BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Kaleea
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 02:24 PM

Ireland would be at the top of my list of places to travel outside the USA. Most anywhere in Ireland! My neice & I were talking just last week of "wouldn't it be wonderful if we could go to Ireland someday?" One of my aunts & a cousin have told us of their many visits. When my mother was a child, she can remember when an aunt came over from Ireland & visited them out in the Oklahoma sticks, speaking with "such a brogue only Mama could understand her." (I thought it was a "Lilt") I'm not sure if any of my mother's generation would remember from what part of Ireland the aunt came. Granny's maiden name was Rains or Raynes (various spellings), but on both sides of the family, the ancestors have been in the USA for several generations--a couple hundered years, so who other than God Himself knows?
I wonder if some lovely Music loving folks would someday do a swap & let my neice, her daughter (now 22 mos old), & myself stay at their place (a short walk from nightly sessions, of course in my dream vacation) in return for letting them stay at our place in San Diego? Of course, we'd need to save quite a while for the plane tickets. That in itself might take a couple of years. (or longer!)
Perhaps we Catters should have our own vacation swap bunch, sort of like when my neice was a teen & they had exchange students live with them at least a couple of different years. She then visited them one summer. Except, of course, it would only be a few days instead of a summer or a school year. I'm sure some Catters already do this with some folks they've met! I think it would even be more fun to have a Catter visit us & show them around & vice versa than to merely swap living quarters. But, that may have to wait till we have something other than a couch to offer them! A Mudcat swap would be much more fun than some travel agent hook-up, due to the obvious Music interest, & being able to get to know each other here.
However, till we save up the $$ for our dream trip, if there's a would-be-surfer (or wanna-watch-the-surfers) Catter wanting to visit San Diego who's brave enough to not only sleep on the couch, but to attempt to navigate across a living room floor covered with toys without breaking your neck, I'll be happy to take you to the beach!

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: bflat
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 05:47 PM

One dream is coming true, I'll be in Ireland next week. Plan to stay for two weeks and tour all of the perimeter and then some. Since I'm restricted to one 38" piece of luggage for the flight, I'd like to pack well. Any hints on dress code and average daily temps would be very appreciated. Thanks.
Ellen

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 06:09 PM

Dress for generally milder (and wetter) than northeast US. NI (e.g.) is quite a bit north of Boston, (and Dublin's not far south of that, in "American" terms) but the whole island's climate is tempered by the Gulf Stream. It's getting chilly now, but it never does get as cold as New Hampster.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 06:44 PM

Where I wrote "NI" I meant "Belfast" - not that anything in NI is very far from Belfast.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: bflat
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 06:53 PM

Thank you BuckMulligan. The comparisons are excellent and known to me.

Ellen

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Alison M
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 06:29 AM

Thanks again for all your replies, which were all very interesting to read on here. Yes, I dream of visiting Ireland one day too. I would like to spend a year there and tour the whole of Ireland, but this would be too expensive for me, but maybe one day! I guess it is ok just to hope to visit one day at least. Divis I hope you enjoy your bike ride! Kind Regards to all.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 06:56 PM

I'm in something of a sulk.
Apart from Greg (I remember playing in a session with the boatband in Rooney's pub in Ardmore, I do not remember going home - it was all a long time ago , the 80s I'd say? wonder if you were with them then Greg ?) no body seems to have visited County Waterford ???
I can assure you Alison M it is every bit as good a destination as the West, Nor West, Nor East, South West or East Coast .

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: maire-aine
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:34 PM

Hi. It's been about 10 years since my last visit, but my favorite place was the Cliffs of Moher. You cannot imagine the power of the forces of nature-- the wind blowing in from the Atlantic. Another great place of a similar nature is the north-west coast of Mayo, a place called Downpatrick Head. There's a road that runs right along the edge of the cliffs, and you can walk right up to the edge. Up in that same area are the Ceide Fields. The last time I was there, the visitor center was just beginning construction, so I'd like to see the completed center. On one visit, I did a garden tour that included Glenveigh (sp?), Birr Castle, Muckross House in Killarney, the Botanical Gardens in Dublin, and the place south of Dublin around Wicklow (Mount Usher, maybe??).

Whatever you decide, just go wander around and you'll have a good time.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: kendall
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:39 PM

I'd like to stand on Dingle's Beach and sing, "Song for Ireland."

