Exploring Ireland-off the tourist track
 

I am beginning to research a trip to Ireland. Dont want to go the usual "tourist " route. We are looking at trying to see the small towns and meet the people. Any suggestions? I have heard the way to go is Bed and Breakfasts.

I know many people love B&Bs but my husband and I don't. I don't like being in someones home. Guesthouses are a little better. You can rent lovely apartments or cottages in smaller villages. We are looking at Cliften next trip to Ireland. A smaller coastal town would be nice that you can do day trips from. I am not sure what you like but we love the Aran islands. They are busy with tour groups during the day but not in the evenings.

Be aware that there are areas off-the-beaten track where signs are posted only in Gaelic. We got lost in one of those areas and finally saw a truck that led us out.

I wonder if there are maps for those areas that give the English as well as the Gaelic names.

The principal Gaelic-speaking areas are the western end of the Dingle Peninsula, South Connemara, and Gweedore in the north-west corner of Donegal; there are also a few smaller gaeltacht regions. Pretty well tourist central, most of them.

The less-touristed areas are less-touristed because they have less appeal to most visitors: scenery not as striking, fewer interesting ruins/older buildings, a more limited choice of recreational amenities. Is that what you really want?

I don't think it is at all difficult engage with Irish people if that is your wish. We tend to be informal and many of us are quite willing to pass the time of day with visitors. It's important to have the right approach, because one sure way of alienating us is to make as if you know more than you actually do. Ask questions rather them make statements, and pay proper attention to the answers you get. Don't vex us with preconceptions, because that either gets up our collective noses or tempts us into playing you for the fool that you are setting yourself up as being.

Thank you everyone! My son is taking Gaelic language at school right now, and I hope to study as well. I will certainly use all the advice I have gotten here to continue to plan our trip. Our family as a whole prefers a quieter, less traveled experience. We do not like crowds and are more interested in the local people and learning about their lives. I am sure we will take in some of the tourist sites as well.

We've been to Ireland twice and we have stayed in 10 different B&Bs during those trips. While B&Bs don't appeal to everyone, I think they are an excellent way to meet people, not only the owners, and to get some great first-hand recommendations of things to see and do from the people who live in the area. In almost every B&B in which we stayed, we started with an offer of tea and a chat from the owner which was a great opportunity to meet a local and ask questions. They enjoy touting their "corner" of Ireland and we learned so much about Ireland and discovered some "hidden gems" by talking to the B&B owners. Likewise, the guests can also be a good source of information if they have already been someplace you are planning to go.

Non Tourist Irish speaking area, Achill Island, Inis Mean (middle Aran isle). There are lots of places with exceptional scenery that don't get the "tourist" plug. Even on the Cork/Kerry border Beara Peninsula remains free of the Kerryitis infection that covers Killarney and the Dingle spur.

Here in the former "Shannon Region" (sold out to Tourism Ireland) around Lough Derg on the Shannon North Tipperary, West Offaly, East Clare (yes there is more to Clare than the Cliffs/Burren eco Park)and East Galway lots of options very few tourists.

North Mayo, Sligo, Donegal huge areas of the island of Ireland that St Rick of Steves doesn't care for so avoids the eye of the easily influenced.

B&B's are a good option, there are many good Hostels lower on the price range and some good small independent Hotels. Of course a lot would depend on your particular interests, length of stay, and means of transport.