jfaul4820

Here it is:

Sunday: Arrived in Dublin at 830 am. Tried to check into The Burlington but couldnt so did Grafton came back to Burington and slept for two hours than went and partied with Munster rugby fans in Temple Bar...they were buying us drinks..it was great. Burlingtom is nice hotel and get on 6th floor if you can afforded it. Good Hotel is key after long flight.

Mondayicked up ford focus 1.6 auto at hertz and drove to Galway..took about 5 mins to get used to left side of road and after two rondabouts it was smooth sailing. Automatic was nice to have and you want a small car..country roads are really narrow and you have to pull to side with on coming truck. Galwa was great...styed at jurys inn...nice and inexpensive great location by river and spanish arch..we had room in front, get room in back if possible.

Tuesday: went to cliffs of moher...looked over the edge, be careful girl went over two months ago and of course died instantly. continued on to limerick and stayed there sat night at jurys limerick...very nice place and 59Euro internet rate. get room in back.

Weds: drove to kilkenny with stop at the rock of cashel. Stayed at river court hotel..great hotel right on the river...went to the castle which was right across river. gambled at celtic bookmaker and made 25euro on soccer. river court has nice rooms and a good bar on river but get out and go pub hopping.


Thurs: drove back to dublin with stop in glendalough. dropped off car in dublin at hertz. had cdw through mastercard platinum...driving was a piece of cake..dont let anyone scare you..its no big deal, just follow the car in front of you till you get the hang of it. Went out in temple bar area and drank for bout 3 hours with nice young irish couple about our age..early 30's. Fitzimmons is a good bar..The Temple Bar is super crowded but you have to go there for one. U2's octagon bar is overrated.

Friday: Book of Kells at Trinity College and o'connel street. have lunch at pubs on side streets off o'connell..that is authentic ireland. stayed at jurys christchurch thurs and friday night. again, jurys takes care of you just fine at low rates. christchurch is worth a visit. dublin castle was closed because of EU celebrations May 1.

ALl in all it was great trip..irelanders are very friendly and have no problem buying you pints if you are friendly back to them. service was outstanding and raods were not crowded, going off-season is the way to go, always a table available and never a loine for the bathroom...summertime im sure its tough and expensive. gas is about 4.50/gallon so prepare and food is not cheap in restaurants plus americans are now getting drilled on the exchange rate so plan accordingly. had a little rain in geldalough and that was it for the week but take your rain jacket..you will need it. Guiness is 4 euro a pint. Make sure you go to pubs every night you are there because thats just the way of life...DONT SIT IN YOUR HOTEL ROOM BECAUSE YOUR TIRED. YOU CAN SLEEP AT HOME!! be prepared for good craic(conversation) and you will be rewarded accordingly. Also, don't complain if you never ordered a Guiness before and they don't bring it right away...they pour, let it settle and a few minutes later top it off. ALso, no tipping the bartender, you tip a waiter/waitress if at table but no tipping bartender...got that confirmed by several locals. Buy youself a bottle of jamesons if youa re driving because when you get to your hotel a couple glasses are just what the doctor ordered. i went through two bottles myself. Enjoy ireland as its a wonderful place to visit with incredibly friendly people and don't be afraid to ask if you don;t know something or need advice...you can just go up to anyone with no fear. Also, i wouldn't suggest driving at night out in the country...we were in the pubs every night so it wasnt an issue.

email me at [email protected] if you have questions.

Ok, now i have to plan our trip to france, booked two RT tix yesterday on air france deal..555 RT for first person and 50RT for companion from Miami.

buongiorno

Sounds exactly what I'm about to do...flying into Dublin this Saturday morning, driving to Galway, then down to Killarney, probably stop off in Cork and then head back to Dublin for a few days. Was anyone smoking in the pubs?

SiobhanP

There is no smoking in the pubs! We are not that bad over here.

Any pub they do sneakily smoke in you probably would not find (Me either!) unless you were a local 80 year old farmer.

Sounds like you had a nice trip.

jfaul4820

Didnt see one person smoking in the pub. Irelanders seem to be generally happy there is no more smoking in Pubs. Had a great trip.

Ardfert

I was in Blackrock,a suburb of Dublin,on Saturday night last and noticed a group of 12 people outside a pub at about 9pm.They had come out of the pub to smoke as it is no longer allowed in the pub.What struck me about them though was how they chatted easily to one another as if they were all in the same boat together.I can foresee a lot of relationships starting like this as people seem to chat even more easily outside a pub than inside.