Karen!
Friends are preparing for a trip to Ireland. They would like to know if there are any tours to seek out, or other advice from people who have been there. Can I post a request for thoughts, advice?
Thanks, Christine
PS I tried to PM this to you, but the message window would not send.
LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS, IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN -
CHRISTINE
Hi Christine --
The first thing I bought, the first time I went to Ireland, was a sweater.
I got onto the plane at Friendship Airport -- 94 degees, glaring sunlight, 90% humidity.
I got out at Shannon. 54 degees and drizzling.
JoB
Jo!
Thanks. This visual was a giggle for me. That is a great description of my own luck! I went to Anchorage to help with a new baby, with warning that I should take all my warmest clothing. Boarded in Denver in ice and snow, deplaned in Anchorage in 50+ degrees and sunny days. Had to buy cooler clothes before going home. Sigh.
Thanks again!
Christine
For me, Ireland was about prehistoric and early sites. Much tromping over field with one of those survey maps in hand, attracting the attention of cows.
Gardens -- they have some great old gardens. You find a book that tells you where they are and when they're open.
B&Bs in the countryside -- we didn't go into the cities much, though I think there's one of the world's great museums in Dublin.
We went by bike and train. The coast is lovely.
Kevin and Jo!
I will share your mails with my friends. I am SO jealous that they get to go and I can't stow away. Ah well. I am saving for my trip to tour Outlander country soon. Grinning.
Kevin the skull story is priceless. I love it. Thanks for your time to reply to me.
Dear Christine,
Ireland's amazing, it just depends on how much time your friends have to travel. My daughter and I did a driving trip of about 8 days, and we didn't have enough time to see all the things we had on our list.
The Ring of Kerry is enchanting. You'll see lots of quaint villages, there's lots of places to walk out or hike. You can spend anywhere from 2 days to 5 in Kerry. I think, on the west coast of Kerry, there's a historic fishing village noted on the tour maps. If you're into windswept, ancient cemeteries with stone church ruins, stop there. If not, pass it by. Also in the Kerry Ring in the southwest, in Killarney, are the ancient ruins of Mucross Abbey, which is part of the estate called Muckross House, a lovely historic home with gardens. The Muckross Weavers are outstanding. Lots of lovely woolens to buy. In Killarney as well, lots of loverly woolens to buy. (We stayed at the Killarney Royal Hotel, in the town center. Fabulous place, good food, right near shopping. <g>)
If you follow the coast south from Dublin (Airport), you can visit Waterford, famous for its crystal. Continuing counterclockwise around Kerry, you'll come to the Cliffs of Moher, breathtaking. From there, we went on to Galway and the Aran Islands, a cool place out in the bay, but beware of the ferry in foul weather if you have a weak stomach. <g> No cars are allowed on the island, and it's incredibly pastoral. Following the coast north, you'll come to Galway, where there are some historic homes you may like to see.
Well to the north, the Giant's Causeway is an amazing natural feature in Northern Ireland--County Antrim, I believe. the causeway looks like stone pillars hammered into the ground and sheared off flat. Really cool.
And of course, there's Blarney Castle.
Newgrange is a Neolithic (or older?) complex somewhat north of Dublin on the east coast, in County Meath. It's incredible, but if they go there, be sure they check the tour times and availability. I think you can reserve tickets in advance. If you can, do so, the tours fill up on a first come first serve basis. They do fill up fast, and they're spaced some 3-4 hours apart.
Dublin's neat and has its own flavor but I found it dirty and lacking. The museum's nice, but since I live close to the Met, the Guggenheim, MOMA and others in NYC, I was underwhelmed. The cathedral's gorgeous.
It seems to me that Ireland is its most lovely outside Dublin. The small towns are lovely, the people are delightful. I'm sure they'll have a lovely time, and will bring you back a gorgeous sweater, shawl or blanket. <vbg>
Donna
Christine,
I have never been to Ireland ( sacrilege I know), though I live on mainland Britain.
What I do know is the weather forecast....... and all the rain that trundles over the Atlantic, drops all the wet stuff on the first bit of land it hits........namely Ireland <g> the country is known for its lush, green landscape for the reason I've just mentioned!
