Conference tallis::celt

    Did you search the rest of this conference, it's full of all kinds of
    pointers on what to do/see.
    
    Also Ireland is'nt all that large (160 miles (Clifden-Dublin) by
    350 miles (Cork-Belfast)) so don't rule out visiting anywhere you
    want to go to if you have a car.
    
    Joe.

    
    I just came back from Ireland (May 29 - June 5) and it was
    beautiful.  We landed in Shannon and drove to Killarney, Cork,
    Waterford and eventually got to Dublin and then drove straight
    from Dublin to Ennis (10 minutes from Shannon) and did this 
    all in a week.  It was an 'action packed' week and none of
    us could say that we were bored!  We did B&B's and hotel's.
    Everyplace we stayed at was wonderful and the weather wasn't
    bad either.  For 2 days, it was sunny with no rain.  When it
    did rain, it lasted for 15 min., the sun came out (a lot of
    sun showers in Dublin) and then it would rain again.  But it
    was a light rain.  Temp's ranged from 60-70 (reminds me a
    lot of New England).
    
    Have fun!
    Chris

    
    WHAT!  You didn't do Galway and Connemara?  You must be planning to make
    a second trip to see all of Ireland.  ;^)
    
    
    Gary

    re: .0
    
    	Karen,
    		I too, just returned from 2 weeks in Ireland, 5/22 -
    	6/3/94, and covered the entire "Republic", including a day 
    	in Northern Ireland passing from Slane to Donnegal. 
    
    	I rented a car, and drove approx. 1400 miles in 9 days, and 
    	also spent 2 1/2 days in Dublin without a car to start off 
    	the trip. It went something like this:
    
    	Arrive Dublin morning of 5/23/94, had breakfast at Bewley's ( a 
    	must if you are into self-serve diners ?), off to Trinity College
    	for the "Book of Kells", checked into the New Powers Hotel ( 45
    	pounds for a single), off to Ryans Pub of Parkgate Street (one of 
    	the oldest in Dublin) near Phoenix Park. Mr. William Ryan is still
    	behind the bar, and has been written up in many magazines over the 
    	years. Dinner at the pub in a 'snug' ( a privilige), and back to 
    	Kildare street area to a pub called Foley's for music and
    	entertainment. Got a chance to hear the Fuery Brothers, who
    	happened to be visiting for a pint or two.
    
    	Tuesday: Visited the Grand Lodge of Ireland museum, Museum of
    	Natural History, Christ Church, and dinner at Foleys.
    
    	Wed: Got car delivered (Hamill's Rental highly recommended) and off
    	to Slane, Co. Meath to New Grange. Stayed at "Hillview" for 19 lbs.
        Conyngham Arms Hotel for an excellent dinner of roast duck at 18
    	lbs.
    
    	Thurs: Off to Donnegal through Northern Ireland, checkpoint at 
    	???  
    
    Sorry. repsonse is getting bad, will extract, and reinsert later
     
    
    	

    
    Powerscourt in May is something to see too.  It's south of Dublin in
    County Wicklow.  It's a private estate open to the public at a nominal
    fee.  Expect to see flower gardens, trees, waterfalls, walking paths and 
    several nice picnic areas. The main mansion was severely damaged by fire
    in the 70's and only one wing remains habitable.
    
    Gary

    I remember that fire, I was living in Dublin at the time. If it was the
    70's, it must have been *very* early on.
    
    Laurie.

    I appreciate all the reports and suggestions.  Keep 'em coming!  We
    want to learn as much as we can before going on this trip.  I am
    planning on keeping a trip log also so I can remember every single
    thing we did and where we went.  I think I'm looking forward to this
    trip as much as the wedding!
    
    Karen

    If you haven't visited Westport, Co. Mayo and don't do it on your
    honeymoon you're missing out. 
    
    Give me a shout if you want more details.
    
    cheers,
    
    

    re .8
    
    >>>and don't do it on your honeymoon you're missing out.
    
   >>> Give me a shout if you want more details.
    
    Of course they'll do it on their honeymoon and I bet they won't need
    you to show them how, ya cheeky young pup.
    
    Joe.

    
    re .3
    
    I absolutely will be returning.  I wish I had a few extra
    days for Galway.  I heard it's beautiful.
    
    Chris

    
    I also visited Ireland in May. We spent a week in East Cork with the
    kids. I found the Jameson Heritage Centre in Midelton a must for the
    tourist.
    
    A guide showed groups around the old distillery and provided an
    informative and friendly tour. Prior to this we had a short film
    and afterwards a sample of one of the Irish Distillers Group whiskeys.
    Where three visitors in the group where invited to test there tasting 
    skills. The kids tasted orangina. The tour ended with the gift shop
    with its inflated prices but well worth the visit.
    
    As previously mentioned within this conference, the main roads are
    acceptable but beware of the R roads. My niece felt every bump
    and was known to retort from the back of the car- ahh potholes again.
    

Definitely concentrate on the West in Ireland.

I've been around Dublin a little, seen loads and loads of Connemara,
Galway, the Burren (Clare), some of Mayo, Cork City and parts of the
county, the Shannon/Limerick region...

No doubt that Dublin has much to offer, but unless you're a city person,
the West is far more beautiful.  Must sees are Galway city, Connemara,
the Burren, the Dingle peninsula, the Ring of Kerry.  Nice additions
are Clifden and the Sky Road (goes west from Clifden), county Mayo.
Very beautiful but getting a bit far ranging for a time-limited trip
is Donegal and some parts of the North.

Regarding .-?'s comment about the R roads - Ireland's roads are 
labelled M for superhighways (they have only one, for a couple of
dozen miles around Dublin), N for major National routes (many,
ranging from two small lanes up to four good sized ones), and then
smaller routes such as the R routes which are typically narrow,
but sometimes not too bad.  Yes, there are potholes, and yes, the
smaller the road the more wary you must be of your driving ... BUT
the R routes are great ways to see bits of Ireland that you would
not get to see otherwise! Don't be scared away by the name/size of
the road!

(Example, one of my favorite roads in Ireland is a little unlabelled
road across lower Connemara between Oughterard and the shore of Galway
Bay.  It varies from one lane to one half of a lane, is only partly
paved, goes over the foothills of a low mountain, by a forest, near
many lakes and streams, and passes less than ten houses in its entire
15 or so miles.  It is beautiful and relaxing and peaceful!  Watch out
for the sheep on the road.)

-Jay

    re .9
    
    Joe, I think you're right - we won't need him to give the details!! 
    
    ;)
    
    Karen