Folks,
I have a friend who is flying into Ireland in a couple weeks, and taking in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. They have a big interest in Irish politics particularly the early 20th Century.
Can I get some advice for them on things to check out in Cork and Galway specifically from the board?
Cheers,
Puck.
P.S. I'll be directing them to this thread so let's keep Olly in his box O'Neill?!
As a starting point around Cork, Kilmichael and Beal na blath.
http://carna.galway-ireland.ie/pearses-cottage.htm
Michael Collins Centre, Clonakilty. Also the Collins homestead/birthplace at Sam's Cross, just West of Clonakilty.
Crossbarry (http://theirishwar.com/history/ambushes/the-crossbarry-ambush/), scene of the biggest engagement (I think) of 1919-21.
Kilmainham Jail would be an absolute must.
Quote from: Franko on May 09, 2013, 11:34:04 PM
Kilmainham Jail would be an absolute must.
Good call, Franko.
Thanks all, I appreciate the input. Keep it coming.
Quote from: Franko on May 09, 2013, 11:34:04 PM
Kilmainham Jail would be an absolute must.
This was the only one I was able to offer up on the spot! :)
Doolough Famine Tragedy, Mayo: wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolough_Tragedy)
Battle of Aughrim, Galway, 1691 (of far greater significance historically than the Boyne): wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aughrim)
The Treaty of Limerick (and Treaty Stone): wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Limerick)
Edit
And not forgetting, the Siege of Kinsale: wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kinsale)
In Dublin, Glasnevin Cemetery (wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasnevin_Cemetery)) and Arbour Hill (info (http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/Dublin/ArbourHillCemetary/)) would both be worth a visit too (in addition to Kilmainham and the GPO, Boland's Mills, etc.).
The Lemass grave on the Strawberry Beds near Tallaght might be worth a visit if they are interested in that type of thing.............. can catch the German war cemetery in Glencree nearby as well and is on the wayish to Glendalough.
If they are coming up from Cork to Galway (or vice versa) they could do worse than stop off in Limerick for the Treaty Stone, John's Castle, Sarsfield Bridge etc, a bit earlier than the period you are talking about though. They could always go on the Angela's Ashes tour as well :)
If they are interested in Politics, how about why they are in the states? Visit the Ulster American Folk Park?
Omagh unfortunately the scene of more recent history.
http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Ulster-American-Folk-Park-Omagh-P8406
This may not be a recent political historical spot, but if they are driving from Dublin to cork, a great place to stop off and see is the old ruins of the 'rock of cashel' - they could get a cup of tea and break up the journey as its approx halfway.
I love it and if its a bright sunny day it is spectacular , as are the long distance views of the surrounding countryside from the height it is built on.
It can be a bit pricey but if you're going to see Belfast a Black Taxi tour is the way to do it. I did one about 10 years ago and they know all the ins and outs and all the stories about the different areas.
After that you probably should do the Titanic Museum. I haven't been myself but anyone I've spoken to has told me it's a great job.
Thanks again folks.
simple things in Dublin like the bullet marks on the GPO, college of surgeons etc, the various sites from 1916 which are all marked, and I'm sure there are guide books listing them, the garden of remembrance which is in Parnell sq., to be honest the whole of Dublin city centre is steeped in history, especially early 20Th century. Get a guide book and have a read before they arrive,
The famine memorial by the customs house ( the customs house!) is for me one of the finest memorials in the country, at night especially it is beautiful in its own way.
guy crouchbacks post strangely reminded me of somthing one of our unionist board members posted a while back.
http://www.dublinloyaltours.ie/ (http://www.dublinloyaltours.ie/)
Doing this alongside a Republican or Socialist one, might just highlight the complexity of what it means to be Irish,
Quote from: Franko on May 09, 2013, 11:34:04 PM
Kilmainham Jail would be an absolute must.
+1 Visted Kimainham Gaol in national school, good spot.
Pigeon Top
Quote from: guy crouchback on May 10, 2013, 04:31:12 PM
simple things in Dublin like the bullet marks on the GPO, college of surgeons etc, the various sites from 1916 which are all marked, and I'm sure there are guide books listing them, the garden of remembrance which is in Parnell sq., to be honest the whole of Dublin city centre is steeped in history, especially early 20Th century. Get a guide book and have a read before they arrive,
The famine memorial by the customs house ( the customs house!) is for me one of the finest memorials in the country, at night especially it is beautiful in its own way.
