Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Random questions on Ireland

Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
W

winternight

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 12, 2006
Messages
887
I''ve been reading the thread and since there are so many PS experts I have a couple of questions. DH and I are going at the end of May (last minute trip planning!) and I was wondering about somethings.

First, we''re planning on flying into Shannon and doing more of a west coast/nature focused tour. We are sort of citied out since most of our vacations are to major cities.

I''d love to see puffins (and other animals!) are the boat trips recommended? And if so where? Skellig is one I''ve seen mentioned.

I really want to stay in Dromoland castle, so I was thinking that we''d stay there 2 nights, but would that be an odd place to begin our trip to Ireland? I think they''re booked on the way back so I was thinking the first two nights from when we arrive? I think we can drive from there to other places, like the Cliffs of Mohr.

I''m looking forward to visiting my home country since I''m almost 1/2 Irish!

Thanks!!!
 
Hi winternight!

West coast is definitely the place to come to for a nature focused tour. Ireland being an island, there is no end to the boat tour possibilities, but I would recommend Skelligs, or the Kerry peninsulas in general, as the best spots, especially for puffins. If in Kerry, you must visit Dingle and Killarney. If you like the Dromoland as a calibre of hotel, then I cannot recommend the the Hotel Europe in Killarney enough. It is really spectacular, in an unrivaled setting, with a stunning view...it is my favourite hotel in the world, hands down, and this is coming from a traveler!

Dromoland is spectacular, it's not an odd place to start at all, but of course that all depends on what you like. You will be able to drive to the cliffs of Moher from there, no problem. There are some nice seaside towns nearby, like Lahinch, Miltown Malbay or Liscannor. There is a world class golf course in Dromoland, and another one in Lahinch. You are close to both Limerick and Ennis, if you're looking for city activities. You are close to Bunratty Castle, which is a great place to visit, they also have a very well preserved folk park with a working pub and sweet shop, a little farm, and a street of old buildings like old school houses, doctors surgeries etc. I also very much recommend their evening banquets; our American cousins just loved them when they visited. Here's a good website.
If you're not staying for the banquet, there's a few gorgeous food places nearby - Durty Nellies for a really traditional pub (they certainly haven't changed the interior since I can remember!), or Gallaghers does fabulous seafood.

I don't know how long you're staying, but are you planning to do the whole west coast? Galway is a beautiful city, very "Irish", and I also love Achill Island, off the coast of Mayo. The Aran Islands are lovely too. Finally, Donegal has a really spectacular coastline and beautiful scenery. Even if their accents are near impossible to understand
3.gif
 
Enjoy your trip Winternight.

I am pleasantly surprised that Ireland has become so popular on PS. Who know we lived in such a sought after holiday hot spot?

BTW the weather has been spectacular the past 3 days so if you can get here, like now, you can leave the rain coat at home. Well, at least in the car.
 
Dingle, Dingle, Dingle ... did I mention DINGLE. Go there. Do that. You won''t be sorry. Also: Slea Head Drive.
 
Thanks for the replies!

Porridge, thanks! That hotel is lovely!! Thanks for those other tips too. We aren''t really golfers, I just thought staying in a converted castle would be romantic.

Lol, Deco I am so into visiting Dingle after reading the reviews of it - including your''s! And Slea head drive since buses can''t go there -- but did I mention I''m scared of heights?!? I hope I can deal with it! My DH would be the driver.

Steal, If I could, I would!

It is funny all the Ireland interest lately on PS. My DH and I have been talking about going for ages.
 
ditto Porridge and Deco....dingle, dingle, dingle.
 
Porridge -- Durty Nellie is the restaurant at the end of the road that Bunratty Castle is on, right? I''m 95% positive that''s the place we went to for lunch when we went on a tour of the castle a few years ago. If so, it''s really good! I know some people who loved the banquet at the castle and others who didn''t. My husband had a good time when we went, but it wasn''t really my thing.

ETA: Dingle, Dingle, Dingle...for some reason, saying that 3 times fast makes me giggle.

