Ireland Ideas

[jordan2240]

Hi all,

 

Not so much a photo question, but I'm planning a not-so-near-future visit to

Ireland for around 7-10 days (depending on budget) with family (youngest child

will be 14), and, as this will be our first visit, was hoping I could get some

ideas from those who live in or have experienced the country. I'm thinking

one of the guided bike tours may make for a pleasant, leisurely vacation, but

feel free to advise me otherwise. I'm not hoping to see the entire country,

but would like to get a taste of the "real" Ireland. Based on what I've read

thus far, I'm inclined to think I should narrow my choices down to the

Southwest or Southeast regions. It seems the Southwest may have the better

scenery, but the Southeast has a more pleasing climate as well as it's share

of beautiful landscapes and areas of interest. Anyone care to offer opinions

for a first-time visit?

 

Thanks,

Bill

[yoni_perlmutter]

Full Disclosure: I am not an expert on Ireland.

 

My wife and I were in Ireland for 2 weeks+ last summer (late June, early July);

week#1 was a walking (hiking/hill walking) in the SW - Kerry Way (parallel

to the Dingle) and week#2 was a hire car ride up the W coast and then over to

Dublin for 3 days. Remarkable, wonderful and affordable.

We had one day of rain. The weather was beautiful but this, of course,

is a matter of luck.

 

A musical&poetic plus was that I learned even more

verses of Who in the Blue Blazes is Alice.

 

The countryside is beautiful and underpopulated, great for walking and

bicycling, the small towns&villages are picturesque and charming,

the pubs are more like community social centres than bars, and the people

are the best of all. Gabby but not nosey, friendly and good conversationalists.

You'll even learn there's art in the filling of a glass with Guiness.

 

We went with an Irish company, GoIreland, which I would highly recommend

to anyone. They specialise in walking and cycling tours. The groups are

small, the guides (I met 3) are knowledgable, professional and friendly,

the digs are better than decent&comfortable, the food was uniformly good&

wholesome, and the feeling was great. Our group was small with some

Aussies, New Mexicans, and Israelis (us).

 

And importantly, this trip didn't break the bank. Pricing was quite reasonable.

 

Another Full Disclosure: I have no connection to GoIreland other than I

think they are great and am planning to go with them again - this time on a

cycling tour.

 

In order to keep this photo related I must include the fact that my wife

and I took photos while we were there. I used a Cosina 35 mm film RF and

4 lenses together with a Fuji E900; my wife used an ancient but excellent

5MP Olympus digital camera. My Nikons stayed home.

 

I would give this holiday and this tour company a 10.

[jordan2240]

Yoni,

 

Thanks for the informative reply. Do you happen to know if www.govisitireland.com is the website run by the company that arranged your tour? I contacted them a couple of days ago, and their reply was very thorough. They seemed like they would be a good group to work with.

 

Thanks,

Bill

[ci_p]

Try the chips.

[luminous world]

Bill,

 

My wife and I have been to the Emerald Isle 3 times, the latest this past October. When we first went many years ago, Ireland was one of the poorest countries in what is now the EU. Today, the number one industry is construction. This is evident mostly in the southwest and southeast.

 

For our money, the most 'scenic' areas in the southwest are either The Ring of Kerry or The Beara Penninsula. The Ring has the Gap of Dunloe and Killarney National Park and The Beara Penninsula has the only 'tropical' area on the island including a bamboo park. There's a great (but steep) road that connect the two areas and is stunning. However, I'd never bike the Ring of Kerry. Very popular, lots of tourist buses and the road is only 2 car widths wide, precisely.

 

Also, for our money the 'real' Ireland can be found in the west and northwest. These areas still have Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas. There are five Gaeltacht areas in Ireland West. West of Galway City is Connemara, Ireland?s largest Gaeltacht region. Just off the coast, in the mouth of Galway Bay, lie the three Aran Islands of Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr (Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer). In Mayo, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh (Tourmakeady) in the South of the county is a Gaeltacht as is some of Oileán Acaill (Achill Island), and parts of Erris in the North.

 

In Donnegal in the north, roughly one third of Donegal county lies in the Gaeltacht. Donegal has windswept peninsulas, precipitous cliffs and a host of golden beaches that rival any in Europe. Blanket bogs, now rare in the world, also cover much of the county.

 

I'd avoid the famous Cliffs of Mohrer. Once a must see, any viewing or photographic opportunties have been ruined by recent public improvement construction. There are higher cliffs available in the north.

 

Excellent resource for ideas: http://mountainviews.ie/mv/index.php?mtnindex=285

 

Disclosure: I'm not connected to the link above or in the travel industry. We just love irelend.

 

Have a great time!

[david_henderson]

You know, its amazing the effect that weather you've experienced has on one's perceptions of beauty. I've been to the Dingle/Beara/Bantry area three times and its rained most of the trip each time. My photographs are mediocre.

 

But I've been to the Connemara/Mayo/Sligo/South Donegal Coast three times too, and on each trip we've had enough good weather to give us a great trip and excellent photographic opportunity. Now I'd hesitate to say that this area was more beautiful than Kerry, but I'm hoping to make another trip to Irelnd in late summer, and it'll be to Connemara and the west.

[jlineen]

Personal favourites would be Achill Island and Connemara. WEATHER PERMITTING. Beautiful or desolate and miserable, with scant regard for seasons.One of my favourite places in the world (on a sunny day) is the sea cliffs at the western end of achill island. Last june, on a beautiful bank holiday weekend, I had a beach to myself ( following a 3 mile hike) There is a lively irish music and culture festival in August ( Scoil Acla) with events on daily.The light at mid summer can be amazing. As a previous poster mentioned, there is an ongoing construction boom, with a resulting bungalow blight affecting many scenic areas. For a cycling trip, Connemara would be my choice- more variety, and Galway, as mentioned is lively year round. An alternative would be a barge cruise along the inland waterways - the really slow pace may not suit your teenage son though. As regards the 'real' ireland, that is probably to be found in Dublin and its suburbs and satellite towns, as this is where the majority of the population lives (including me). The weather in the southeast tends to be better, but this is relative.

[jlineen]

Achill Island Sunset

[jlineen]

Trying to upload achill photos.....

[yoni_perlmutter]

Bill,

 

Try WWW.goireland.com/goireland.htm

 

We were on the Burren and Connemara and through the small,

beautiful villages on the NW coast during week#2.

It was great.

 

Our 3 days in Dublin was wonderful as well. Oh yes, don't forget the Skelligs.

But no cycling there, I'm afraid.

 

Good Luck.

[jlineen]

Achill Photo<div></div>

[tara_photography]

I wonder if you have seen your Achill Cliffs like this James? This as you will know is the Atlantic drive part of Achill and these cliffs are 30ft plus. But you wouldnt think it when the wind blows at 90mph as it did this day last December. The waves just come right over the top.

 

www.taraphotography.net/gallery/v/Achill+Island/IMG_6813-01.jpg.html

[jlineen]

If you are in Ireland during the summer, try to attend a championship Hurling or Gaelic Football match. The atmosphere at these games can be very passionate, and they are a uniquely irish sporting occassion.<div></div>