid Dublin for obvious reasons, I'm thinking more offbeat country places.

Hmmm Ireland is so boring...avoid Dublin entirely...

I'm surprised that Failte Ireland haven't headhunted you to lead their marketing department!!

Colmustard

Galway there is always a great buzz there and its a beautiful county.

OMARS_COMING_

sunny south east

phasers

avoid Dublin entirely? Have you no interest in history?

What a ridiculous statement

ScumLord

Tips for driving in Ireland.

Is that a puddle? Or is it a very deep hole?
Never trust a signpost.
It looks like a straight road, but you may find there's actually a hidden dip in the road concealing a car.
Unless there's grass growing up the middle of the road your on a main road, don't panic.
You can never take the wrong road, there's half a dozen ways to get to anywhere in Ireland.
Your driving to slow.

admiralofthefleet

bring plenty of money. tell your friends to mention in a culchie pub that are after a bit of land. cue very nosy locals

dirtyden

It sounds like they have a pretty decent itinerary organised already. Kerry is stunning, the ring of kerry is a lovely drive if they get nice weather. If they enjoy hiking a trip to the reeks is well worth it to climb irelands highest 'mountain'. Not a difficult hike and some stunning scenery. Maybe a trip to the sceiligs (something on my list of things to do).

i would prefer the mayo coast to Connemara, up around westport (a trek up croagh patrick) and Delphi and maybe on to Enniscrone (that said Connemara is a super spot too). Then onwards to Donegal.

On their way back down they could go via athlone follow the shannon, see Lough Ree and Derg (a stop over in killaoe) maybe veer off to see the rock of cashel after lough derg. Then kerry.

There are hundreds of different places to go id try and work on your enthuasiasm as a tour guide.

mikemac1

Thou must salute everyone you meet on a country road

Walk or drive you must salute

Also the farmers of Ireland are not Nazis, they just salute like they are.

demanufactured

Tell them not to wear fanny packs.
Not to get annoyed when they are asked which part of "de states" they are from.

Bannasidhe

Great things I have done in Ireland:

Get the ferry out to Inishbofin. Stay the night. It's great craic out there. Nothing like coming across Clew Bay in a boat watching the rain lashing down on Achill while the sun is shining on the boat (rain lashing on boat while the sun is shining on Achill is a different kettle of fish).

Ride a horse along the beach at Gweedore.

Visit Carrigahowley Tower House in Mayo - home of Gráinne Ní Mháille. Amazing place.

Go to Westport - most beautiful town in Ireland.

ljpg

ahh thats right,sure all canadian citys are crime free,thats why dublin would be such a shock to them....

Cantona's Collars

Nodin wrote: »

The Borris horse fair is a bit of craic, I hear.

Lol, "howya boss,do you want a few tools? Me cousin in Toronto will tarmac your drive for ye".The Canadians would love that.

Einhard

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

bring plenty of money. tell your friends to mention in a culchie pub that are after a bit of land. cue very nosy locals

Ye'll never get yer hands on the Widow's Field, yank!!

Einhard

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Go to Westport - most beautiful town in Ireland.

pffft somebody's never been to Nenagh.:rolleyes:










:pac:

TPD

A drive around the Inishowen 100 if the weather's decent.

RATM

TPD wrote: »

A drive around the Inishowen 100 if the weather's decent.

Definitely thiis. And a drive around the Beara Penisula in Cork- it is much more scenic than the Ring of Kerry but only less well known because all the big tour companys go around the Ring and it is marketed better. The big tour buses can't fit on Beara's roads so it is much quieter. And nicer IMHO.

admiralofthefleet

Stinicker wrote: »

I have already advised them to totally avoid Dublin for obvious reasons, I'm thinking more offbeat country places.

for what obvious reasons. why wouldnt they want to visit the capital?

Anita Blow

If they end up in Kerry and are in any way active, rent a couple of bikes and cycle around the ring of kerry. Great views there!
Hiking in Glendalough and swimming in the pool at the top of the waterfall is great aswell

Where To

TPD wrote: »

A drive around the Inishowen 100 if the weather's decent.

It's always decent in Inishowen.;)

Stinicker

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

for what obvious reasons. why wouldnt they want to visit the capital?

Because a tiny minority of human waste has completely destroyed our nations capital. Crime is everywhere and it is one of the most uneasy and dangerous cities in Europe. 99% of Dublin people are the grandest decent folk going but that 1% should be just euthanized for the good of society.

eth0

Tory Island.

Shryke

How do you pick the midlands over Galway city?! Bring them down quay street on a nice night ffs. They'll like it more than Offaly. Avoid the midlands.

Galway, connemara and Cork. Get those 3 in and you will be doing well.

admiralofthefleet

Stinicker wrote: »

Because a tiny minority of human waste has completely destroyed our nations capital. Crime is everywhere and it is one of the most uneasy and dangerous cities in Europe. 99% of Dublin people are the grandest decent folk going but that 1% should be just euthanized for the good of society.

its actually one of the safest capital cities in europe

John Doe1

Donegal-Grianan an Aileach, Slieve league cliffs, Beaches galore, Sexy boardsies.

skinny90

Stinicker wrote: »

Hi,

I have friends coming over from Canada next month and I want to do something really nice for them.

It is their first trip to Ireland and I will be advising them of places to see and what to avoid etc.

They want to go to some of the less stereo-typical places here. They plan to hire a car and maybe drive across to Connemara and go up to Donegal and maybe come down through the Midlands before landing in Kerry and doing the Ring of Kerry etc.

Any tips, they are both in their late twenties and are a couple. Ireland is so boring I wouldn't know where to start as I never even consider it as a holidays destination.

Define less stereotypical??all the places you have mentioned are pretty much stereotypical no?

Doom

Learn to speak some eastern European languages because most people who will serve you in restaurants and hotels, will be from there....:p

admiralofthefleet

Colmustard wrote: »

Galway there is always a great buzz there and its a beautiful county.

galway village is decent too

Doom

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

galway village is decent too

Galway is a city, probably the best in Ireland too.

red menace

End of September?

http://www.npa.ie/

National ploughing championships, it's like a microcosm of rural Ireland.
Bit of craic, lots of beer and tyre kicking galore

admiralofthefleet

Doom wrote: »

Galway is a city, probably the best in Ireland too.

when you look at it, its only a town. not even a big one at that

IrishAm

phasers wrote: »

avoid Dublin entirely? Have you no interest in history?

He is a Kerry man that hates Dublin with a passion. Check out his posts on the Gaa forum.

Dangerous Man

Stinicker wrote: »

I have already advised them to totally avoid Dublin for obvious reasons, I'm thinking more offbeat country places.

Hooray - another one for the ignore list!

tacofries

Check out adventure island in wwstport and do some adventure stuff. they have a website that im too lazy too look for as im on my phone!!!

Sea Filly

Sligo is a gem of a county, IMO. Unheralded too.

Birroc

I have seen a lot of Ireland and I would honestly advise they stay on the west coast (and only spend a day or two in Dublin but only if they fly into it, otherwise avoid).

I would tell them to work their way up or down the west coast and they cant go far wrong:

West Cork
Kerry
Clare
Galway
Mayo
Sligo
Donegal

Lando Griffin

Instead of them driving to Conemara then to Donegal then the midland then Kerry would they not be better to Drive to Donegal then to Conemara then through the midlands down by the Shannon going to Kerry .

Birroc

Sea Filly wrote: »

Sligo is a gem of a county, IMO. Unheralded too.

Agreed. Not sure why it doesn't get much press but it's a lovely county - loads to see and do.