Winternight, I''ve been to Shannon, the Connemara and Galway areas, but I haven''t been to the places you mentioned. Sorry I can''t give you advice, but I hope you have a wonderful time. You''ll LOVE Ireland!
 
Ok we have a rough idea, thoughts please! A Dingle and/or Galaway to eat and do list please!! The good shopping - bling and non-bling.

Sun, Mon, Tues, First three nights in Dingle, we can drive around that area and go out at night. I just love the idea of walking to pubs. Castlewood House. We are probably skipping the Ring of Kerry and doing the Sleah Head drive (once we figure that out) trying to go a little off the beaten path.

Wed-Thursday we move to the Dromoland Castle Hotel. Here I''m hoping to see the Cliffs of Moher and get a falconry lesson.

Friday - G hotel in Galaway

Sat - Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, which is south of Connomara Nat''l Park (hope this isn''t too far from Galaway)

Sun- Dromoland Castle Hotel

Mon - early flight to the states

So DH and I were thinking of spending a night at the Europe Hotel but we thought it might be nice not to move around too much. I''m torn. Part of me really loves the idea of staying put and walking around at night in Dingle while driving the sights during the day, keeping it more low-key to start out. We also having some fancy dinners later in the week --- still I''m torn. The Europe Hotel looks gorgeous. We could stay there three nights, but then I can''t walk to pubs.

Other issue (which I''m praying will be resolved soon). Many rental car companies require you to present a driver''s license that is valid for at least the past two years. Unfortunately both DH and I had to turn in our old state driving licenses to get DC licenses. So we''ve e-mail Hertz and are waiting for a response. It is really stressful though!! We''ve both been driving for years and are unsure how to prove it. DH might be getting a statement from the state he was in re. his old driving record but that does take a week or two. Just saying since so many PSers seem to be loving the Emerald Isle.

I''m starting to get really excited --- hope the car thing works out.

Thanks!!!
 
Yep your itinerary looks good. First three nights in Dingle. I haven''t stayed where you are staying but it is handy to be able to walk to the pubs as our drink-driving laws are so strict over here. I prefer the Slea Head drive as well so that would definitely get my vote over the Ring of Kerry which is very touristy. If you like fish, go to Out of the Blue. It''s a tiny restaurant in Dingle where they only serve what they catch that day so the menu changes daily. No chips etc served there. If they do calamari, get it-it was the nicest calamari I''ve ever had and unfortunately it wasn''t on the menu when we were there last year. Keeping everything crossed that it''s on the menu this year on the day we visit! We normally cook at the apartment we rent so we don''t eat out too much in Dingle. There is a really nice chipper where you can get fish and chips on the main street and we always treat ourselves to it. The pubs will all do dinner as well and although we haven''t eaten in any of them the food smells amazing.

The castle that you''re staying at in Co. Galway is a bit of a distance away from Galway city. It will probably take you about an hour or just over that to get into the city but there are a couple of parking spots that you can leave the car at so you can have a walk around. In terms of shopping, for high end shopping there is a small "Brown Thomas" which is our high end store, just on Shop Street in Galway. The largest store is in Dublin so this one won''t carry as much stock. Is it the Europe hotel in Killarney you''re looking at? Personally I''d stay in Dingle if it is-I really don''t enjoy visiting Killarney and think that Dingle is far nicer.
I have to go and collect DH so will finish posting tomorrow. In terms of shopping, Ireland is quite expensive for bling and non-bling items (which is why so many of us go to the US with empty suitcases to fill), so unless you see things that you really like or you want to buy Irish made products you might find things expensive. Is there anything you''re after specifically?
 
Thanks Bee! The Europe Hotel is close to Killarney, so your info is very helpful! I love calamari and seafood in general so I''ll put that restaurant on our short list.

