General: Ireland

I am writing this review on my latest and greatest holiday, I say abroad which is kind of true but actually I am going to the republic of Ireland, as I am writing this review I'm on holiday and writing it on my pocket PC. This is not such a 'review' it is more about what I did, a diary. I am going to Ireland with all my family except my dad because he couldn't get the time off work but we went with my Nan as part of a birthday present. -*-*- Setting ...
...the Friday morning about 6am but we had to get to the boat for am (in case you hadn't gathered we are sailing to Dublin) we got to the boat at about half 7 which gave us time to sit in the passenger lounge which was not too bad as it had toys for the children to play with, a TV, a few chairs and a coffee machine. We waited in there for about half an hour and then we were on board the vessel. Upon boarding we had to check in at reception and then ...

ste231191 24.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

BALLYBUNION GOLF CLUB Ballybunion is situated by the mouth of the River Shannon in County Kerry. The course is built on a seemingly never-ending stretch of natural,tumbling duneland sweeping along the golden, sandy shore of the Atlantic Ocean. The origins of golf here can be traced back to 1891, but interest seemingly waned, and it was not until 1906 that the club was re-formed. The original inspiration came from a returned Indian army officer, Colonel ...
...expanded to a full 18 holes in 1927. Trent Jones, one of today’s premier golf course designers, on first sight of Ballybunion, said, “This is the most natural golf course terrain I have ever encountered. It is God-given.” He was to go on to design a second course (The New) at Ballybunion, which most golfers would agree rivals its older brother. Every hole is a feature hole at Ballybunion! The closing 18th hole has a stretch of sand straddling the ...

the_mad_cabbie 06.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Ireland is stunning. It’s rural beauty is something to behold in all climates. Whether you see the Wicklow Mountains through gently sweeping, misty rain; or Roaringwater Bay living up to it’s name; travel over the awesome Macgillycuddy’s Reeks in warming sunshine; or just dabbling your toes on a vast and deserted beach, you cannot fail to appreciate it’s charm. ** The Towns** The one thing that is most noticeable about an ...
...I didn’t begin to count them, but it was clear to see we were in the region of 3 to 1 in favour of the pubs. Most men’s idea of shopping heaven, I’m sure they’ll agree. The majority of towns are clean and well looked after, and where we stayed in Clonakilty, it was painted in Mediterranean pastel hues in contrast to the more usual crisp white. There is a wide variety of shops, serving you the familiar in amongst the unfamiliar, ...

