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Archiver > NY-IRISH > 2002-03 > 1017234490


From: "JAH" <>
Subject: [NY IRISH] Ireland Trip Report
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 07:08:10 -0600
In-Reply-To: <128.ea7ffc7.29d08fad@aol.com>


Hello All:

Returned from my trip to Ireland a week ago. It was wonderful, and if you
haven't been yet, you'll fall in love with the country and the people.

For those of you planning to visit, I'd have to say we hit it at the right
time. Early March is not tourist season. Tourism is down 30% right now in
Ireland and England, due no doubt to the world economy as well as Sept.
11th.

By going in March, we not only got unbeatable airfares, but missed the
crowds. We actually had the ruins at Dysert O'Dey completely to ourselves
and the resident sheep.

Here are my picks if you are planning to go:

DUBLIN:

The Hibernian Hotel: On the web. Wonderful, small hotel in Ballsbridge -
close to all the major sites in Dublin proper, just off of Baggot St.
Friendly staff, lovely dining and drawing rooms. Good value for the tariff.

On another note, there is a 5 star by a French name that I won't mention in
Dublin. We found the staff to be officious, and the hotel was not a good
value for what we paid.

National Museum (of history): We were both far more impressed with it, than
the British Museum.

O'Shea's Merchant: Touted by a taxi driver as the best pub fare in Dublin,
and it was GREAT!

Larry Murphy's Pub: Wonderful.

The Brazen Head Pub: Oldest pub in Dublin. Live, traditional music.

St. Mary's Cathedral: Marvelous, and to my surprise, more to see than St.
Patrick's Cathedral.

St. Patrick's Cathedral: Great. Be sure to call ahead, to make sure you
don't hit it during or just prior to services - they have quite a few.
Beautiful garden and yard.


LIMERICK:

If you have your heart set on something like a claddagh in 14k, this is the
only place I found - Irwin Bros. Jewelers on Patrick St. You're going to
find that almost all of the gold in Ireland is 9k. They are very helpful in
this shop, and have a good selection and excellent quality. 2 doors down,
is a women's clothier that carries Irish Damask Linens. I can't vouch for
how the price compares, but they are lovely, and we were running out of
time. The man at Irwin Bros. sent me there.

GALWAY:

Tommy Makem recommended McDonough's seafood restaurant to us in Galway. If
you go, it is in downtown Galway and is a 2-part restaurant. You enter into
the fast-food section and there is a full restaurant section to the right.
The food was excellent and the fish very fresh. My only disappointment was
that my head said shellfish when Tommy said seafood. They do have loads of
prawns in Ireland, but other than that, it's mostly finned fish.

1/2 block from McDonough's on High St., you'll find the shopping district in
Galway. For the ladies looking for Irish wool capes, I may have left a few
behind :), and Fallers Sweater Shop has a great selection. Also plenty of
sweaters, scarves and hats for men and women.

SHANNON / ENNIS area:

Dromoland Castle is marvelous. I think many pass it up as they assume it is
price prohibitive. However, I have to tell you, if you're going to stay in
a 5 star anywhere in the world for a few nights and you're of Irish descent,
this is the place for you. I booked it over the web. Their site is
http://www.dromoland.ie I used to do 3 cities a week for a living, and can
tell you without a doubt, I've never had better value for price in my life.
This place is SENSATIONAL!!! The staff, food, accommodation, amenities and
grounds/activities can't really be done honor in words. I booked their
lowest price room, and it was gorgeous. (I've never been one to touch the
bedspread in any hotel, but am quite sure each is dry cleaned here after
each guest, and wouldn't have hesitated to roll around on it.)

Our only mistake with Dromoland was using it as a hotel. If I had it to do
over again, I would have stayed right on the grounds for 3 days, as there is
plenty to do, with the golf course, paths, horse drawn carriages, pool,
sauna, steam room, spa, billiard room, etc. and it's a vacation in itself.
It is within manageable driving distance of the Cliffs of Moher, Galway and
Clonmacnois. Now, I'm saying this fully hoping that this email doesn't
reach the whole world, driving the rates up and making it difficult to get a
reservation. :)

On the driving in England and Ireland...

You CAN adapt to this. The first day is rather hair raising for those of
you who have never done it. Frankly, the left side of the road and car only
took a bit of an adjustment. It's the roundabouts, lack of shoulders and
narrow lanes that cause you to have to adjust over the first 80 or so miles.
They do drive FAST, and there is no such thing as a freeway, but after the
first day of driving in England, it was not a problem. The drivers in Irish
countryside are slower than those in the English countryside, but that's not
saying much. :)

I did drive in Dublin, but you may not want to. The traffic is so tied up
at almost all times, that it's easier to use a taxi when you're not going
more than 45 minutes away. The streets are mostly marked in Ireland, and
are not in the smaller towns like Bath and Glastonbury in England. I'd
highly recommend the Michelin (blue) Touring and Motor Atlas of Great
Britain and Ireland if you will be needing to find your way around the
country. It is the cheapest atlas I found available on the web, and very
complete and accurate.

I'm going to leave you a bit of a surprise when you find out what they drink
in Ireland and England for beer. :)

Judy Herbert

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