jon

My wife and I are planning a trip to Ireland this fall. She is concerned that it will be too similar to England which we just visited last year. I'm assuming much of the landscape and topography will be similar.

Can anyone tell us how Ireland will be different than England?

elvira

National pride makes me want to curl my toes and clench my teeth, but I will answer this calmly (the Ryan blood just rose to near boiling, but I'm all right now...).

It is called the Emerald Isle for a reason; one look at the landscape and you'll know why they call "Kelly green" Kelly green.

If it weren't for Celtic (with a k, not an s sound) priests, we'd have lost written Latin, and the languages we know today that come from it.

An Irish pub, in Ireland, is unlike any place you've ever been. Fortunately, they make you leave at closing time, or you'd live there for months.

The sweet sound of an Irish tenor will bring a swelling to your heart, and you will consider making a pact with the Devil just so you could make that sound just once yourself.

Red-haired, freckled-faced kids in short pants or plaid pleated skirts will stop and talk to you in that lovely lilting brogue.

An Irish breakfast will clog your arteries for months.

The surge you get when you stand on the cliffs and look over the wild Irish Sea will nearly lift you off your feet.

The sight of British soldiers in Belfast or Derry will make you pray harder for peace than you've ever done in your life.

Yeah, Ireland is just like England.

Heather

Being of much-diluted Irish heritage, I probably can offer a more objective answer based on my vacation that included both Ireland and England.

We went into Dublin and rented a car for 10 days in Ireland to drive the countryside. We went from Dublin to Galway where we visited the Aran Islands (terrific & so unique!). Then, we set off for other areas further down the coast, including Doolin, Dingle Pennisula (a must-see), Killarney National Park (visit Muckross in May for the azaleas), Kinsale and back across some small country stops to the ferry to Wales and on to England.

I live in Chicago and have heard about Ireland my entire life. It's better than the hype. It's greener, hillier, more fun, and has friendlier people and better food than I expected. Of course, I enjoy all the new experiences of just about any travel, but Ireland was particularly special. You'll never lose the desire to smell peat burning in a fire on a cold evening.

England was wonderful in its own respects, but I doubt that you'll find yourself feeling any deja vu between England and Ireland.

Mavis

As someone with zero Irish blood - altho' married to an O'Donnell - and who loves both countries I'll tell you a little story that I think demonstrates the difference between the two. (Based on the two previous answers you already know they're different.) When we go to England my husband and I purchase a Great British Heritage Pass which gets you into hundreds of properties - gardens, estates, castles, etc. We basically plan our trip around these places, renting a self-catering cottage in the middle of a circle of places we want to visit, throwing in some great pubs, idyllic countryside, a few days in London and some 'personal' out of the way places like the secondhand book capital of the world at Hay on Wye or the village used in the Agatha Christie mysteries as Miss Marple's St. Mary's Mead (Nether Wallop). We always have a great time, come home exhausted but feel like we've learned something, have wonderful photos, and two years later we pick another circle and do it again. Ireland is totally different. You have to have a car because the best part is just starting out that day and going where the road takes you. Even though there are a few 'pretty' places to see - Muckross House, etc. - the Irish are too irreverant to maintain that kind of hype for long. One day in Co. Galway, on the way to Roundstone, we stopped at a pub and store for pop, crisps, water, etc. Across the road there was a tall stone memorial of some kind. Having just come from England and being in my tourist mode I ran across to see what it celebrated. I don't remember the exact wording, but it went something like this: On May 3, 1835 nothing whatsoever happened on this spot. That's the Irish. We go there to eat great seafood, walk along the cliffs with the wind blowing you about, tuck into a corner in a small pub on a Friday night when the singers come in, or sit in a pub in the middle of the Gaelic-only district and let the words roll over us, wander through ancient graveyards, watch the fishermen, or the men cutting peat, or the gypsies try and get money from a local. We get lost at least three times in one day, slow down to the speed of sheep on the side of the road, and try to think about what it was like for my husband's ancestors to have lived there. If you want a totally different holiday from England, Ireland's the answer. (And don't ever let on to an Irishman when you're there that you weren't sure.) Have fun.

lorraine

hi from a travelled kiwi, yessssss ireland is different to england.
try the giants causeway in northern ireland,not seen anywhere else in the world that i know of, drive around the mts of morne, they really do sweep down to the sea , just like the old song says.
go inland from dublin, every where is gren green, less row upon row of coronation st type house , beautiful cottages, go on ----- kiss the blarney stone just for the hell of it. visit the waterford crystal factory, drive around the ring of kerry, awesome coastal scenery, try a ride in a jaunting car in the village of Sneem, visit the killarney lakes , take in the pub music, see the cliffs of moher, try hornhead , and DOE castle in county Donegal. just do it--- you'll never know unless you do. enjoy

Maeve

HI there,
OK, from the address it's obvious I am Irish. However, I have travelled extensively throughout England and indeed elsewhere. I think what you will notice as the most drastic difference between England adn Ireland are its people. Ireland is a nation not rushed. It sits back and enjoys the ride. There are, of course, busy industrious areas such as Cork and Dublin, but overall Ireland is a relaxed narion.

This is both a good and a bad thing. our streets are not very clean. There are not many public toilets. We have too many homeless. BUT without getting political about it Ireland IS beautiful. Look at West Cork, Kerry and Glaway. The west and north of Ireland are unequaled for breathtaking sights. I would disagree with what you said; landscape and topography are dissimilar to England.

Our roads and roadsigns are disasterous. Don't rely on them. Buy good maps! In the fall the tourist season will be over , for a good reason, the weather is not hectic. There is normally a good spell during September.

Hope this is beneficial. I would be delighted to help you with any specific questions you might have.

