Hi again,

Has anyone taken the ferry off the coast of Ireland and is it worth it to go to another country just for a day.
Southern or Southwestern area.
Has anyone one been to Holyhead Wales?
natjgc

I really don't think its worth a day trip. People only do this at christmas time from Dublin to stock up on cheap booze for parties and to be honest it can be a long trip at off peak hours. Iwould use it as an alternative to flyoing between countries but not on my holiday as a filler day. I have not been to holyhead myself but I have friend over at the moment and they took the high speed ferry from Holyhead but most people just pass through. I never heard 9f anyone staying there. Maybe check the welsh tourist office. ALso if the weather is bad and the sea choppy it can be a very unpleasant experience. I would use that day to explore in Ireland .

Yes, the day trip to Ireland is very popular with locals in Anglesey(the island on which Holyhead is situated)and holidaymakers to the island.If you catch a fast ferry it takes 99 minutes and makes for a wonderful day out.It is not only Irish Ferries which operate this route but Stena also.
I go to Holyhead daily. It is not a tourist destination and has very high unemployment-but so have many ports. However the island of Anglesey is a gem and the most wonderful place to visit.

Thank you both for your responses to my question on Irish ferries.
My daughter and I have 11/2 days of free time in Dublin on our tour and we were wondering what highlights of the city were not to be missed on our first trip to Dublin.
natjgc

Just walking around the center of the city is grand. Be sure to visit Trinity College and the Book of Kells, also at the College the Old Library is grand. The National Gallery, Dublin Castle, the Temple Bar area seems touristy,but worth tha visit. Christ Church Cathedral, O'Connel Street, General Post OFfice and Kilmainham Goal. Also, if the weather is at all clear, go the top of the Guiness Hop Store, with or without a pint of Guiness, the view from the top is the probably the best high vantage point in the city. Have Fun.

Just did the opposite - went from Wales to Dublin and would recommend that you NOT go to Wales unless you have a car waiting at the other end.

You didn't say if you have a total of 1 and 1/2 days in Dublin or whether that was just the free time, after your tour group has taken you everywhere else, like to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.

There is nothing much at Holyhead except the ferry stop, you have to drive to other locations. The closest attraction is probably Caernarfon Castle where Prince William will be going to get invested as the Prince of Wales.

I would skip Wales for this trip and make a more detailed trip on Wales for another trip. Wales is beautiful and worth more than just a skip and hop over from Ireland.

In Dublin, you can do everything that has been recommended so far. Take the "hop on hop off" city tour bus that will allow you to visit just about everything you need to see on a first trip to Dublin.

Lots to do and see in Dublin itself. Great Irish humor, to boot!

Enjoy!