Any Irish tips?
 

I'm going to be in Ireland for a week starting Wednesday. I've been all throughout England and Scotland, but never Ireland. I'll spend a day and night in Dublin, then pick up my rental car and drive around aimlessly for 6 days. I have no plan. I'll visit Belfast for a bit, but would prefer the coast and smaller towns inland. I have very low expectations, but would love to be surprised! (I'm Irish, so please don't be insulted by that).

On my list so far:

Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin

Cliffs of Moher

Killarney National Park

That's about it. I'd like to maybe stay in a castle, but I am traveling solo. Not sure if that's acceptable.

Any words of wisdom from the experts?

I've always wanted to see the "Giant's Causeway" which is on the coast in Northern Ireland about 60 miles north of Belfast.

http://img2.rebuzz.us/productimages/...ast_6816_1.jpg

http://searchoflife.com/wp-content/u...s-causeway.jpg

If that close, I'd hop a ferry and spend a night on the Isle of Man......

My favorite parts were, Kinsale, The Ring of Kerry, & Kilkenny.

Where are your people from Richard? Take along some photos etc, the Irish love that sort of stuff.

The Giant's Causeway is really cool - we were there about a year ago. We stayed nearby in Portrush, at the Royal Court Hotel - great water views, nice room, good food. We also really enjoyed Kilkenney.

Have a great time - we'd love to go back.

I spent a week in Dublin for work about 10 years ago.

Don't remember much!!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gif

Motion, when you get back, I'd really love to see some pics. I think it'd be a real hoot to sit in a real centuries old Irish pub. I'm curious about the food for some odd reason.

The Guinness and Jameson tours are compulsory.
The museum @ Collins Barracks is pretty cool.
Blarney Castle is worth checking out (I'd recommend NOT kissing the stone).
Kilmainham Gaol is a must ("ki-MANE-um") The history/stories there are incredible.
Definitely see the Cliffs.
Dingle is great.
Clontarf Castle Hotel is pretty decent digs in Dublin (they were hosting some fashion/runway show with supermodels everywhere when I was there. Very nice. :D)
If you haven't secured a rental yet, Avis has relatively cheap Audis at the airport. Might have to reserve one in advance though.

Have fun. :cool:

He's got a way with words, I don't think Motion needs to kiss the stone.

If you're going to Belfast make it either your first or last stop after Dublin. If you do Belfast last then leave Dublin go south to Kinsale and then west to Killarney. Then north to Galway on the west coast, then on to Belfast via Donegal and back to Dublin.

Wander into any pub and yell "póg mo thóin". ;)

Hi Richard/Motion. My son in law is Irish but lives in Edmonton. PM sent.:)

From what I remember about 35 years ago with the first wife in Ireland. We went to Ashford Castle. It is an old castle. Even has bats flying around in it. That did upset the women in our group though....has golf and fishing.

Also Carton House Hotel about a half hour outside of Dublin. That is where my daughter and son in law got married last year. Two golf courses.

The Guiness tour. Supposed to be good. I was too sick to go. Oh yes Ireland has a great medical system. You should not be needing that though.

As mentioned above the Isle of Man. Although I have never been there I spotted it from the west coast of England when I did Wainwrights coast to coast walk. You being a motorcycle enthusiast might like it but if the races are not on it might not live up to your expectations unless of course you rent a motorcycle?!

Cheers, Guy

Love Ireland. been there a couple times. kissed the Blarney Stone. Did a bunch of castles. The people are the real attraction there in my opinion. Stay in B&B's and get to know the locals. The food there is pretty crappy unless it's pub grub. ordered a "pork dinner" at a local pub and it turned out to be boiled bacon and creamed potatoes. Loved Kinsale as well.

On a mostly unrelated subject.

Motion, from reading most of your little bits and pieces about your travels, it seems like you try to stick to the road less traveled, but since you do travel so much, do you ever try to make it to any Michelin starred restaurants?

In the south, you can take a Ring of Kerry tour. In Dublin you can tour the Guiness brewery. Stroll O'Connel street. See the artwork; Stiletto in the Ghetto, Tart with the Cart, Hags with Bags, etc. See the castles in Cork and Limerick, and others scattered all over the country. (I once found a travel book called "Castles of Ireland" that gave details and locations)


In the north, you can tour the Bushmills distillery. You can go by the Belfast shipyards, where the Titanic sailed from. You can go to Giant's Causeway - find some young girls and recreate the Houses of the Holy album cover.

i would go visit wheatwacker, from Adv rider.
get him to line up and register/insure a moto in your name. he can as well store it for you during the off season. maybe an older Africa Twin .......
travelling by moto in Europe is something you could get used to. pretty sure of that.

http://advrider.com/index.php?members/wheatwhacker.40433/