I think it would be neat to have something to bring home. Perhaps a piece of art or maybe some Irish knit items? Maybe pottery? We really like bringing something home when we travel to have in our apartment. I collect masks from all over the world, but I don''t really expect to see masks in Ireland so I was thinking what else? I''d just like to have something Irish made to take home. And I need to bring something for my father --- he is 1/2 Irish going way back. I just figured out where some of his ancesors came from in Ireland and its unfortunately closer to Dublin, where we won''t be going. So if you have an idea for a father-type please let me know!

Thanks for the estimate on the hotel outside of Galaway --- I was nervous that it was several hours away. We were planning on spending Friday in Galaway to get a taste of the city, so I don''t think we''ll go back and forth after that.
 
Glad to hear Dingle made the final cut!! We wish we''d had more time there for sure. Re: shopping/eating ... we were on a pretty tight budget & only brought back a pair of Irish wool knit caps for ourselves-- but we got my mom (who was house/cat-sitting for us 500 miles from home the whole week) a beautiful piece of Dingle Crystal. (I preferred the Dingle crystal to the more famous names ... its made by a funky biker dude and totally gorgeous). For dinners -- we only had one fancy night out (in Kinsale, a place called Vintage that was superb). Most of the time we were doing fish & chips in pubs & snacking along through the days after a big Irish Breakfast each morning. Dingle is a seafood kinda place -- lots of options. Galway had many interesting antique jewelry stores. If I had been able to big-time splurge: that''s where it would have happened. Along with another Dingle Crystal piece for ourselves of course. Next time!
9.gif


When renting a car -- def upgrade to Automatic & get a GPS & get ample insurance -- those roads are narrow & your rental car will probably get a scratch or two along the way whilst parking or hugging rock walls along the more narrow cliffside roads.
 
For some Irish-style bling (though Bee* warned, it's not as cheap as might be expected
2.gif
), Brian de Staic is on Green Street in Dingle. I'd cut across one (short) side of the Ring and head to Kenmare (to the Park Hotel there) for some time in a mostly un-touristy little village with some great restaurants (the hotel itself is a good bet).
 
Ireland isn''t very big so really if you stay somewhere near galway you can see everything in a day trip! Even Dublin! Giants causeway in the north is very popular, cliffs of moher is just south of Galway. Besides Galway is beautiful!
 
Date: 4/14/2010 5:20:41 PM
Author: Zoe
Porridge -- Durty Nellie is the restaurant at the end of the road that Bunratty Castle is on, right? I''m 95% positive that''s the place we went to for lunch when we went on a tour of the castle a few years ago. If so, it''s really good! I know some people who loved the banquet at the castle and others who didn''t. My husband had a good time when we went, but it wasn''t really my thing.


ETA: Dingle, Dingle, Dingle...for some reason, saying that 3 times fast makes me giggle.


Winternight, I''ve been to Shannon, the Connemara and Galway areas, but I haven''t been to the places you mentioned. Sorry I can''t give you advice, but I hope you have a wonderful time. You''ll LOVE Ireland!
Click to expand...
I second this - Nellys - the food there was gourmet! Not typical Irish food - at least not upstairs haha Excellent though.
 
Thanks everyone this is really exciting! I really appreciate the tips. I haven''t had fish and chips since I lived in London many years ago.

Here is a randomn question does anyone know if Vivienne Westwood handbags are available in Ireland? I''m hoping Brown Thomas has them. Or Liberty of London prints? Have no idea if those are available outside of London.

My husband is researching having a driver drive us around --- anyone look into that? He thinks it would be less stressful than driving himself. I don''t know, I''d rather it just be us too, but I''m willing to let him look into it.

Oh no antique jewelry! I love antique jewelry and I like some of the pieces posted in that link too for the jeweler in Dingle, Brian de staic. I love the triskel stud earrings.

I''m so curious about this biker made crystal in Dingle -- oooh I just googled it, how cool!

Hmmm, must leave room in suitcases
27.gif
 
Yay for Ireland!!!!

We''ll probably be there at the same time, winternight. I''m so excited for this trip, I cannot even contain myself.

We may be in Dingle at the same time--if you spot us, do say hi! We can have a pint together. (This picture is from last week, here''s my DH, me, and my sister. My sister''s FI will be with us, too.)

