Ireland for St. Patricks Day/week
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Ireland for St. Patricks Day/week
Hello everyone
My twin sister and I (31 years old) and our husbands (we live in Texas) just bought our tickets for next March to Ireland. We will be there for St. Patricks day. We have seven days and are flying in and out of Dublin with a car rental. We would like to do the Cliffs, Galway, Dublin, a day of golfing, and stay in a castle one night. Do any of you have suggestions on our trip or a suggested itenary???? I really want to see beautiful views, stay in cool bed and breakfasts, and have fun out local pubs.
Thanks!
Christa
My twin sister and I (31 years old) and our husbands (we live in Texas) just bought our tickets for next March to Ireland. We will be there for St. Patricks day. We have seven days and are flying in and out of Dublin with a car rental. We would like to do the Cliffs, Galway, Dublin, a day of golfing, and stay in a castle one night. Do any of you have suggestions on our trip or a suggested itenary???? I really want to see beautiful views, stay in cool bed and breakfasts, and have fun out local pubs.
Thanks!
Christa
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Galway is about a three hour drive from Dublin, but remember you will be adjusting to driving on the opposite side of the road than in the states, so add some additional time. I'm not a big fan of Dublin as it has become quite city-like (dirty/panhandlers, ect). Galway is a great city and has a more Irish feel. The Galway area has some beautiful views and you could drive to the Cliffs of Moher (a must see!) in about 90 minutes. There are numerous B&B's throughout the area. As for St. Patricks Day, if you are planning on watching the parade in Dublin, you may be disappointed, as it is rather tame...New York, Chicago, and Boston all have bigger and more festive parades. However the pub life on St. Patricks Day in Dublin is great! Erin Go Bragh!
Mikek
Mikek
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Most of the Orishness is imported from the US - if you want a more authentic "St Patty's" day experience then go to New York which is where the "modern"* St Patrick's Day celebration
* "modern" in this case means 200 years or so
* "modern" in this case means 200 years or so
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If you head west and make Galway your base, you should have plenty to amuse you for the week; other towns, in fact most towns, have their own versions of a St Patrick's Day parade and Galway itself will certainly oblige.
Cliffs of Moher are reachable from Galway as a day trip.
The Aran Islands can be accessed by Aer Arann, a short 10 minute hop in an 8 seater.
Ashford Castle is under an hour from Galway if you want a big night out. Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden might not rate as a "real" castle but it's a lively spot. Gregan's Castle in County Clare would also struggle to make it into the big castle league but a good option if food is a high priority.
For your golf, Lahinch in Co Clare is very popular (bring your wet gear, it will be March after all) as it retains the genuine features of a true links course.
As for pubs, where can I start............
Cliffs of Moher are reachable from Galway as a day trip.
The Aran Islands can be accessed by Aer Arann, a short 10 minute hop in an 8 seater.
Ashford Castle is under an hour from Galway if you want a big night out. Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden might not rate as a "real" castle but it's a lively spot. Gregan's Castle in County Clare would also struggle to make it into the big castle league but a good option if food is a high priority.
For your golf, Lahinch in Co Clare is very popular (bring your wet gear, it will be March after all) as it retains the genuine features of a true links course.
As for pubs, where can I start............
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mike1728 wrote: "I'm not a big fan of Dublin as it has become quite city-like (dirty/panhandlers, ect). Galway is a great city and has a more Irish feel."
Dublin is a city, so one should expect it to be city-like. The idea that Galway has a more Irish feel than Dublin is preposterous. Sure, it is different, but that does not mean more Irish; it simply means different. Anybody who comes to Ireland to find leprechauns and shillelaghs and paddywhackery will be disappointed, and deservedly so. You have to take us as we are, and not seek to have us conform to some stereotype.
Dublin is a city, so one should expect it to be city-like. The idea that Galway has a more Irish feel than Dublin is preposterous. Sure, it is different, but that does not mean more Irish; it simply means different. Anybody who comes to Ireland to find leprechauns and shillelaghs and paddywhackery will be disappointed, and deservedly so. You have to take us as we are, and not seek to have us conform to some stereotype.
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Hey padraig......sorry that I have an opinion...which I thought was the whole purpose of this forum....I travel to Ireland quite frequently for business for the last 15 years...the last two times I was repulsed as gypsies had wooden dolls wrapped as children and looking for money..panhandlers everywhere...dirt and grafiti if thats your Ireland you can have it.........Galway has the water, the pubs in vibrant colors, the alleyways of the old times and great restaurants.....if yo want PIZZA HUT go to Dublin
Mikek
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Mike, I certainly agree that Dublin has a lot of big city characteristics that Galway doesn't have. I'd even go so far as to say that Galway is a more charming city than Dublin. But I think you're missing Padraig's point. My apologies if I'm misinterpreting you, Padraig! But I suspect that your point is that saying Galway is more Irish than Dublin is the same as saying that Chicago (or L.A. or Dallas or whatever) is more American than New York. And, Mike, I don't think many New Yorkers would take kindly to that!
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Galway got 80,000 inhabitant. Dublin more than one million.
Saying that Dublin is less Irish than Galway is the same as saying that Boston is less New England than Provincetown.
Big city, small city. Apples and oranges.
Galway is a very nice town, which I like a lot, but does not have that many too exciting sights, IMO. It's a great base to explore the West, though. And got many pubs.
Dublin got great museums, Trinity college, Georgian architecture (townhouses, squares, manors and houses in the vicinity, like Powerscourt.. one thing you will rarely find in the West), Temple Bar district (ok, that IS touristy, but what the heck.. we get what we pay for, I guess). It's the only true vibrant big city in Republic, IMO -- apologies to Cork in that context.
But I must say that I never noticed that many panhandlers or similar in Dublin so far. Maybe a few here and there, but not more than what I expect in a city that size, or more than where I live.
Saying that Dublin is less Irish than Galway is the same as saying that Boston is less New England than Provincetown.
Big city, small city. Apples and oranges.
Galway is a very nice town, which I like a lot, but does not have that many too exciting sights, IMO. It's a great base to explore the West, though. And got many pubs.
Dublin got great museums, Trinity college, Georgian architecture (townhouses, squares, manors and houses in the vicinity, like Powerscourt.. one thing you will rarely find in the West), Temple Bar district (ok, that IS touristy, but what the heck.. we get what we pay for, I guess). It's the only true vibrant big city in Republic, IMO -- apologies to Cork in that context.
But I must say that I never noticed that many panhandlers or similar in Dublin so far. Maybe a few here and there, but not more than what I expect in a city that size, or more than where I live.
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