Kilkenny & Dublin over Thanksgiving
Nov 14th, 2002, 09:54 AM
#1
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Kilkenny & Dublin over Thanksgiving
Fist-time visitors to the Emerald Isle (from Nov. 27 thru Dec. 1) are spending 2 nights in Thomastown (County Kilkenny) and 3 in Dublin. We're renting a car for only the first two days in the country. A few questions:<BR><BR>KILKENNY area:<BR>- can we reach Kilkenny via a coastal route?<BR>- besides Waterford what is recommended in the southeastern region?<BR>- what are the must-see's in Kilkenny besides the castle?<BR>- any fabulous restaurants there? (looking for something nice for Thanksgiving)<BR><BR>DUBLIN:<BR>- will most attractions be seasonally closed?<BR>- any chance we can catch the Notre Dame/USC game on Nov. 30?<BR>- how's the Tea Room at the Clarence? (any chance of seeing U2 -- ha ha)!<BR><BR>Any comments are much appreciated!!!
Nov 14th, 2002, 10:38 AM
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Don't expect turkey for thanksgiving dinner. we were in Blarney on thanksgiving day which is, of course, just another day on the old sod. <BR>Irish tv did have a Monday night program that gave the highlights of all the previous day's NFL games. But the Fighting Irish? Maybe,.
Nov 15th, 2002, 02:27 AM
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Kate,<BR><BR>Most things will be open in Dublin as they are mostly indoor here are a few suggestions:<BR><BR>Guinness Brewery - it's totally re-vamped adn at the end you go to a bar at the top that is circular and encased in glass. This is an amazing view of the city.<BR><BR>Trinity - Book of Kells in Trinity college. I think there are still tours of Trinity but might be less as the students are back. I really liked the book of Kells.<BR><BR>National Museum Kildare street - I haven't been in ages and popped in the other week lunchtime. It was amazing. The first level has mostly gold jewelry and ornaments it's lovely.<BR><BR>My secret place is the Chester Beatty Library behind Dublin castle. It is the larghest collection of Asian art in Europe. Even if the art does not interest you go for lunch there in the Silk Road Cafe. Absolutley the best lunch in Dublin in my opinion. It's mostly mediterranean food with an arabic hint. It's canteen style and worth every penny as the portions are huge.<BR><BR>As for football, try the sports cafe in Temple Bar and TGI Fridays on St. Stephens Green. It's almost impossible to find U.S. Football on TV here other than the Superbowl.<BR><BR>Tea Room at the Clarence - Very upscale and expensive but I thought it was lovely meal. You will not see U2 there. If they are there they have a prtivate area or in the penthouse. Saying that though I have seen quite a few musicians and actors in the bar but not lately. Some other restaurants just as good at a better price are:<BR><BR>Bang - Merrion Street<BR>Rubicon - Merrion Street<BR>Chilli Club - Thai Off South Anne Street<BR>Fado- Kildare Street<BR>Bruno's - Temple Bar<BR>Odessa<BR>Tante Zoe - Temple Bar<BR>South Street Pizza - Georges Street<BR>Milano's - Pizza - Kildare Street<BR>Shanahans on the green - Have not eaten there but very exp and supposedly the best meal in Dublin according to my friends! I am dying to try this one.<BR><BR>Enjoy!
Nov 15th, 2002, 06:20 AM
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I think we stayed near Thomastown. If I'm not mistaken it was on one of the single street signs in Gragenamanana (sp) with a 100 towns pointed in different directions. I can't comment on what to do, when you are there but since I was in the area during the same time of the year a while ago, I can safely say this. Try and be back to your hotel by about 5pm each night. Don't plan on driving after dark, because it's very misty, there are no lines on the rural roads, and those roads will be about as wide as your driveway. And if you haven't driven in Ireland yet, let me just say may God be with you.<BR><BR>Oh, and I have driven in London, Rome and New york, but driving in Kilkenny center is downright insane. Where else can you drive 5 mph and almost get into several accidents. When driving there, you'll have pedestrians an inch from the left of you car, and oncoming traffic an inch to the right.<BR><BR>I enjoyed the scenery of ireland immensely, but most of my menories are about the driving.