Havenandfam.jpg
 
driving is so easy there! you''re going to be mostly in the country and its a snap. in dublin is another story.........

mz
 
Good grief Haven ye are a handsome party indeed, Dingle won't know what hit them
2.gif
Do I see the potential for a mini PS Irish GTG?!

Winternight, they have Vivienne Westwood in BT, to the best of my knowledge. There will be a BT in Cork, Limerick and Galway (and Dublin, but you won't be there). Try googling to check, they prob have a list of designers they stock. If I'm in there over the next week or so I'll check for you. As for a driver, I have no idea about that, might be more hassle than it's worth. Driving isn't THAT bad here!

Oh and Haven, your post reminded me of something, to avoid any potential confusion; here in Europe we post dates the other way around, so it goes day/month/year instead of month/day/year. Just in case ye wake up one morning thinking you've skipped a few months
2.gif
 
Brown Thomas did have Vivienne Westwood bags but they stopped stocking them for a while (in Dublin anyway). They might have them in again as I haven''t been into the store in about a month. They''re very helpful to email so maybe send them a mail before you go. Not sure about the prints although I haven''t heard of anyone selling them over here.
In terms of hiring a driver, I''d just get the car and drive yourselves. It really is easy enough to drive around Ireland.
In terms of buying something Irish to bring home, pottery or something from one of the Woollen Mills always seems to be popular. My mother adore Nicholas Moss pottery (his workshop is in Kilkenny but his items are sold all around Ireland). Or there is Louis Mulcahy which is about a twenty minute drive from Dingle in Ballyferriter.
 
Winternight, how exciting!!! I am so glad you are staying at Ballynahinch! We loved it. We were there over st. pattys day and We met a couple there from the states that were celebrating there 30th ann and he traveled all through Ireland and had stayed at many castles and manors and they picked that one to stay at for 10 days, I felt that it was more a manor house then a castle but very comfortable and lovely. Here is a pic we took of the castle from the vantage point of the river, I am thinking about having it enlarged and framed it turned out so nice with the reflection on the water, have a great time!

rsz_img_0799.jpg
 
winternight--I''m so bummed we won''t be there at the same time! (I contacted admin to remove the dates once we both saw them, just for safety''s sake. I hope that''s okay.)

Ballynahinch looks and sounds amazing. Wow, I can''t wait to hear about your stay there.

Porridge--I''d LOVE to participate in a mini GTG while we''re there if anyone''s interested! How fun!
And tanks for reminding me about the dates, I keep on forgetting about that. What with the driving on the left and listing the day before the months I''m all turned around!
 
Have to go and collect DH but one thing I thought of earlier is something that my uncle always mentions when he returns home from the US-I don''t think you have many roundabouts in the US and my uncle can never remember how to drive around them when he''s home. Here''s a little info on them and how to get around them roundabouts.

Let me know about a GTG-I live in Dublin and we won''t be away at that time.
 
Thank you for the roundabouts info, bee*. DH is a bit worried about those, and I''m a disaster in general, so that''s definitely important info.

winternight--Have you dealt with renting a car? If so, who did you use? (Or anyone else who has been to Ireland lately, for that matter.) I am really overwhelmed with this car hire issue.

I have the credit card that allows me to decline the CDW, but now it looks like they recently started CHARGING a 2,000 Euro deposit to the card instead of just placing a hold. And from what I''ve read on the Fodor''s forum, they can keep any and all of that deposit if they claim you''ve done damage to the car. I''m also confused about the excess waiver insurance. What are you guys doing, winter?
 
Porridge, thanks for the additional info re. Vivienne Westwood handbags etc.

Bee, ditto and thanks for the roundabout information -- we have tons of them in Washington DC and my husband hates driving through them. That page you sent is great, we''re printing it for our Ireland folder. I e-mailed Brown Thomas.

Icom, thanks for your review! What a great photo. We''re having dinner there and I''m super excited. We wanted to stay two nights but they were booked unfortunately.

