The Emerald Isle Heritage Trip

[Rookies]

In the fall, I'm planning to go there with 2 ex work buds. Notwithstanding, I've never even been to Europe, unlike my family, especially my daughter, who completed a 5 week High School English credit in Dublin and has visited a dozen Euro capitals.

Because my ancestry is Irish, I've done the genealogical thingee and sourced where I came from. I'm boning up on Irish History and using Steeves, Fodor and some trip sites to plan. We have 2 weeks and will do a large loop, beginning and ending in Dublin, but venturing to Derry & Belfast, too.

If anyone has done this before me and has special highlights of anything (Pubs/Music/Historical/Rebellions/Catholic Icons, etc.), I'd appreciate you tipping me. Thanks

[horses4courses]

In the fall, I'm planning to go there with 2 ex work buds. Notwithstanding, I've never even been to Europe, unlike my family, especially my daughter, who completed a 5 week High School English credit in Dublin and has visited a dozen Euro capitals.

Because my ancestry is Irish, I've done the genealogical thingee and sourced where I came from. I'm boning up on Irish History and using Steeves, Fodor and some trip sites to plan. We have 2 weeks and will do a large loop, beginning and ending in Dublin, but venturing to Derry & Belfast, too.

If anyone has done this before me and has special highlights of anything (Pubs/Music/Historical/Rebellions/Catholic Icons, etc.), I'd appreciate you tipping me. Thanks

Lived in Dublin for 18 years (aged 10-28), leaving in 1986.
I think there are some regular posters on here who live there now.

Before I make any suggestions, I have a question.
Are you planning on driving around the country?

[Rookies]

Lived in Dublin for 18 years (aged 10-28), leaving in 1986.
I think there are some regular posters on here who live there now.

Before I make any suggestions, I have a question.
Are you planning on driving around the country?

Indeed- once we leave Dublin.

[cj's dad]

My wife and I went in 1988, so some of these may not be around,.

Tourism is very big in Ireland. The lads know how to treat folks. Don't believe what you hear about the food. We did not have a bad meal in 8 days. The B&B's are very nice, just make sure they are approved by the Irish Tourist Board (ITB)

Some sights worth visiting IMO:

Blarney castle - Kiss the stone http://www.viator.com/Dublin-attractions/Blarney-Castle-tours-tickets/d503-a104?pref=204&aid=m1989

Blarney woolen mills and outlet store

Ring of Kerry http://www.ireland.com/en-us/amazing-places/ring-of-kerry/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cp

Cliffs of Mohrer http://www.ireland.com/en-us/amazing-places/cliffs-of-moher/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Icons_Exact

Bunratty Castle for dinner and a show - located in Limerick

The Dingle Peninsula. http://www.ireland.com/en-us/amazing-places/dingle-peninsula/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Icons_Exact

Durty Nellys Oyster House http://www.durtynellys.ie/contact/

Galway and Donegal are don't miss towns.

Have fun, we did !!:ThmbUp:

[TJDave]

In Dublin...The Celtic Whiskey Shop. ;)

[Saratoga_Mike]

Go to Galway Racecourse if they're racing when you're there - they race a few days in the fall. The whole town attends the races - buses take you in from JFK Park.

[LottaKash]

Galway and Donegal are don't miss towns.

Have fun, we did !!:ThmbUp:

All that CurtisontheBay has listed are worthy considerations...

Also, if you are a fan of "suds' then don't miss the "Guiness Brewery" tour in Dublin...The stout is so much better there than the stuff that they send here, imo....Plus you get to party in the tall tower afterwards...Nice view of Dublin and the outlying areas..

If you are interested in glass and the making of it, the "Waterford Crystal" factory is a nice stop to take a tour....You can buy their offererings cheaper than what you would pay here...

Riding around is great, so much beautiful countryside to see....The people are cool and the food is too, imo..

I would go back there anytime...

[horses4courses]

My wife and I went in 1988, so some of these may not be around,.

Tourism is very big in Ireland. The lads know how to treat folks. Don't believe what you hear about the food. We did not have a bad meal in 8 days. The B&B's are very nice, just make sure they are approved by the Irish Tourist Board (ITB)

Some sights worth visiting IMO:

Blarney castle - Kiss the stone http://www.viator.com/Dublin-attractions/Blarney-Castle-tours-tickets/d503-a104?pref=204&aid=m1989

Blarney woolen mills and outlet store

Ring of Kerry http://www.ireland.com/en-us/amazing-places/ring-of-kerry/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cp

Cliffs of Mohrer http://www.ireland.com/en-us/amazing-places/cliffs-of-moher/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Icons_Exact

Bunratty Castle for dinner and a show - located in Limerick

The Dingle Peninsula. http://www.ireland.com/en-us/amazing-places/dingle-peninsula/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Icons_Exact

Durty Nellys Oyster House http://www.durtynellys.ie/contact/

Galway and Donegal are don't miss towns.

Have fun, we did !!:ThmbUp:

All good suggestions :ThmbUp:

The reason I asked about driving is that it's a new
experience for many driving on the left.
Be careful - and be prepared to insure your vehicle to the hilt.
Ireland is a peaceful, wonderful country, but it has it's share
of crime in urban areas.

