I have a few friends who will be in Ireland next month on holiday, I'm out of the country at the minute myself but they were looking for some advice on 'non-touristy' things to do and see and if I'm being brutally honest I'm struggling to come up with anything. They are pretty open minded about everything really and don't mind trying different things. They'll be in Dublin for a good part of it, but they'll have a few days in Cork/Kerry, 4/5 days in Galway and a week up North. Any advice at all would be great. The only 'nugget' I have for them is to avoid Temple Bar!
Go subterranean in The Marble Arch Caves in Cavan/Fermanagh. http://www.marblearchcavesgeopark.com/.
Or do the tourist thing and relive scenes from Father Ted in the Allwee Caves. http://www.aillweecave.ie/. I
Its a pity but they just missed the Fr Ted festival but tours are still available. http://www.tedtours.com/tours/
Off the usual beaten track Dublinwise and going on the reaction to tourists I have brought there but you can recommend that they
1 Walk out the pier at Ringsend out to the lighthouse
2 Walk around the hill of Howth
3 Do Glasnevin cemetery tour
4 Go up the 3 Rock Mountain for the views of the city
5 Pop out to Dalkey on the dart and see the seals and harbours.
They no doubt will do all the other guidebook things anyway.
No matter how many times ive visited it, I always enjoy walking round the Giants Causeway.
Always enjoy the rugged climb of Slievegallion and then cutting across the green that seperates them for a declining amble down the winding Slieveban.
http://www.wonderfulireland.ie/ (http://www.wonderfulireland.ie/)
Malin Head.
The north coast road leading into the Glens.
A cruise up the River Bann to Toome enjoying the views of one of Ireland's finest rivers.
And definitely the Titanic Centre.
Avoid Tyrone! ;)
Qwerty
A trip to Granard?
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on June 12, 2014, 11:47:24 AM
Qwerty
A trip to Granard?
Does Pat the Baker's do guided tours?
This kind of question is impossible unless you provide some indication of the interests of your visitors. Some people like to visit old pubs, others couldn't car less. Some would find an old railway bridge interesting, others wouldn't even notice it. Some would visit gardens and look at flowers, others wouldn't dream of doing this.
Driving from Galway to Sligo on the N59 via Clifden, Louisburgh, Belmullet & Ballycastle is a great drive if you want wild scenery. Along the way:
- Alcock & Brown's landing site close to Clifden
- Killarey harbour on the Mayo / Galway border
- Climb Mweelrea or Croagh Patrick close to Westport
- Any end of beaches around Louisburgh
- Belmullet & Achill island
- Carrowtiege loop walk just outside Glenamoy http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/LocalisedLoopWalks/CarrowteigeLoopWalks/index.aspx (http://www.mayowalks.ie/WalkingTrails/LocalisedLoopWalks/CarrowteigeLoopWalks/index.aspx)
- Ceide fields outside Ballycastle http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/west/ceidefields/ (http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/west/ceidefields/)
- Museum of Country life in Turlough http://www.museum.ie/en/intro/country-life.aspx (http://www.museum.ie/en/intro/country-life.aspx)
- Michael Davitt museum in Straide http://www.michaeldavittmuseum.com/ (http://www.michaeldavittmuseum.com/)
- Jackie Clarke collection in Ballina (haven't been but it's supposed to be good) http://www.clarkecollection.ie/home/ (http://www.clarkecollection.ie/home/)
Plenty of places for fishing along the way too
I think Kilmainham Jail is fascinating.
Orangefest Belfast July 12th
+1 Achill Island. The drive from Keel to Keem. :o :o
Slea Head Drive...spectacular
The 1916 walking tour is good value.
Quote from: armaghniac on June 12, 2014, 01:01:33 PM
This kind of question is impossible unless you provide some indication of the interests of your visitors. Some people like to visit old pubs, others couldn't car less. Some would find an old railway bridge interesting, others wouldn't even notice it. Some would visit gardens and look at flowers, others wouldn't dream of doing this.
Exactly. The tourist set pieces are well known or easily figured out and people will select based on their preferences. What I enjoy most when I visit a place is meeting the locals, trying their grub, figuring out how the place works and experiencing, as best I can, the way of life. I'm sure that's a pretty common approach.
So bring/send them to where the locals are - individually, in families or in large groups.
A few days B&B-ing is hard to beat for meeting and interacting with typical Irish people.
Small pubs where they can get talking to people. They don't have to be drinkers.
Take them to your local as well. Of all the things visitors remember, I find this is the biggest hitter. I'm always getting asked, years on, "how is <whatever character they met in the local>?"
As well as tourist trails and walking paths, walk the local roads and streets. Stop and talk.
Car boot sales, markets, etc. They'll meet grass roots Irish on both sides of the stalls and just as many new Irish.
The races.
A traditional session.
Of course take/send them to GAA matches. Make sure to include a club match where they can stand on the sideline and hear the smack of boot on leather, hurley on sliotar, shoulder on shoulder.
Quote from: Canalman on June 12, 2014, 11:00:27 AM
Off the usual beaten track Dublinwise and going on the reaction to tourists I have brought there but you can recommend that they
1 Walk out the pier at Ringsend out to the lighthouse
2 Walk around the hill of Howth
3 Do Glasnevin cemetery tour
4 Go up the 3 Rock Mountain for the views of the city
5 Pop out to Dalkey on the dart and see the seals and harbours.
They no doubt will do all the other guidebook things anyway.
Disappointed with Glasnevin. No tour guide, and you spend hours running around looking for graves of famous folk. Needs a good guide.
Quote from: 5 Sams on June 12, 2014, 02:36:03 PM
+1 Achill Island. The drive from Keel to Keem. :o :o
Slea Head Drive...spectacular
It sure is. It's my favourite spot in all of Ireland. Stunning.
