[FRIAM] Fw: Ireland Trip

[Jack Stafurik]

Some Ireland info from a good friend, Jo Shields.

Jack Stafurik

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jochef at att.net>
To: "Jack Stafurik" <jstafurik at earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2006 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: Ireland Trip


> Dear Travelers,
> I would have to agree with Colm except for one thing; I would avoid Dublin 
> altogether.  Very expensive, crowded, looking like every British (!) High 
> Street and really not much to see other than the usually tourist lines to 
> the Book of Kells.  If you pick up a car, do it at the airport (even if 
> you stay in Dublin for a couple of days (still too long) take a taxi or 
> the Big Blue Bus to the airport and leave for the countryside.) If you 
> stay in Dublin,Buswell's Hotel on Molesworth Street in right across from 
> the Dail(government) and the National Museum and I ALWAYS stay there. 
> Charming, old (recently redone)style, small hotel with a very good 
> restaurant.
> I have seen so many changes in the country since '98 and visit about 5-6 
> times a year.  Even the beautiful West is no longer the wild, unspoiled 
> place it used to be. If you are walkers, look into the Pilgrimage Path 
> outside of Dingle.  It starts at Ventry Bay and eventually ends on Mt 
> Brandon.  Unique, early and pre-christian churches, round forts and 
> vistas.  There is also a Pilgrimage walk south of Dublin in Wicklow that 
> leads to Glendalough (heavy on the tourists)
> I have been spending more time in the North.  Don't be afraid.  It's 
> politics as usual in Belfast (the government has been re-established and 
> the bickering goes on) but everyone wants peace and the days of 
> insurection are over.  Just over the Border in Fermanagh are lovely hills 
> and loughs and not much developement.  The Antrim coast is spectacular!
> Donegal is another recomemdation.  Sligo is also beautiful and there are 
> lots of neolithic stone circles and early Christian sites.
> And then there is "my second home" in Co. Clare.  I have friends just 
> outside the Burren, a protected almost Moon-scape like area with 
> incredible Wild Flowers and Neolithic slab tombs.  Lots of walks and right 
> on Galway Bay.
> My ancestral home is Dingle, Co. Kerry and I haven't been back in three 
> years because of the the over-building and traffic.
> And while we are on the subject of traffic.  There is Lots! And don't, for 
> the most part, expect too much courtesy.  I have had drivers behind me 
> blow their horns and scream if I dare stop and give another car the right 
> of way.  Lots of huge Mercs and BMWs in a hurry.
> Unfortunately, the Bed and Breakfast is becoming a thing of the past.  I 
> will be going to Wicklow in three weeks to paint and last year there were 
> 2 B&Bs and one small hotel in the area.  This year they are all closed. 
> The closest accomodation is 10 miles out of my way.  That may not sound 
> like a great distance to us in the States, but in Ireland, the road system 
> is not great and those 10 miles  at rush hour may take me 40 minutes to an 
> hour.
> I would get a copy of The B&B Guide and the Hotels and Guesthouses Guide 
> put out by Bord Failte, the Irish Tourist Board (The travel agent should 
> have them or you can contact the Irish Tourist Board in NYC) and the 
> Footprint Guide to Ireland.  Good sources for accomodations.
> Where to eat?  Tea Shops are good for a lunch and there is always the Pub.
> Again I will echo Colm and remind you to allow plenty of time for travel 
> and please, please do not try to see and do too much.  I recently put 
> together an itinerary for friends who had only 5 days to spend in Ireland. 
> They spend most of their time in Clare with one day in Galway and they 
> came back saying that they didn't see and do all that they wanted to in 
> Clare.
> But Ireland is still a friendly, place.  (There is some anti-Americanism 
> because of the Iraq war, but it is directed towards the Administration and 
> not individuals).  You will have a wonderful time.  For all the time I 
> spend there, I still encounter friendly, warm people and amazing 
> experiences and some great "craic" (conversation and laughter)
> Have a great time!
> Jo Shields