Tralee Thread (No chit-chat)

delthedriver

seosamh1980 wrote: »

I'm from Tralee btw. Prestige? Rose of Tralee?...

Yes I know you are from Tralee. What has the place done to you?


Surely you will agree that the Rose Festival attracts a more distinguished clientele than the Ballinasloe Horse Fair ???

seosamh1980

I'm not going to get into what I dislike about Tralee because this is the shiny happy Tralee thread but basically what I'm saying about the Carlton in Tralee is it can't compete with the experienced, established, aesthetically pleasing family run wedding venues in town. It doesn't have a USP that makes people want to book it, like Ballygarry, Ballyseede, etc.

The Ballinasloe one has a much larger catchment area because it's centrally located in the country, has built a name for weddings, has prettier immediate surroundings and access to two beautiful areas for couples photos, is very experienced with large events, so is not comparable with its Tralee relative. Maybe bus tours would be a better way for it to go, like the Abbeygate used to.

delthedriver

seosamh1980 wrote: »

I'm not going to get into what I dislike about Tralee because this is the shiny happy Tralee thread but basically what I'm saying about the Carlton in Tralee is it can't compete with the experienced, established, aesthetically pleasing family run wedding venues in town. It doesn't have a USP that makes people want to book it, like Ballygarry, Ballyseede, etc.

The Ballinasloe one has a much larger catchment area because it's centrally located in the country, has built a name for weddings, has prettier immediate surroundings and access to two beautiful areas for couples photos, is very experienced with large events, so is not comparable with its Tralee relative. Maybe bus tours would be a better way for it to go, like the Abbeygate used to.

Agree with you Seosamh.


Personally I would choose Ballyseede. Fabulous setting

Ps Will you continue to support Kerry in the Football. How will Galway do in the hurling this year??

Kerrydude1981

Seen that Ballyseede seems to be getting a few weddings now,been years since I was there for an event and that was a christening,

Have they built on to it or something or does it just hold small weddings?

delthedriver

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Seen that Ballyseede seems to be getting a few weddings now,been years since I was there for an event and that was a christening,

Have they built on to it or something or does it just hold small weddings?

Very select gatherings !

xxyyzz

I got married in Ballinasloe myself as my missus is from near there. I'd agree the Carlton is a fine hotel there and couldn't fault them for our wedding. As regards Ballinasloe itself, I'm sorry but it doesn't hold a candle to Tralee or its surrounding areas. There is absolutely nothing to do there. Flat boring countryside and as for the October horse fair... mother of god, I've never seen so much fake tan in one place. Galway and Athlone are a good 30 minutes in either direction if you want to do something.

delthedriver

xxyyzz wrote: »

I got married in Ballinasloe myself as my missus is from near there. I'd agree the Carlton is a fine hotel there and couldn't fault them for our wedding. As regards Ballinasloe itself, I'm sorry but it doesn't hold a candle to Tralee or its surrounding areas. There is absolutely nothing to do there. Flat boring countryside and as for the October horse fair... mother of god, I've never seen so much fake tan in one place. Galway and Athlone are a good 30 minutes in either direction if you want to do something.

Yes it is a fairly grim sight in October..........

Ciarrai76

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Seen that Ballyseede seems to be getting a few weddings now,been years since I was there for an event and that was a christening,

Have they built on to it or something or does it just hold small weddings?

I think Ballyseedy had their function room refurbished recently, so someone told me anyway. I was at a wedding there about 6 years ago & it was nice, quite intimate.

delthedriver

Ciarrai76 wrote: »

I think Ballyseedy had their function room refurbished recently, so someone told me anyway. I was at a wedding there about 6 years ago & it was nice, quite intimate.

My Brother in Law and his wife stayed there recently.


It is a fabulous set up.


Must say I like the old world charm about the place.

Ciarrai76

I was just reading on the journal.ie and saw that a 26 year old woman was arrested on Monday night in Cul Doire (up near Kileen), Tralee after the house was searched and €75,000 worth of cannabis was found! She is up in Court in the morning!

carchaeologist

Ciarrai76 wrote: »

I think Ballyseedy had their function room refurbished recently, so someone told me anyway. I was at a wedding there about 6 years ago & it was nice, quite intimate.

It's a grand spot.
They built a lodge last year so can cater for extra people at weddings.
It is a nice place and extremely well run with the old worlde charm but technically isn't a castle!

One more quick question. Where would one find a relatively cheap digital watch with an alarm in Tralee? Not taking my phone or watch to Asia, just want something that will rouse me from my inevitable hangovers to get out and allow myself to immerse in the local culture!

Walked through town today, looked the insane amount of € shops, Heaton’s, Focus etc and nada.

kn

WasBornToBoogie wrote: »

One more quick question. Where would one find a relatively cheap digital watch with an alarm in Tralee? Not taking my phone or watch to Asia, just want something that will rouse me from my inevitable hangovers to get out and allow myself to immerse in the local culture!