Nov 15th, 2002, 07:29 AM
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Hi Kate,<BR><BR>You may want to consider visiting the National Irish Stud (which is on the drive between Kilkenny and Dublin). I found it educational and the horses are beautiful.<BR><BR>In Kilkenny, there are several good restaurants. One we enjoyed was on a street called Butter something lane right in the town. I wish I could remember the name - it was very good.<BR><BR>If at all possible, avoid driving in Dublin. Drop your car off at the airport and then shuttle in to the city. We were there in April 2002 and I had driven successfully in Dublin two years earlier. Dublin is undergoing major road works and it a royal pain; I knew where the hotel was and normally how to get there but all the streets had been closed off so I couldn't reach where I wanted to go.<BR><BR>Have a great time (I'm jealous).
Nov 15th, 2002, 10:04 AM
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Kilkenny's a nice town just to wander around, and there are plenty of pubs where you can rest when needed. There are two restaurants I really enjoyed there, but I can't rememebr the name of either! One is an Italian place very near the castle. Another poster mentioned it once--maybe you can find the name by searching. The other was an Indian restaurant, which is down an alley off one of the main streets--there's a bookstore next to the archway that leads to the alley. Sorry can't be more specific.<BR><BR>Sky TV shows American football games, but usually just professional. Call the American embassy in Dublin, and they might be able to tell you where to catch the game.<BR><BR>Have a question here for our Fodorites in Ireland, now that someone has brought up Notre Dame, who played an exhibition game at Croke Park a couple of years ago. The GAA has refused use of Croke Park for a bid for European football because of its "no foreign games" rule. Can some explain to me how American football is NOT a foreign game?<BR><BR>Sky TV shows American football games, but usually just professional. Call the American embassy in Dublin, and they might be able to tell you where to catch the game.
Nov 15th, 2002, 10:05 AM
#8
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Kilkenny's a nice town just to wander around, and there are plenty of pubs where you can rest when needed. There are two restaurants I really enjoyed in Kilkenny, but I can't rememebr the name of either! One is an Italian place very near the castle. Another poster mentioned it once--maybe you can find the name by searching. The other was an Indian restaurant, which is down an alley off one of the main streets--there's a bookstore next to the archway that leads to the alley. Sorry can't be more specific.<BR><BR>Sky TV shows American football games, but usually just professional. Call the American embassy in Dublin, and they might be able to tell you where to catch the game.<BR><BR>Have a question here for our Fodorites in Ireland, now that someone has brought up Notre Dame, who played an exhibition game at Croke Park a couple of years ago. The GAA has refused use of Croke Park for a bid for European football because of its "no foreign games" rule. Can some explain to me how American football is NOT a foreign game?<BR><BR>Sky TV shows American football games, but usually just professional. Call the American embassy in Dublin, and they might be able to tell you where to catch the game.
Nov 15th, 2002, 12:08 PM
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Do you know why I liked Kilkenny? Because when your there, you KNOW your in a foreign country. All places are starting to look the same. Dublin's nice, but much of it could be anywhere (Don't cry just my opinion.) But Kilkenny, with those brightly colored shops, is picture postcard perfect.
Nov 18th, 2002, 07:51 AM
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I vaguely remember when Notre Dame were p0laying here but I thought it was in Landsdowne Road? The only other events that I know of in Croake park other than Gaelic Football or Hurling is the occasional concert and they haven't had one in years. <BR><BR>It's an old fashioned rule but they want to preserve it for Irish sports only. I can see their point as we still have a huge following of Gealic and hurling in Ireland and it would be a shame to lode it in the next generations. Saying that though Soccoer is big as well and the stadium would be ideal for this use....they will probably fight about it for years but at the moment it stays.