Quote from: Hardy on June 12, 2014, 02:55:24 PM
Quote from: armaghniac on June 12, 2014, 01:01:33 PM
This kind of question is impossible unless you provide some indication of the interests of your visitors. Some people like to visit old pubs, others couldn't car less. Some would find an old railway bridge interesting, others wouldn't even notice it. Some would visit gardens and look at flowers, others wouldn't dream of doing this.
Exactly. The tourist set pieces are well known or easily figured out and people will select based on their preferences. What I enjoy most when I visit a place is meeting the locals, trying their grub, figuring out how the place works and experiencing, as best I can, the way of life. I'm sure that's a pretty common approach.
So bring/send them to where the locals are - individually, in families or in large groups.
A few days B&B-ing is hard to beat for meeting and interacting with typical Irish people.
Small pubs where they can get talking to people. They don't have to be drinkers.
Take them to your local as well. Of all the things visitors remember, I find this is the biggest hitter. I'm always getting asked, years on, "how is <whatever character they met in the local>?"
As well as tourist trails and walking paths, walk the local roads and streets. Stop and talk.
Car boot sales, markets, etc. They'll meet grass roots Irish on both sides of the stalls and just as many new Irish.
The races.
A traditional session.
Of course take/send them to GAA matches. Make sure to include a club match where they can stand on the sideline and hear the smack of boot on leather, hurley on sliotar, shoulder on shoulder.
a good list, Hardy
I would add
- Visiting a festival if possible
- Get the Michelin guide if you are into food
- the sea, especially in the West
- less crowded places if the visitors are from a big city eg Gougane Barra , Glendalough
Always find Slieve League breath-taking
Quote from: BennyCake on June 12, 2014, 03:56:44 PM
Quote from: Canalman on June 12, 2014, 11:00:27 AM
Off the usual beaten track Dublinwise and going on the reaction to tourists I have brought there but you can recommend that they
1 Walk out the pier at Ringsend out to the lighthouse
2 Walk around the hill of Howth
3 Do Glasnevin cemetery tour
4 Go up the 3 Rock Mountain for the views of the city
5 Pop out to Dalkey on the dart and see the seals and harbours.
They no doubt will do all the other guidebook things anyway.
Disappointed with Glasnevin. No tour guide, and you spend hours running around looking for graves of famous folk. Needs a good guide.
Went on a guided tour myself only a few years ago. The guide was excellent. Brought us direct to the "interesting" graves .
Have never been to Kilmainham Jail myself but have heard rave reviews about it. Croke Park museum likewise although have never been also.
Outside Dublin a photo at the Free Derry wall/ mural would to me be a must for any tourist.
Quote from: Oraisteach on June 12, 2014, 04:01:27 PM
Always find Slieve League breath-taking
Yep would be in my top 5 as well.
Quote from: snoopdog on June 12, 2014, 01:50:38 PM
Orangefest Belfast July 12th
An activity holiday for all the family which includes top notch music, tea & sandwiches in a field, bible worship and lectures, adventure and mild peril.
Free to join in.
If down Meath way Hill of Tara and Trim Castle are pretty good. Pity some idiot decided to damage the stone at Tara recently.
Failte ireland posted this list last year.
Not sure what the grounds for inclusing the National aquatic centre and excluding Croke Park, Aviva etc are
Top 10 Fee-Charging Attractions 2012
Name of Attraction 2012
Guinness Storehouse Dublin 1,087,209
Dublin Zoo Dublin 1,029,417
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience Clare 873,988
National Aquatic Centre Dublin 813,406
Book of Kells Dublin 561,259
Tayto Park Meath 391,000
St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin 385,000
Fota Wildlife Park Cork 377,500
Blarney Castle Cork 329,000
Kilmainham Gaol Dublin 310,910
Top 10 Free Attractions 2012
Name of Attraction 2012
The National Gallery of Ireland Dublin 660,486
National Botanic Gardens Dublin 544,685
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology 409,275
Farmleigh Dublin 375,064
Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin Dublin 302,171
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History 290,927
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History 271,309
Chester Beatty Library Dublin 255,704
Holy Cross Abbey Tipperary 240,000
Connemara National Park 202,543
My 2c would be that the things that are world class in Ireland would include:
Links golf
Mountain climbing/walking
Horseracing
The coast
The better pubs
I'd include the GAA but not sure an outsider would see it that way.
Quote from: 5 Sams on June 12, 2014, 04:26:09 PM
Quote from: Oraisteach on June 12, 2014, 04:01:27 PM
Always find Slieve League breath-taking
Yep would be in my top 5 as well.
Picture postcard view from every single point on the compass from the top - if they want nice photos of their visit it's a winner - a pint or a nice bite of food in Ardara sets it all off.
Quote from: hardstation on June 12, 2014, 04:32:28 PM
Quote from: 5 Sams on June 12, 2014, 04:26:09 PM
Quote from: Oraisteach on June 12, 2014, 04:01:27 PM
Always find Slieve League breath-taking
Yep would be in my top 5 as well.
1. Somewhere in Kerry
2. Somewhere in Kerry
3. Somewhere in Kerry
4. Somewhere in Kerry
5. Slieve League
That actually made me lol. Cheeky cnut!
Quote from: foxcommander on June 12, 2014, 04:37:39 PM
Quote from: snoopdog on June 12, 2014, 01:50:38 PM
Orangefest Belfast July 12th
An activity holiday for all the family which includes top notch music, tea & sandwiches in a field, bible worship and lectures, adventure and mild peril.
Free to join in.
[/quote
And a chance to meet open minded people. Lol
Armagh v Antrim in the Ulster final.
Gaoth Dobhair
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