Walked through town today, looked the insane amount of € shops, Heaton’s, Focus etc and nada.

Look through the Argos catalogue online and reserve a cheap one to collect at the Horan Centre.

amadain

WasBornToBoogie wrote: »

One more quick question. Where would one find a relatively cheap digital watch with an alarm

Walked through town today, looked the insane amount of € shops, Heaton’s, Focus etc and nada.

Buy a Rolex for a buck when you get there.

5live

delthedriver wrote: »

As I am from neither Ballinasloe nor Tralee , I don't have to defend either one.


However I would certainly prefer the prestige of the Rose Festival to Ballinasloe's Horse Fair

You'll change your mind when its time to sell the horse, boss:P

ian87

delthedriver wrote: »

As I am from neither Ballinasloe nor Tralee , I don't have to defend either one.


However I would certainly prefer the prestige of the Rose Festival to Ballinasloe's Horse Fair

I know both towns very well, ballinasloe very well in fact, and I will guarantee you one thing, the festival attracts just as much of the fake tan clientelle as the horse fair. Just because the festival can be seen as a more prestige event does not mean the visitors are any different.

Ciarrai76

WasBornToBoogie wrote: »

One more quick question. Where would one find a relatively cheap digital watch with an alarm in Tralee? Not taking my phone or watch to Asia, just want something that will rouse me from my inevitable hangovers to get out and allow myself to immerse in the local culture!

Walked through town today, looked the insane amount of € shops, Heaton’s, Focus etc and nada.

Heaton's isn't a € shop, and has been here for many years, as has Focus! Both shops are quite good, and have some good stuff!

kn

Ciarrai76 wrote: »

Heaton's isn't a € shop, and has been here for many years, as has Focus! Both shops are quite good, and have some good stuff!

In fairness focus is mainly full of rubbish.

Ciarrai76

Ciarrai76 wrote: »

Heaton's isn't a € shop, and has been here for many years, as has Focus! Both shops are quite good, and have some good stuff!

Yes I know that. There is a comma between € shops and the other two.

ongarboy

I would consider Focus as the ultimate pound/euro shop. Heatons more of a discount superstore. I still remember buying some crappy porcelain greyhound ornament (yes, sounds as awful as it looked...:D) in Focus for Mother's Day when I was a youngster. Not sure I've been back since!

Swarlez

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Seen that Ballyseede seems to be getting a few weddings now,been years since I was there for an event and that was a christening,

Have they built on to it or something or does it just hold small weddings?

It holds wedding up to 250 people. The ballroom was redone about four years ago. Was in there recently and they have somewhere in the region of 90 weddings this year

Henwin

is Ballyseede open all year round. do they do lunches, id love to head there as ive never been before

Ciarrai76

kn wrote: »

In fairness focus is mainly full of rubbish.

we got some stuff there recently which wasn't rubbish, but I guess everyone's different!

numorouno

kn wrote: »

In fairness focus is mainly full of rubbish.

they do very reasonably priced greeting cards

ongarboy

CeX exchange store opening in old AWear shop in The Mall. Not sure I'm crazy about the idea of a pawn shop type store opening in the main street but the jobs and another empty unit gone are to be welcomed.

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/electronic-exchange-company-to-create-up-to-15-jobs-in-tralee/

Ciarrai76

ongarboy wrote: »

CeX exchange store opening in old AWear shop in The Mall. Not sure I'm crazy about the idea of a pawn shop type store opening in the main street but the jobs and another empty unit gone are to be welcomed.

http://www.radiokerry.ie/news/electronic-exchange-company-to-create-up-to-15-jobs-in-tralee/

I haven't heard of them, but I was checking out their website last night. I hope they fit it out tastefully and its not tacky looking! Another shop opening in Castle street in next few days, 'Divas and Dudes', a women & kids clothing shop.

carchaeologist

Henwin wrote: »

is Ballyseede open all year round. do they do lunches, id love to head there as ive never been before

Yes, Most of the year apart from January February and March, good food there.

hanamandiol

Henwin wrote: »

is Ballyseede open all year round. do they do lunches, id love to head there as ive never been before

Closes from NOV to early March -offers all hotel services -building dates from 1300s so real old world charm-great pint of the black stuff is also an attraction

Swarlez

hanamandiol wrote: »

Closes from NOV to early March -offers all hotel services -building dates from 1300s so real old world charm-great pint of the black stuff is also an attraction

It's only closed January and February

bobdcow

we we're really going for Ballyseede for our wedding it would have been beautiful, but we had one VIP guest who is in a wheelchair and she would have to been brought through the kitchen area to get to the top table, we felt it wouldn't be suitable so we headed to the skellig in Dingle, but that was the only fault we could find with the castle, gorgeous place