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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Who wants to talk to me about Ireland and hols....... you know you want to

133 replies

catinthehat2 · 03/02/2011 21:09

So, wise Eireophiles:

for our week's hol I am hoping we will stay for a few days in Dublin and stay the rest of the week ...

WHERE??????

Cork?

Limerick?

Galway?

Waterford?

SOmewhere else entirely?

(we want somewhere to stay and drive every day in a different direction IYKWIM)

I am having trouble with the spoilt for choice thing. I am very grateful for any recommendations.

Thank you

OP posts:
mamsnet · 04/02/2011 09:59

If you're foodies, West Cork is definitely the answer. But, God I loooooove Clare!

Leave Dublin for another time. You can always do that on a cheapie Ryanair weekend.

Ivegotmrbitey · 04/02/2011 10:05

Dingle is gorgeous, and not too long a drive from Cork (about three and half hours if memory serves). You can stop at Blarney castle on the way for some hair-rasing stone kissing!

drivingmisscrazy · 04/02/2011 10:35

also if you are foodies, West Cork probably best - but get hold of either the Bridgestone Guide (cafes, shops, producers) or failing that Georgina Campbell - both have some online reviews as well. If you go to Clare you can go to the Burren smokehouse (swoon) and to visit Cratloe Hills cheese-makers (yum) - and then up to Galway to Sheridans (cheese too) and whatever the name of that fab food emporium is in Shop Street (maryz help?!). And then lunch/tapas/wine at Cava (one of the loveliest places to eat anywhere). I'm talking myself into a trip to Galway...

GetOrfMoiLand · 04/02/2011 10:43

This is a lovely thread. i really want to go to Ireland now (was planning to go to Dublin in the spring, think may well go to Galway now)

drivingmisscrazy · 04/02/2011 10:48

also you can find some good trad music both in Galway City and in Clare (Doolin, especially). If you are going to Connemara/Aran, I'd thoroughly recommend Tim Robinson's writings - he knows the language, culture and landscape of Connemara intimately, and writes beautifully. Stones of Aran is one of my all-time favourite books.

mamsnet · 04/02/2011 10:50

Just a thought, OP.. I wonder if there is any way you could ask to have this thread moved to holidays or similar when it dies down a bit. The reason I ask is that I remember a similar thread last year that went on for ages and had some brilliant suggestions in. I was going to recommend you to look it up and then I thought.. "Chat.. It's gone".

In a similar vain, I sometimes dig out old emails I have when I've made recommendations about travelling to/ around Ireland to Spanish friends.. it's nice not to type everything out again but rather refresh.. and remind yourself of ideas for our next trip home at the same time!

mamsnet · 04/02/2011 10:51

vein.. I do believe... Blush

glastocat · 04/02/2011 10:54

Its a nice thread for those of us who live in Ireland too. Life is pretty grim here for many people at the minute and people are getting very angry about the economy, with many emigrating. Its good to remember the positive side to living here too. (I live in Cork, can't wait to get down west again this summer! But also fancy a trip to Galway now!) Smile

Original poster
catinthehat2 · 04/02/2011 10:59

Mamsnet, good idea, I've reported it, hope it gets moved in a bit

OP posts:
mamsnet · 04/02/2011 11:03

Glastocat.. Lots of people have told me that there are good bargains to be had in family rooms and self catering..

God knows a few years ago you needed to remortgage the house to holiday in Ireland!

glasshouse · 04/02/2011 12:36

Where's your dad from Ohfuschia, we might be related!

Superfly · 04/02/2011 13:28

Spent a week in Fanore last August - but travelled around most of Co.Clare. Absolutely stunning - the scenery of the Burren and the beaches were amazing. Lots to do, plenty of fab places to eat, everyone really friendly. Hope to go back this summer.

...but big shout out for Tipperary, my ffamily from there and the Glen of Aherlow is my most favourite place in the world.

belgo · 04/02/2011 13:32

We've booked up Banna Strand, on the recommendation of someone on mumsnet. I can't wait.

ohfuschia · 04/02/2011 13:38

Glasshouse, Dad is from Ashleam, what about you? Smile

GwendolineMaryLacey · 04/02/2011 13:40

ohfuschia, if your mum knew a farmer's wife (well, widow) called Mag who had a 3 legged dog and gave me damn nearly raw boiled eggs for my tea, God love her, then we might be related :o

ChablisLover · 04/02/2011 13:42

come north - the north antrim coast is stunning! The giants causeway - a wonder of the world and go to Bushmills and try the whiskey where its made.

Also discover the delights of an Ulster Fry

Then you can head over the border to Donegal - equally stunning.

glastocat · 04/02/2011 13:53

Yeah North Antrim coast is fab, and cheaper than the south ( I'm born and bred N. Antrim though I live in Cork now). I wouldn't say the people are as charming or the craic as good though, and I come from there myself. Donegal is glorious, but rains even more than everywhere else!

There are definitely excellent deals to be had on hotels. I took advantage of one last last week and went away to a lovely family hotel with pool and kids play rooms in Clonakilty for ?58 for the night. I suggest signing up to Boards.ie Megadeals and pigsback.com. They send out daily deals, most will be irrelvant to you but they have some great hotel deals. We're off for another weekend next month, two nights b&b in a 4 star for all of us for ?89! It is definitely cheaper here than it was before, but still not cheap by any means!

mamsnet · 04/02/2011 14:00

Wow, Glasto! Those are some cracking deals! Shock

HibernoCaledonian · 04/02/2011 14:06

Please, anyone who reads this thread, ignore what some posters, especially BuzzLightBeer, said about Limerick. Limerick gets the worst press but it isn't as bad as it is made out to be. As stleger said, there are some places that absolutely lovely.

glastocat · 04/02/2011 14:11

Yeah, agree parts of Limerick are nice, but I really would put it a long way down the list to visit on a week in Ireland.

ChablisLover · 04/02/2011 15:10

also check out goireland.com $149 for two nights B&B for a family room
Some good 4 star hotels on there.

would also recommend westport and Killarney

BuzzLightBeer · 04/02/2011 15:23

Sorry if I offended, its personal experience of Limerick that makes me lean towards that notion of it.

glastocat · 04/02/2011 17:04

The area around Killarney (the Park) is glorious, but Killarney town is a rip-off tourist trap and has been since Queen Victoria stayed there. Lots of (pricey) hotels though, some of them very nice indeed.

JetLi · 04/02/2011 17:50

We spent a week in Limerick on holiday... The happy result was DD (now 18 months old). So I will always have a soft spot for Limerick. The Irish lads I work with were a bit taken aback (understatement) that we were going there for a holiday! But a week was more than enough, hence how much of it was spent shagging Blush We found some really good restaurants & bars. But I think if we'd have been up in Galway our little girl wouldn't be here, purely because there was more there to do & see.

cornsilk · 04/02/2011 18:48

we stayed in the North once and went to the giant's causeway - I'd always wanted to see it. I must admit that the causeway itself was a bit underwhelming but driving around the coast road was breathtaking. Wanted to do the rope bridge thing but the weather was bad (and I was too scared!)

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