My advice to your friends is to take the largest umbrella they can manage <g>. I don't know when they are coming over but I assume fairly soon. It's beginning to get cold in this neck of the woods but absolutely nothing like Northern USA and nowhere near as arctic as your state of Colorado (brrrrr!!!).
The Irish are renowned for being friendly, especially ( as everywhere else) out of the main cities. Your friends should enjoy the Irish hospitality and must try and drink at least one pint of the famous Guiness on their travels around this beautiful country.
I wish them Bon Voyage and a most enjoyable holiday
Helen
Kevin,
Ah well, you are talking of a nation renowned for its blarney <g>
Helen!
I am grinning from ear to ear. My friends will GLADLY handle any ale offered with glee. This is a trip to the homeland for HIM, and I believe for her as well. It is their 25th anniversary gift to one another. I have to tell you how OLD that makes me feel, these are KIDS to me, people I have literally known all of their lives, and can easily remember, like yesterday, their wedding. TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO? Oh My GOD, (as my teenager students say) They have both asked me to extend their warmest thanks for the guidance from everyone who responded, they are taking serious note of the advice received. I believe they are not leaving until May 2010.
Colorado has been extremely cold for this time of year this past couple of weeks. The DAYS are like balmy spring. In the 70's nearly every day. NIGHT, however, will give you a strong desire to huddle under the comforter and hide. Temps here (at relatively low altitude) of 17-18º are normal at night. My school bus has been plugged in to a block heater for three weeks every night. My friend who is sitting here says to tell you that the chill is part of the "Rocky Mountain High".
Groan. Thanks again for all the helpful tips for my friends. I am SO jealous, I wanna stow away but can't afford to be away from work long enough. Life happens.
May 2010.....it'll still be raining and the Guiness will still be on tap <g>
Here's hoping a leprechaun brings you the luck of the Irish and you get to go on that trip!
Stay warm!
Our most recent trip to Ireland was August 07 and we set up base camp in a lovely guesthouse located about halfway between Limerick and Cork (www.springfieldcastle.com), from which many attractions of the west/south or Ireland were a quick daytrip: Cliffs of Moher, Killarney/lakes, Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry, and Cork (which has become a great culinary center of Ireland). The "castle" itself was the perfect place to stay and the caretakers there, Betty and Jonathan Sykes, could not have been more welcoming. Betty is actually the sister of the 9th Lord Muskerry, lord of the manor, so to speak. There were lots of grounds, for walking and exploring (the graveyard at night!), horses, an working organic deer farm (Jonathan took us on a hayride type ride out to "meet" and pet the deer), organic garden where we could gather greens for our dinner salads---all on the property of a 500+plus year old castle ruin.
As always, we were charmed by the lovely warmth of the Irish people, enchanted by the "terrible beauty" of the countryside and coast, fascinated by the history lessons, and of course, enjoyed Guiness daily (even the non-Guiness drinkers liked to have a bit each day--it just tastes so darned good over there).
I hope your friends don't have too many "soft days" (rainy) and have a great trip!
--Mary
Author of A WALK THROUGH A WINDOW, MS.ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK & the Eagle Glen Trilogy
Find out more at kcdyer.com
Hi Karen --
I loved Ireland.
My first impression of Europe in general was that it was cold and rainy. But then, I was comparing it to the American South.
Dear Christine,I scanned the replies to your question and found nothing about Northern Ireland. It is at peace now. This June, I accompanied my grand-daughter's Rugby team on a tour of Ireland (they are undefeated abroad, a claim that not many high school teams of any sort can make.)
We went by motor coach and saw some of the things recommended to you. I heartily agree with most, although I found Dublin to be fascinating. The northern part of our tour included the city of Derry. It has an interesting history from the time it was founded by merchants to the troubles and beyond. The girls did not get to play there, but they did train with one of the local coaches who played for Ireland until he got too old (28).
My favorite town was Galway. It is wonderful for walking. The Aran Islands were worth visiting as well. They are picturesque and quite a few people make their living farming and raising sheep. Their woolens are worth having too. Limerick was another neat place for walking and browsing shops. We saw Bunratty Castle while there. It is not just an old, restored castle, the owners have imported many homes and buildings from various periods of Irish history and made an historic village around the castle.
Steve
PS Don't forget about the cliffs of Moher.
PPS The Giant's Causeway is part of the same formation as Fingall's Cave in Scotland's Isle of Staffa.