Durty Nelly's is in Limerick, not far from Bunratty Castle.
A great pub, in a land full of them.

The tip about better Guinness in Ireland is a fact.
It doesn't taste as good elsewhere - not sure why.
Every beer under sun there now - even Miller and Bud.

If Americans liked the food there in years past,
I would say it's gotten even better since.
Good restaurants come and go, and plenty of pubs serve good food now.

If you're in south Dublin, this is one of my favorite eateries (lunch or dinner)
http://monkstown.fxbuckley.ie/

My favorite pub is a few miles further south in Dalkey.
Finnegan's.....great for drinks and food.

The only tourist attraction I would add are the lakes in Killarney (County Kerry).
Beautiful - especially in good weather (not a given).
The Rock of Cashel is also worth a stop if you are driving nearby.

Have a terrific time!

[cj's dad]

The Lamplghter tavern outside of Shannon is fantastic. And the guiness that you drink there cannot be exported. The alcohol content is too high

[horses4courses]

And the guiness that you drink there cannot be exported. The alcohol content is too high

I'm not so sure about that.
I think the alcohol content of Guinness is actually higher in the US.

I've had Guinness in different places, and it's not that it's stronger
in Ireland - it just tastes better. Pouring a good pint of stout is an
art form. Nobody does it better than Irish bartenders.
Also, if you like stout, and find yourself in Cork, join the locals
in drinking Murphy. It's brewed in Cork, and outsells Guinness there.

Alcohol contents (ABV) apparently vary widely throughout the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness

Guinness stout is available in a number of variants and strengths, which include:

Guinness Draught, sold in kegs, widget cans, and bottles: 4.1 to 4.3% alcohol by volume (ABV); the Extra Cold is served through a super cooler at 3.5 °C (38.3 °F).[44]
Guinness Original/Extra Stout: 4.2 or 4.3% ABV in Ireland and the rest of Europe, 4.1% in Germany, 4.8% in Namibia and South Africa, 5% in the United States and Canada, and 6% in Australia and Japan.[citation needed]
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout: 7.5% ABV version sold in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and the United States. The basis is an unfermented but hopped Guinness wort extract shipped from Dublin, which is added to local ingredients and fermented locally. The strength can vary, for example, it is sold at 5% ABV in China, 6.5% ABV in Jamaica and East Africa, 6.8% in Malaysia, 7.5% in the United States, and 8% ABV in Singapore.[45][46] In Nigeria a proportion of sorghum is used. Foreign Extra Stout is blended with a small amount of intentionally soured beer. (Formerly it was blended with beer that soured naturally as a result of fermenting in ancient oak tuns with a Brettanomyces population. It is now made with pasteurized beer that has been soured bacterially.[47]) It was previously known as West Indies Porter, then Extra Stout and finally Foreign Extra Stout.[16] It was first made available in the UK in 1990.[16]

[Rookies]

Thanks very much to those who responded. :ThmbUp:

Your recommendations either solidify sights & sites, I'd thought about or provided new options for the Itin.

As I am learning, some of the things about Ireland are impressively unique. There was a short program on our public broadcaster last night, featuring the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. This is not simply a wonder of the world; rather it's surreal, other worldly and we intend to try and grab it all!

Thanks, again.

[horses4courses]

Thanks very much to those who responded. :ThmbUp:

Your recommendations either solidify sights & sites, I'd thought about or provided new options for the Itin.

As I am learning, some of the things about Ireland are impressively unique. There was a short program on our public broadcaster last night, featuring the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. This is not simply a wonder of the world; rather it's surreal, other worldly and we intend to try and grab it all!

Thanks, again.

I forgot about the Causeway.
It's a must.
Portrush is the nearest town to stay at - B & B's are good :ThmbUp:
Took my son there in 2008.

[OTM Al]

Just went there in April. Cliffs of Mohrer are quite a sight. If you go over to Galway, you can get a day tour for pretty cheap right from the train/bus station that takes you there and through the burrens and all through the countryside. You can also go to the Aran islands from there, but i didn't want to do that as it seemed the same as the tourists that go stare at the Amish.

We flew into Shannon, which I highly recommend as it is a very quiet airport that is easy to get in and out of. We stayed right next to Bunratty Castle which is only a couple miles from the airport that first night and then went back to the airport to rent a car so we would have our wits about us driving on the "wrong" side. Did eat at Durty Nelly's that first day and then again the last night. Bunratty Castle is pretty cool, but certainly not made for guys our height.

The best thing we did though was go to Ashford Castle near Cong. The Castle is a big luxury hotel now, but they have a falconry school there and you can take a tour through the woods and park and fly some of their birds. One of the coolest things I have ever done. It is right next to the Squire's cottage from The Quiet Man BTW (I don't like that movie....)

As for the beer, skip the Guinness and get a Smithwicks (or as they say "Smidicks")

Was going to go to the races at Tipperary while we were there but were in Galway that day and the train schedule was just not conducive to the trip so we did the tour instead. Adding pictures below of the Cliffs and Bunratty Castle.