At this point, I'd settle for being able to stand anywhere and sing anyTHING.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 02:15 AM

Achill
Achill
Achill (try to find the old amethyst mine - great fun collecting beautiful scraps, then on to Keem bay for great, terrifically cold, snorkelling)

then Dingle (climb Mount Brendan - gorgeous view)

then Doolin (but often too many Americans...yeah, I know, I am one and part of the problem)

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: open mike
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 02:30 AM

I am surprised there were so many posts before Doolin was mentioned.
It has been the place name that I have heard of most often by music lovers who go to Ireland.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 04:54 AM

You lucky people who are touring around Ireland for the past couple of days, this morning the sun is shining out of a cloudless sky, a morning made in heaven

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 07:14 PM

well I live in Ballydehob ,25 miles west of clonakilty.
THEW FIRST BALLYDEHOB INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL takes place ,may 6 may 7 2007, come and enjoy it . Dick Miles

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 03:15 PM

Back from sunny County Mayo. Weather great as was craic. Bike played up a bit, bit of an oil leak, gasket under pressure, great roads to test a bike. Lot of speed cameras about, not sure if the law to add points onto licence from south to northern drivers is in yet, already got six, so hope not. Just covered Sligo, Mayo and Galway. Achill was beautiful. Sorry greg didn't get down as far as you. Take it from me, Moonlight in Mayo is as close to heaven as I will get !

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: MudGuard
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 04:35 PM

Hi. It's been about 10 years since my last visit, but my favorite place was the Cliffs of Moher. You cannot imagine the power of the forces of nature-- the wind blowing in from the Atlantic.

That was ten years ago - nowadays there is more power of the force of concrete than of nature - the place is a big construction site (at least it was in May 2006 - but it didn't look like being finished soon) nowadays, it has lost much of its nature ...

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 05:37 PM

I agree MudGuard. I passed a new really big hotel in Mulranny in Mayo, it's as if they can't build they ugly enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 05:57 PM

Climb Croagh Patrick and indulge your senses.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 06:51 PM

Did it many years back with two vistors I had over. It was a very wet day. Many were doing it in their bare feet. Not really my type of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: robomatic
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 03:29 AM

Carrantuohill

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Roughyed
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 06:15 AM

Get a map of Ireland, a blindfold and a pin. Put on the blindfold, stick the pin in the map, pawn your possessiond and book the ferry. Wherever you go you'll find the people wonderful, the weather generally lousy and you can track down the music after a day or two.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 07:49 AM

You would have been wrong about the weather this Summer, it was excellent,following on from a similar summer last year, we do have our good days.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: jaze
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 08:39 AM

What about N. Ireland? Any special places there?

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 09:33 AM

Derry City is great for a weekend break, also Armagh city. Around the north coast is lovely, Castlerock. Cultra is great. There is a transport museum in it, this is a must. I myself love Warrenpoint and Kilbrony park Rostrevor. Looking out over Fiddlers Green across Carlingford Lough. Scenery around South Armagh is lovely,Crossmaglen, Camlough and Keady, otherwise there is very little there.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Roughyed
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 04:29 PM

I did say 'generally' lousy, Guest. I've had excellent weather for two weeks at the end of September before now but I'm sure you would agree it tends to be a bit damp, although the west coast is mild because of the Gulf Stream of course. It's best to go prepared for anything but that's true of the whole of the British Isles.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 06:23 PM

THE Mizen Head , next stop america.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Mickey191
Date: 11 Sep 06 - 07:13 PM

First trip was in 1960 - one of the most beautiful sights was a road heading into Bantry, Cork. Overlooking the bay - it was stunning. On that same trip we did the Ring of Kerry. T'was fun even though it poured rain-and the guide of the horse drawn cart was a sketch! While we all were having lunch in Kearney's Cottage - He stood and toasted me with this: "Will yee come share my tent with me Foxy Red?" The red is gray now--but wisdom has told me that he probably proposed 3 or 4 times a week. Enhances the tip I'm sure.

Glad someone mentioned Fermanagh-beautiful! I've always thought the Killarney Lakes were overly praised. Love Galway Town all of Donegal. The people are the best!

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: DougR
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 12:48 AM

My favorite is Clifden on the West coast of Ireland. A beautiful little town with very friendly people.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Alison M
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:10 AM

Thanks for all your replies, this thread has been an interesting read. Kind Regards.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:25 AM

Might as welll do a bit of Thread Creep - Loughstock 007 is well under way , so if any one is any where near Portaferry in February
come and have a session with us !

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:43 AM

There's nothing particularly special about the place, but as far as names go, you can't beat Ballynagrumoolia just south of Cork.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: michaelr
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 09:33 AM

Donegal, Donegal, Donegal!

Just spent several days there and it's absolutely stunning. Most beautiful landscapes I've seen anywhere.

Slan,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 09:43 AM

Off again in the morning to Torrevieja Spain for eight days, will look in here from internet cafe.

Subject: RE: BS: Choose a place in Ireland to visit
From: Alison M
Date: 16 Sep 06 - 11:31 AM

Divis, have a nice time in Spain!