Can't go sooner, Garg, or I would. We saved lotsa money by visiting at the end of January/beginning of February last time. Of course, many of the touristy-type purchases weren't available, but how many blackthorn sticks do you really need?

In addition to Dublin, we also plan to visit the Boyne Valley, the Ulster-American Folk Park, Powerscourt, Glendalough, Dingle (sure, an' me wife's folks are from there an' Castlegregory), Cork, and, likely, Galway (the city and the county). Our horsewoman wants to ride (I offered her a chance in the rodeo out here, but nooooooo...), and there are several places along the way for that.

And when I say I haven't been in Dublin for a while I meant it. I was last there in 1979. I hear it's changed a bit since.