Emily

Hi. Husband and I are visiting Ireland for 10 days at the end of May. Our only requirement is a visit to Kerrick-on-suir(probably spelled that wrong) to try to locate some old relatives. We are flying in and out of Dublin. Can anyone recommend some off the beaten path resources? We want to see the standard stuff, but would like to include some not-so-touristy sights as well. Thanks!

Richard

If the weather is right, try the Skellig Rocks, catch a boat out of Portmagee. We tried to go but the sea was bad, and so we pushed our bikes over Coomanaspig pass and on to Waterville.

Edmond O`Flaherty

Why not visit one of Ireland`s most ancient sites-Newgrange,30 miles from Dublin.It is a type of pagan church built around 4 to 5,000 years ago.It has a narrow passage with a central zone and on the shortest day of the year when there is no cloud the sun shines through the passage into the central area.There is a limit of around 900 people per day allowed in there.Some British friends I showed it to were very impressed by it. <BR> <BR>As regards the other suggestion of Skellig Rock it is a really special rock abandoned by the monks around 1000 years ago but their stone huts are still there.Again the numbers visiting are limitied to only 12,000 per year.An Italian lady on the trip I was on said it was Magnifico. <BR> <BR>Ireland is full of treasures.The government estimates there are about 120.000 ancient monuments in the country.Everywhere you go you will see remains of ancient castes,churches,round towers plus numerous other things you will probably not have heard of. <BR>

Cathy

Emiuly, <BR>Skellig Michael and Newgrange are not off the beaten track for ireland - in fact Newgrange is one of the most popular sites in Ireland for all visitors and the South-West (Skellig area)is one of the most popular regions. If you are flying into Dublin and travelling to Carrick-on-Shannon then do visit passage graves similar to Newgrange at Loughcrew (slightly off your travel route - see them at www.loughcrew.com). Also check out the Cavan, Longford and Westmeath and North Meath region (Midlands) - not the most touristy part of the country but popular with fishermen and people interested in sailing on the River Shannon and other rivers in the area. Strokestown House in Co Roscommon is an interesting place - it is a famine museum (which might b e relevant to your old relative aspect of the trip). In Westmeath see the Lake district and Belevedre Gardens, check out www.ireland.travel.ie and the Midlands East and the North West region sections on tht site. Also if you are hunting up some ancient relatives then write to the Parish Priest in Carrick-onShannon Co Leitrim before you go looking for assistnace and giving him all the details you have and therefore you will cut down on the time spent tracing them and might even be able to find a grave belonging to them or some distant cousins, <BR> <BR>Have fun, <BR> <BR>Cathy

Ann

Okay, I'm just going to throw this out there for what it's worth... one of the greatest vacations we ever had was the time we went to Ireland and rented a "gypsy caravan" (round, horse-drawn camper) and traveled the back roads, staying in small villages which had paddocks for the draft horse, and eating in family homes and pubs along the pre-planned route. You really don't even have to know how to handle a horse or drive a buggy, they teach you, and the one time we tried to make a wrong turn, the horse wouldn't let us! We have indelible memories of this wonderful country which we've never been able to replicate in visits since.