Salgirl 30.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

~~~~~~~~~~~ Background ~~~~~~~~~~~ Among the host of images suggested by the mere mention of Ireland is that of ancient peoples worshiping amid megalithic stones. Few places are more evocative in this regard than the Brú na Bóinne, roughly translated from the Gaelic as the "Palace of the Boyne." Now, imagine yourself and your psyche transplanted in time to the Ireland of 4000 years ago. You are poling a small boat up the Boyne River, and high on ...
...dancing off the white quartz and granite façade of what is already an ancient and mysterious monument--the huge passage tomb of Newgrange. One could not approach this holy site without being moved by the power and discipline its creation required. The sight of it, gleaming from its high place above the river, must have struck awe in the hearts and minds of all who saw it. Even at the dawn of the 21st century, the monuments of the Brú na Bóinne have ...

BawBaw 24.08.2003 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

When the troubles every July spark up in the North, the pictures are beamed around the world because they can be quite spectacular. When all is quiet and prosperous and everyone just gets on with their life the TV cameras have all gone. Therefore the picture the world receives of Ireland is not quite what it is. Likewise in the movies we get the quaint Ireland of the 'Quiet Man', of 'Waking Ned' or 'Dancing At Lughnasa'. In fact it is often very ...
...contemporary Ireland. And so Hollywood distorts Ireland. But what is the real Ireland like? Is it backwards in the South and a war zone in the North? Hardly! It is true to say that their are many areas of outstanding natural beauty in Ireland, too many for a tourist to see in a couple of weeks. From the beautiful fishing villages of the South West, the bustling cities of Kilkenny and Limerick, to the quiet of Malin rural solitude of Malin Head in ...

kfingleton 13.12.2000 (07.02.2001) · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Why are the Orange Marches so controversial? Er…Politics?…the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland?…Religion…Events in Northern Ireland? Where do you think I could have put this opinion? Actually, probably in all of them but I opted for the latter. I am an English atheist, christened as a Methodist: my friend in Northern Ireland is Protestant and just wants a quiet life: her sister is part of the Orange Women’s ...
...back “to their part of Ireland”: A firm loyalist. Now you know. I was in Northern Ireland recently for the 12 July marches. Anyone living outside Northern Ireland knows about the Orange Marching season: stand-offs at Drumcree; Orange parades not being able to march down the Garvaghy Road; sporadic fighting in Belfast…sometimes worse than that. That is a ‘foreigner’s’ view of it. I went over and I saw for myself… ...

HappyBunny 12.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Being a broth of a boy from Ireland I thought it was time I gave my sincere thoughts on my homeland. The Irish Tourist Board should be waving a 6 figure cheque in my direction for even thinking of writing opinion that will have, at the very least, 30,000 members jumping at the chance to rush to their banks and convert their pounds to punts. So far no luck, but I haven’t posted the damned opinion or told them about it yet. Lets start at the beginning ...
...addicts will know ire means anger and everybody else knows land means country. Now let’s put these 2 together and we get angry country, amazing who’d have believed that. I have lived all my life in this bigoted island, barring holidays and seclusions to rational thinking, otherwise called I’m off to London for a bit, and I’ll be back when I find one, and I have enjoyed it because it is what it is. It’s called the Emerald Isle because it is green ...

petersmyth1 17.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

First of all make sure you visit Carlow during the week coz it is VERY quiet on the weekends! How do I get there? Well there's plenty of ways to get to carlow (train, bus). If your travelling from Dublin Airport you can get a bus from the Airport to Carlow it takes roughly 1h 30 to 3hrs depending on the route although it's really only 50 miles down from Tallaght (South Dublin). The cost of the Bus starts at € 8 and thats return! It's a fairly ...
...the type of small where everyone seems to know everyone, you know those type of places! Going Out! nights out in Carlow are basically bombarded with students, me being a student myself I can't complain about this. I just thought I'd warn the non students the IT Carlow kids can be fairly hyper on a thurday night! Where to go? The best nightclub in Carlow is The Foundry, brilliant nights, good prices! Another option is Scraggs Alley mainly over taken ...

kegan5 25.10.2002 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Are you exhausted and looking for a relaxing holiday with no hurries and complte laid back approach to life, then ireland is the place you have been looking for. The people of ireland are fantastic always saying hello and goodbye and always willing to chat or help. I have been going to a small town in donegal called moville for 15 years of my life. moville is a small fishing village where fishing, farming, and tourism are the way of life. It is a ...

paulmcdaid 14.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

For anyone planning a holiday in Ireland I would highly recomend The Harbour Mill Apartments,Westport,County Mayo we have stayed in these self catering apartments for the last two years and plan to again return this year. These apartments are designed to the highest standard and everything you can think of is included, satelite television, washing machine, dish washer, balcony with a magnificent view of Westport harbour, the list of little touches ...
...honeymoon last year and found the staff very helpful and accomadating on our arrival, we arrived late in the evening and were given a complimentary glass of wine from the Wine Bar which is situated in the ground floor, also situated on this floor is a complimentary jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. We thorougly enjoyed our honeymoon and we couldn't have chosen a better place to stay. The Harbour Mill Apartments are situated a short walk from Westport ...

portugal 04.03.2001 (14.03.2001) · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

If you want to get a taste of the Mourne mountains but don't want to trek up to the summit of one of them visit to beautiful " Silent Valley". Situated 12 miles out the A2 Newcastle to Annalong road and clearly sign posted and easy access for a car or coach ( if you have one LOL). The price per car is £3.00 and the grounds are open in the summer from 10 am to 6.30 pm and 4pm in the winter, there is also a bus on at the weekends and other busy times ...
...Ben Crom Reservoir. When you arrive there is plenty of car parking space surrounded by a wealth of different trees to numerous to mention ( at lease for me) important for most people there is great toilet dotted around the park ( and clean) along with the restaurant and information centre all mainly on level ground. The river that has been dammed is the " Kilkeel river" there is two dam's on site the bottom dam has a great rolling grass bank behind ...

seltaeb 21.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

For friendly people, culture, beautiful scenery and mighty 'craic' Ireland is the place to be. For residents of Great Britain Ireland is easily accessible by via a short ferry crossing or around an hour (or less) by plane. Although the country has a reputation for being expensive this is no longer really true. The current exchange rates mean that for every pound sterling you can get an extra twenty or so pence in Irish money, so any price differences ...
...particular petrol is almost half the UK price. The greatest thing about a visit to Ireland is the friendliness of the people. You are completly overwhelmed by the welcome that you recieve in every pub, shop, hotel etc. and even when driving along the road people will stop and wave. I have been to Ireland five times now, and am returning for a fortnight's break in a couple of weeks time. Whether it is for a weekend break or an annual holiday Ireland ...

Lad 22.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Afetr visiting Dublin for a week i was simply dying to go back and see more of the wonderful "Emerald Isle". Waterford is completely gorgeous, breathtaking scenery and small villages where everybody really does know everyone else. The villages are everything you imagine them to be, the grocer, the post office and the pub of course where everyone meets on an evening to discuss the days events. I also had the luck of living and working in Dublin for ...
...on Grafton Street, eat lunch in St. Stephen's green and go out to one of the many pubs and clubs on an evening to have a pint of the "black stuff"! Simply heaven! Although after being in town for a few weeks i simply wanted to see more of the green isle. So off to Glendalough i went. Glendalough or "Two Lakes" is right in the middle of nowhere and is where every tourist is told to visit. Take your hiking boots though! The visitors centre provides ...

Lindsay_huxtable 01.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Breath taking, those were the very words i used when i first stepped into Irleland. The place has a magical presence to it. After driving through the beautiful southern part of Irleland i made my way to Kilkenny where my grandfather lived on a small farm he had built. The people around me hwre saying hello and how are you like they were my family. A trip to the local town of Killkenny proved to be outstanding. Sipping fine ales and eating strong ...
...chunk of England but magnified. In England you can only drive so far then you are out of the country and into some overflowing city. So my week was basically strees free. Walking the hills and mountains, breathing fresh air and being at peace. I love Irleland and would go tommorrow. I would recommend this magical country to anyone. ...

KEN2010 18.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland

Ireland was never on my "must go" list, possibly because it's so close to home, but having just come back from two weeks touring around the West, it's definitely on my "must go back to" list. The scenery is so beautiful and so varied as you travel through the counties. The Burren is quite amazing with it's limestone pavements and we really didn't do it justice with the short time we were there. Poulnabrone Dolmen is a good example of a wedge tomb ...
...it yet by building a car park next to it, which is what has been done at the Cliffs of Moher. Yes, the cliffs are impressive, but no more so than many other parts of the coastline you can see as you tour around. The paths along the Cliffs of Moher now swarm with thousands of people, Tourist Office, cafe, shacks selling the usual tat - it's all a bit of a shame really. For a complete contrast try the Ceide Fields way up on the north coast of Mayo. ...

Phil_P 09.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of General: Ireland