All the things I wanted to say about a trip around Ireland, I just could not fit into one blog posting, so here I am again.
Notes
Notes
1) Accommodation
The Irish Tourist Offices provides excellent and reliable info.on Bed & Breakfasts and other overnight accommodation
Thanks to them when it is not high season or a bank holiday weekend, most times you can get accommodation without too much advance planning. But if you are arriving any where late, DO book accommodation in advance!
There is a tourist information center in every big city and town in the country. They are great places to get tourist information in general: http://www.discoverireland.ie/
Accommodation Options from Moi both in Dublin and farther afield.
Dublin: Lots of options according to your budget for where to stay overnight in Dublin.
The Gresham Hotel http://www.gresham-hotels-dublin.com/
or the Shelbournehttp://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dubbr-the-shelbourne-dublin-a-renaissance-hotel are pricey, but both are reeking with history but social and cultural.
or the Shelbournehttp://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dubbr-the-shelbourne-dublin-a-renaissance-hotel are pricey, but both are reeking with history but social and cultural.
And Wynns Hotel too is a good choice, and only down the road from the Abbey Theatre for the thespians amoung you. http://www.wynnshotel.ie/
Don´t dismiss the hostel option; these days hostels offer private rooms with en suite bathrooms too.
a) Check out An Óige, the Irish affiliate of the International Youth Hostels. Their Dublin hostel is interesting, it used to be a convent. An Òige youth hostels offer trips and adventure packages too.
b) Generator Hostels are one of my favorites private hostels. See link to their Dublin hostel:
c) Couch Surfing. couchsurfing.org. To be honest, I have never tried it in Ireland, but I have experience of it in Germany and Switzerland. For those with the right mind set, I´d say check it out.
d) Air B&B. This is a good option too. We have used Air B&B with great success.
2) Getting around Ireland with Public Transport.
Do your homework. It can be surprisingly reasonable. Don´t assume a three day package with Bus Éireann, the national bus company is the best option, as other tour operators times that may suit your schedule better. But I would definitely recommend a nice long day on Bus Éireann buses. You do meet interesting locals, it is amazing to see how diverse and beautiful the land is on such a small island, and the drivers can have more time to chat too at the stops. And like I said, rain or shine Ireland looks beautiful from a bus.
Train trips are delight in Ireland too: http://www.irishrail.ie/. The option to chat or not is always there. It is more expensive than bus travel, but for some it could be worth the difference. And the country side is just beautiful. (I know I know I said that before, but it is SO true it is worth repeating.)
Two good sites for planning your journey.
a) Get There i.e. This site is great; it offers all the available options for getting from point a. to point b. in Ireland: http://getthere.ie
I always start my trips by checking the options offered on Get There i.e. From experience I would highly recommend that you then double check with the bus companies that the bus you want runs the day you want at the time you want leave.
3) Other ways to ´do´Ireland.
- Cycling, festivals, music, G.A.A. theater, comedy, and what ever your are having your self!
With out too much effort at all, you can find LOTS of different things to do in Ireland, and different ways to enjoy Ireland. It is worth repeating The Irish tourist board, is a great place to start looking http://www.discoverireland.ie/
For Northern Ireland http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
For Northern Ireland http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
Some of my favorite things to do in Ireland.
a) Walking in Ireland - recommended, even though I am a bike women myself.
i) There is a wonderful network of trails being developed all over the island.
ii) Ancient pilgrim routes are being revived through out the country:
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/landscape/our-initiatives/the-pilgrim-paths/
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/landscape/our-initiatives/the-pilgrim-paths/
b) Beaches.
Ireland at last count has over 157 Blue Flag beaches. That is too say the water is pristine, the area clean and safe and the beach have other amenities.
c) See Gaelic Games in action. Chances are you will see a practice in the course of your stay just by being there in Ireland; just about every weekday evening at 7:30 or so there is game practice going on in every village and town in the country. (Hurling is my favorite. FYI: Over the long haul, my home county Kilkenny has the best hurling team in the world - with the Kilkenny Team reserves being the 2nd best team in the world!)
And finally, or almost finally: Be open, but don´t be stupid! Be alert for your property and your personal safety. And never be out at night just as pubs and discos are closing.
There you are folks, I have done my duty to inform my reading public - six now counting Nicole from Doolin and St. Gallan :).
FYI: I was in Ireland touring with a friend Anita from India. She had dreamed for over 30 years of visiting Ireland. It was very cool to be there to see her dream come true, and with the best of weather too. To see one´s native place with a fresh perspective is always good. For example, Anita brought to my attention to how nice the `Bus Éireann buses with the Irish red setter logo` are. And she is right!
My thanks to the Galway clan, and all the other people we met, who helped make our trip such a fun and memorable experience. Especially Marie, and Evelyn.
* Fridge Optional.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Ireland_with_a_Fridge
... Oh and the thing about the fridge if you don´t know about it already.... check out .....
* Fridge Optional.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Ireland_with_a_Fridge
So folks, what are you waiting for: Start packing your passport, your adapter and your dainties! And do let me know about your adventures if you do head off to Ireland for a week.