Haven, thanks for thinking of removing the dates. Sometimes I get a little too cosy on the internet. My husband decided to go through Hertz because he recently got some free priority service membership or something. We''re having so many issues worrying about our drivers licenses being issued less than two years ago that we haven''t gotten around to the liability issue yet. Hiring a car and driver was insanely expensive, like over 3,000 euros for two. So we won''t be doing that!

Just thought of another issue most credit cards now charge a foreign transaction fee. I might go ahead and get a capital one card (if I have time) to avoid those fees. I''d hate to get hit with a 3% of $3,000 fee, even if the $3,000 was refunded later.

Btw. does anyone know if a US GPS will work over there? I think we''ll get a GPS I get lost in DC, and I live here!
 
Did somebody say GTG?
36.gif
 
You''re right about the foreign fees, those can add up!

I''ve read on the Fodor''s forum that some people download the Ireland maps into their Garmin before they leave, but I''ve never seen any follow-up on whether it worked. We''ll definitely try that, though. I get lost in Chicago and our city is a straight grid! We''ll definitely need some help getting around in Ireland.

I''ll let you know what I find out about using our Garmins over there. The car hire is the last bit of planning that I need to get done, and it is giving me a lot of grief!
 
Date: 4/22/2010 12:54:16 PM
Author: Haven
Thank you for the roundabouts info, bee*. DH is a bit worried about those, and I'm a disaster in general, so that's definitely important info.

winternight--Have you dealt with renting a car? If so, who did you use? (Or anyone else who has been to Ireland lately, for that matter.) I am really overwhelmed with this car hire issue.

I have the credit card that allows me to decline the CDW, but now it looks like they recently started CHARGING a 2,000 Euro deposit to the card instead of just placing a hold. And from what I've read on the Fodor's forum, they can keep any and all of that deposit if they claim you've done damage to the car. I'm also confused about the excess waiver insurance. What are you guys doing, winter?
Click to expand...
Why decline the CDW? I usually recommend upgrading and taking out SCDW, factor in an extra €20 per day. That way (usually) there is no excess to pay. I prefer to may more upfront and be sure that you will not encounter difficulties when returning the car.

Avis are a sure bet over here.

(http://www.avis.ie/IEVehiclesandServices/Additional-cover#4)

I have not heard about the debiting of 2k? I have never heard of them authorising a deposit of that amount either. Where did you see this?

ETA

Driving: Just go slow. If you create a queue of people behind you find somewhere safe and pull over to let them past and continue on. Don't worry we are used to slow drivers. It seems mandatory to drive at 15-25mph (max) once you hit 60 years of age.
 
Steal--I have a credit card that will cover me for the CDW insurance if I charge the rental to the card, and thus that saves the money we would spend on the CDW if we purchased it through the rental place. This seems like it''s something that a lot of people do--they get the CDW coverage through their credit card because it saves hundreds of dollars. SO, we''ll still be covered, just through the card and not the car hire company.

As for the 2,000 Euro charge, that seems to be a new practice when you decline their CDW coverage. Just last year, apparently, they only put a hold on your card, but now when you choose to decline the CDW a screen pops up saying you will be charged the deposit, and then refunded when you return the car. I first read about this change on Fodor''s travel forum, and then investigated it myself on some of the major car hire sites. It seems to be true. (This is only done when Americans or Canadians with the qualifying card that offers CDW coverage choose to decline the CDW.)

I''m not positive about any of this, but I''ve read up on it A LOT and spoken with some reps from the various car hire agencies and they all verified that they will *charge* my card the 2,000 Euros and then refund it later if we decline the CDW.

Thank you for the Avis link, I''ll definitely check it out. And ha! to the slow drivers. It sounds like our version of Florida drivers.
3.gif
 
Kewl, a GTG! I know bee* is in Dublin, don''t know about you Steal...but how about Galway? On a Saturday or a Sunday? Or anywhere, I''m open to suggestions.
 
Status
Not open for further replies. Please create a new topic or request for this thread to be opened.
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top