My family and I are traveling to a timeshare at Fitzpatrick Castle Holiday Homes, arriving on Saturday 1/14 and staying for a week.

If anyone can answer a few questions:
1. Should we rent a car at the airport or rent one at the timeshare? Would a rental car be considered critical to the trip?
2. Is it possible for my son (30) and I to golf or hit a bucket of balls during this time of year?
3. As this is the trip of a lifetime, how hard would it be to make a day trip to Scotland (just to add another country to my traveled to list)? Something like a ferry ride?

If I get any responses, I may try some other questions like:
Cash, Euro or plastic?
Recommended day trips from Dublin.
Best day/time to go to Guinness.
Best day/time to go to Waterford for crystal.
Recommendations for emerald jewelry.
Must see castles within a day trip.

Thanks, bunches, Dick

Does the timeshare OFFER car rentals? How are you getting to the timeshare?
A car would DEFINITELY improve your enjoyment of Ireland, there is so much to see.
The ability to golf is dependant upon your desire and your luck with the weather, which is always highly changeable.
It's probably too late to get any realy cheap airfares, but check:
www.ryanair.com or
www.easyjet.com
If I only had one week, I wouldn't think there was enough time to visit Scotland, too. Why waste a whole day, just to 'check off' a country that you wouldn't have any time to enjoy -- especially when there is SO MUCh to see and do in Ireland?
CIE and Dublin Bus (and several others) offer daytrips to Glenndalough and Newgrange and there are IrishRail/Bus daytrips to practically anywhere else you might care to go.
For castles, check out Malahide, Cashel (though The Rock isn't actually a castle), Cahir, Kilkenney and Lismore, just to name a few that are doable from the Dublin area.
Take ATM cards and draw out Euros. If you use credit cards, insist on being charged in EUROS, not dollars, as it is a LOT cheaper, for you, once the dust settles.
The Hop On Hop Off buses are the best way to see Dublin, and well worth the price.
Not sure of the exact location of your timeshare. The location will substantially effect your touring options.

Bob

There are also some great walking tours of Dublin which depart from Trinity College. They are terrific. One focuses on general Irish history with the focus on Dublin. Another tour deals just with 1916-21. I don't know if they do them in January. Check with a TI.

Is this timeshare in or about Killiney? This is south of the city if so and I would rent from the airport as it is a residential area you will not just turn a corner and get a car rental place without some arranging and a taxi.

Call the place or let me know the area and I will find the golf courses nearby. It should not be a problem for golfing. Might be a bit windy and damp though.

Forget the Ferry to scotland you would have to go way north to get one and then still be stuck in the middle of nowhere in stanrar (SP?) You can fly for the day to Glasgow, Edinburgh etc but it would eat a lot of time and to be honest its bloody cvold in Jan and the days are shorter. I would leave it for another trip.

There is no best time for Guiness and Waterford but do not drive into the city. The rush hour traffic is a nightmare and on street parking is hard to find by guinness and if you overstay the time they will clamp the car (pain in the arse).

Cash Plastic euro are all good. Do what is comfortable.

Now....Emerald Jewelery I must tell you about. Don't bother buying its a rip off. A. it's not Irish, B. Most of the stones you will find are "man made" in a lab unless its a south American Emerald, C. Most gold here is 9 Carrat not 14 or 18 which you will pay dearly for. I don't think you are getting a quality valuable stone for the prices here especially with the exchange rate. Buy some celtic style Jewellery and there are some lovely Jewelry designs in the Kilkenny Shop on Nassau Street. Save your money for the real stones not lab created.

Scotland is a beautiful country and just going there and back in one day ( which is tough) would be such a waste, go another time when you have more free days and see it properly, especially Loch Lomand, its truly beautiful. Regarding Golfing here in Feb, there shouldnt be a problem, but if the weather is very bad then some of the courses would only play 14 holes or close if the groud is very wet. Kilinney Golf Club is very nice,but only 9 holes.

GOLFWORKS PORTMARNOCK DRIVING RANGE

Address

Old Portmarnock,
Co. Dublin.
Telephone
01- 8169377.

There are lots of Golf Ranges here, including Nass, tyrellstown,leopardstown, stepaside and gormanstown, but Portmarnock might be the easiest one for you to get to as The Dart runs from Killiney to Near Portmarnock. Portmarnock also has a links course.

Lucie is Portmarnock public though? I'm Not sure. rpbeistel have a look on the web for golf courses and driving ranges.

If you're asking to 'hit a bucket of balls during this time of year?', it sounds like you're looking for a driving range. There are a few public ones on the south of the city. Two spring to mind, both of which I've used - Leopardstown (situated within the race course - probably closer to Killiney) and Stepaside, not a million miles away from Killiney but you would need a car get to these. Both are public driving ranges and 9 hole courses (www.golfdublin.com), about €3 for a bucket of 20 balls or so.Also try http://www.dlrtourism.com/sports/dis...&SubCat=38 - it gives a list of courses within the Killinet district, some are public, some private.

Portmarnock is not pubblic, although they may accept guests at their discretion. There are two Portmarnock courses, a parkland and a links course. I have played the links - as a novice I found it very difficult. Expect to pay a hefty price for a round (I'm guessing in the region of €150 per round - I was a guest there a few years back, so it's probably my first and last time playing it!!).

You could add another country to your list by crossing the border into Northern Ireland.

If you are staying in and around Dublin a car is not necessary. Why spend E500 + for a rental when there is ample public transport. For a special trip there is always the taxi.
If you would really like to get to Glasgow for a day could I commend www.aerlingus.com where you will find a flight departs Dublin Airport at 9.30 a.m. and returns at 22.15 arriving Dublin 23.10 at a cost of E46.62 return.
I f you purchase a Bus Eireann 8 day pass you will get one for around E40 and you can travel where you like.
You can get all the crystal you want at any of the major stores e.g. Clearys in O'Connell Street,
For golf a trip to the K Club near Kildare would be nice to see the course where the Ryder Cup will be played for in September next. (www.Kclub.ie)

The airfare above is for Wednesday 19th. April.

Thanks to all for your responses.

The actual address of the timeshare is:
Fitzpatrick Castle Holiday Homes
Killiney
CO DUBLIN
IRELAND

According to the paperwork, this is 18 miles from the Dublin Airport and we have a view of the Bay and the Wicklow Mtns.

On the golf, I would love to play something like 9 holes OR hit a bucket. Is it possible to rent clubs?

Based on your answers, I think that we'll rule out the trip to Scotland.

Questions from American (who hasn't driven overseas)-is the driving in Ireland, particularly Dublin, much worse than a city like Pittsburgh or Nashville? I know about things like other side and roundabouts and can deal with that.

I think the Step a side one is beside Johnny Fox's and it would be a nice hole from ehat i remember. Call and ask if they rent clubs I think some do. You could go for lunch and a drink after in Johnny fox's. I would take a taxi here as its confusing from Leopardstown if you do not know the area.

The Stepaside one is a few minutes drive from the Step In pub, its a nice drivng range,my husband often takes my son there, there is also a driving range at Spawell in Templeogue, Siobhan I'm not sure if Portmarnock is strictly private to be honest,I suppose best way is to phone and get the word from the horses mouth so to speak!