Dave

Jon,

Go to England for the well-preserved history and the architecture. Go to Ireland for the people and the music.

I've never felt "at home" in an English B&B; just the opposite in Ireland, sometimes I almost felt like a long lost cousin. On the other hand, the "most beautiful valley in Ireland" (Glendalough) wouldn't even be noticed in the English Lake District. England generally has more - and more impressive - castles and cathedrals, but it's much easier to walk into an Irish pub and feel at ease. England sometimes has the feel of a well-maintained garden; Ireland sometimes has the feel of one big housing development (lots of that "Celtic Tiger" money seems to be going into seaside cottages). Ireland has ancient monastic ruins that require climbing a fence to gain entrance; England has functioning Cathedrals that charge entrance fees.

As for scenery, if you REALLY want some great scenery while in the British Isles, you're going to have to cross the Firth of Forth.

Terry Howell

My wife and I, both Americans, travelled to England in 1998 and Ireland in 1999. Enjoyed both. 18 Days driving in England (Cornwall, Wales), we had done the London bit many years ago. 18 Days Driving in Ireland, recommend Connomara (sp) Galway, cliffs of Mohar, in other words get out of Dublin and head south and west.
We found Ireland to be much like our home of Western NC. Roads very nice, quite wide for the most part. Actually Ireland of today is nothing like it was in the 70"s or even 80's, the common market has helped them more than any other country. All in all Ireland was a bit too modern for our tastes,difficult to find a house still burning peat, hard to find a quaint cottage (they are or have been torn down to make way for a nice home), homes are modern. Pubs OK but not in the same class as England, we expected quaint pubs but found they were for the most part, there are always exceptions, quite modern. England has the old pubs and the old buildings to go with them. We stayed in a 300 year old farmhouse in the Cotswolds (Morton-in-Marsh) which was beautiful, All the hosts in all the B&B's we stayed in went out of their way to make us feel at home.
If you have a choice betoween Ireland and Cornwall, Wales, area I suess you know which we would recommend.
Well.\, I have rambled on long enough and have probably made a good number of enemies (Note that most of them are probably Irish)If you desire more info or our itinerary please ask.
PS: All of the above should not be read that we did not enjoy our stay in Ireland, the land is indeed green and beautiful, just a bit too modern for our tastes. Terry

Julian

Perhaps if Elvira had seen the children and horses blown apart by IRA bombs, and the nationalists murdered by Loyalist gunmen, she'd understand why there are troops on the street of Ulster and not come up with such fatuous statements.

Mavis

Julian - I'm not sure how 'praying for peace' can be considered fatuous. If it is, perhaps that's part of the problem.

Thyra

Woa,my friends, please lets not get into a Northern Irish situation debate. I implore you! Jon, the only way you and your wife will be able to decide if Ireland is different from England is to go there and see. IMO both have many elements that are unique and worth visiting. I would have to agree with the above in terms of England being more a place for history, lovely castles (well preserved)clean and very tourist friendly, but Ireland is a place that always seems to restore my faith in humanity, the people are so delightful! To sit in a pub on a chilly evening with a pint in your hand talking to complete strangers like you've known each other for ever is an experience not to be missed.

Susan

Dear Jon:
We were in Ireland in April and were so impressed with its beauty (talk about green!), warmth & politeness of its people, and its FOOD! We'd expected gawd awful food like we'd had in England 8 years ago. But the food was great & the hotels were certainly a nicer deal for the money than in London.
(I'm of English descent but I'll take Ireland over England any day.) However, maybe English food has improved since we were there.
Susan

elvira

Julian, if I came across as fatuous, I truly apologize. That was so far from my intent that I feel awful right now.

What I tried to get across that it was so sad that troops are needed; such a wonderful country, with a rich heritage and magnificent people, to be torn apart, is so hard to see. Internal strife is the hardest to bear, and leaves the deepest scars.

Two hundred and thirty five years after our own Civil War, and we're still dealing with it. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, let alone a lantsman.

Julian

Elvira, Sorry for being so sharp. In Britain we get really upset at the way many people in the US (especially some of the people who call themselves Irish Americans) completely misunderstand what is going on in Northern Ireland. So that's why I was so cutting. No hard feelings, I hope.

elvira

No hard feelings, Julian. I'm an American - with Irish and French-Canadian ancestry. Now, if you *want* hard feelings, badmouth the Boston Bruins....

tom

I found both places to be very friendly toward Americans, but I still could sense hostilities toward one another. And I have to say, as an American, I felt much more like I was in a foreign country when i was in Irealand.

Art

Elvira; weren't the Boston Bruins downgraded to amature status?

Kate

Ireland over England! Of course. Not much of a choice. Besides, there are many less English in Ireland!

You'll never be as relaxed as your are in Ireland. You learn to move to the natives' pace. Please don't miss Norther Ireland, with the spectacular Antrim Coast Road, Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede bridge, Mountains of Mourne, and Bushmill's Distillery!

And, sorry Elvira, in the 19 years I spent growing up in Ireland, I could count the "ginger-haired" people on one hand. Many of us have black hair, but the image of red-haired, freckled children is really a media thing, not reality.

lola

I lived in England and while I felt the people were polite, I never really felt them particularly kind. On my one trip to Ireland, I mentioned to my tour guide in passing that I liked crayfish and was sorry they were out of season. That afternoon we stopped at a pub owned by his friends, and there on the table was the biggest crayfish I had ever seen, the last of the season which he had called ahead to get for me. I wasn't hungry, but the hosts were so kind that I ate the whole thing for a second lunch. That is just one of several wonderful incidents I remember from just that trip.

elvira

Damn, Kate, I must be confusing Ireland with the Andy Griffith Show! I could have sworn I saw red-haired kids, but that may have been the Guinness influence.