Very good calls.
Have brought people and relatives around Dublin on quiet a few times and try to steer them away from the Lonely Planet/ Guinness factory guff.
Places not too well known and which they were impressed with and I would recommend are
1 Walk out to the Poolbeg lighthouse. Never seen anything remotely comparable in any other city I visited.
2 Walk around Howth.
3 A few pints at the Blue Light Pub in the Dublin mountains (not sure if it is still open)
4 Glasnevin cemetery
5 Walk up to the 2/3 Rock mountains from the backroad in Glencullen. Amazing to just walk over a crest and go from the "middle of nowhere "to overlooking a city.
Agree about the bullet holes in the GPO and RCSI................ really impresses tourists for some reason.
Never been to Kilmainham Jail but gets rave reviews.
The 1916 walking tour that operates out of the International bar is good value.
Don't go near Guinness. It's a ball of shite.
The 1916 Walking Tour is more my kinda thing. Must check that out sometime, if I ever go back to the shithole that is Dublin.
Something different
Infamous (115 years ago) fugitive from Achill, a tenant called James Lynchehaun (http://www.theirishstory.com/2011/01/05/today-in-irish-history-caught-fugitive-criminal-lynchehaun-arrested-5-january-1895/#.UY1nu5U9BpY), destroyed the Valley house in Achill and nearly beat the unpopular Landlady, Agnes MacDonald, to death. Lynchehaun was caught but escaped before being caught again and jailed in Portlaois. He escaped a 2nd time but this time made it to the States.
Scotland Yard tried to extradite him back to Ireland from the USA. He won his case in Indianapolis claiming he had committed a political act.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00E15F7385D16738DDDA10894D1405B838CF1D3 (http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00E15F7385D16738DDDA10894D1405B838CF1D3)
The Valley House is now a bar/hostel but one should read Tripadvisor before staying: http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g651977-d569411-Reviews-The_Valley_House_Holiday_Hostel_Bar-Achill_Island_County_Mayo_Western_Ireland.html (http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g651977-d569411-Reviews-The_Valley_House_Holiday_Hostel_Bar-Achill_Island_County_Mayo_Western_Ireland.html)
With wonderful irony I hear The Valley House is now owned by relatives of James Lynchehaun.
Lynchehaun was reputed to be an inspiration for the Playboy of the Western World and his name appears in Ulysses, by James Joyce.
At worst, one could have an interesting session there and you get to see Achill.
ST.Michians church down the quays is a very interesting place,with the underground tombs etc. This is in Dublin I must add.
I have an appointment in Dublin every Tues morning which takes only 15 mins and over the Summer hols we've been using the day as a sort of family day out and generally spend the day mooching around Dublin doing whatever takes our fancy. I've found it shocking how little I know our capital city despite having lived within 60/90 mins of it almost my whole life.
Over the last fews weeks we've been looking into the history of the city and our country, Glasnevin cemetary, Easter Rising etc. We went over to Kilmainham Jail yesterday but just missed a tour and the next one wasn't for another 90 mins so we decided to head over to Arbour Hill to look the graves of the 1916 leaders. To my shock this surely hugely important site doesn't appear to be on the radar as far as tourist Dublin in concerned. Even when we arrived at a poorly signposted Collins Barracks car park there was no signs to indicate the cemetary site. After wandering around the barracks and museum for an admittedly interesting hour or so it was nosiness that eventually found me the graveyard out the back gates of the barracks and next to the current Arbour Hill prison. I was then further astonished to find it closed at 4PM on a summers day.
Given the time and effort that has been put in making Glasnevin and Kilmainham as top class tourist sites I'd have thought similiar would have been the case here?
Newgrange
Gougane Barra
Glendalough
Hey Puck on their way to Belfast tell them to call into Lurgan and we'll let them taste the Buckfast
Quote from: seafoid on July 30, 2014, 02:58:13 PM
Newgrange
Gougane Barra
Glendalough
Have booked a few days in Gougane Barra for next month, looking forward to it.