You've got a couple of B&B suggestions for Bunratty in your book. How close are they to the castle? I'd like to stay as close as possible, within walking distance. We'll be doing the later seating banquet and really don't want to be driving, esp. in the dark, after being "forced" to drink untold cups of mead. Any suggestions?
Bunratty Lodge and Headley Court are not within walking distance of the castle. They are about 1 1/2 miles away. I would suggest The Courtyard instead. It is in my "Quick Picks" section.
I have tasted Mead and found it not to my liking. I prefer Jameson or Irish Mist. It gave me a tremendous headache after one small glass. I couldn't imagine imbibing large quantities.
Maybe someone else has had a more favorable experience.
As Bit has said, mead does not suit everyone. That is why they also serve red and white wine at the banquets. Mead is on the sweet side and is very potent. You will want to drink in moderation or (as Bit discovered) you will have a whopping hangover.
You can find mead at most liquor stores in the States. I have a "meadery" not far from where I work. It's too sweet for my tastes. The hangover effect is probably from the sugar. Champagne does that to me.
Whew! I'd better be careful. I like a good glass of wine, but get headaches a lot. I'll have to be careful. Won't be planning a hike to the Cliffs of Moher the next morning, falling off would adversely affect the rest of the trip. Ha!
I decided to go with your recommendation of Bunratty Lodge and just spoke with Mary Browne. She's on holiday in FL right now and was able to talk with her without having an international phone call charge. Yea! She certainly seemed "bright and cheerful". I can't wait to meet her. She's even going to make the reservations for Bunratty Castle and banquet for us. Thanks for all your help. You have a great thing going here and I've already passed your info on to a potential Ireland-goer.
Another question: What's your choice of hotel/b&b in Dublin? We'll be staying there Fri & Sat, July 6 & 7, flying out 9 am on Sunday. "Doing" Dublin on the weekend isn't the most ideal, but it was the only time I could fit it in. (I revised the itinerary many, many times... we couldn't do everything during the week). How's the bus system there? If we stay kind of close to the airport, can we get to all the activities around town? If we stay close to the activities, can we get to the airport easy enough with all our luggage? What do you suggest?
I'm glad to hear you tracked Mary down in Florida. She is having a well-deserved rest in the warm sunshine. I know you will enjoy staying at Bunratty Lodge.
As for Dublin, do you have a budget per person per night? It is an expensive city to stay in so don't get shocked when you see the rates. Personally, I like staying in Malahide village about 8 miles north of the city center. It is much quiter. You can get a bus or DART into the city from there.However, there are advantages to staying in the city center since you can walk most everywhere or grab a bus or taxi. If you stay in the city and have a lot of luggage I suggest a taxi to the airport. When staying in the city you will not need a car so turn it in before hand. What you save on the two days of no car rental you can use for taxi fares. I have some hotel suggestions in my book's Quick Picks section. Take a look. Or get back to me with what you can spend.
Michele
P.S. Thanks for recommending my site to others! Word of mouth and happy readers and clients are the best way of advertising.
Your thought about falling from the Cliffs of Moher touches on a tragic memory from my first visit. I stopped there to see the landscape and transplant a plug of turf from my father's grave to the base of O"Brien tower. We noted a large crowd of people near the edge and naturally, went to see what they were seeing. Turned out that a group of climbers were scaling the cliffs for a charity function and 3 of them had fallen. We learned 2 died instantly and one held on for 2 more days before passing on.
Their tragedy haunted me for the remainder of my trip and I can not see pictures of the Cliffs or visit my father's grave and not remember those 3 climbers and how they lost their lives trying to help others less fortunate, whom they may have not even have known. I do not know the name of the charity they were supporting at the time.
Like much of Ireland, there remains the presence of heroic ghosts who's spirits rise in the mist and greet you around every turn in the Burren. Knowing this makes the sound of Irish laughter all the more sweet. And when you drink it in, it can warm your heart and break it at the same time.
The only thing I can think of is, "how dreadful". That kind of experience would stick with me for a very long time, too. Those last couple of sentences you wrote were beautiful. Mind if I pass those words on to my very Irish dad? He would love it. Now you HAVE to write about your trip 'with' your uncle, we know you can wax poetic.
We won't be climbing the cliffs, just walking atop them. Hopefully my overprotective mom-ness won't get in the way of my family having fun.
I'm thinking that I'd rather be closer to the action, my daughter & I like to walk, hubby & son, not so much. But if I make the reservations, they have to go along with it. A family room is preferable, but 2 rooms work ok, too. I saw a Travel Lodge family room for €89/night in Swords. No atmosphere, but it's cheap. But that's a ways from downtown. Do you know of anything in the downtown area that's cheap? It doesn't have to be fancy or even all that nice, just clean, we'll only be sleeping there. I noticed you have the Four Seasons listed in the quick picks section. Ahhh, to afford that would be grand! But, alas, our budget isn't quite so high.
I'll look into those hotels. Thanks. And now, another question.
We get into Dublin at 6 am on a Tuesday. Mr Antsy wants to get the car right away and get on the road. I figure we'll head out to Newgrange. But that doesn't open until 9:30. We have at least 2 hours to do what? Know of a place where we could get breakfast between the airport and Drogheda? Personally, I'd like that time to take a little nap, but hubby and the 2 teens sleep well in a plane, I don't. They'll be ready to roll. Have you been in that situation, got in early and with nothing open yet? So far this is the only glitch in the itinerary (which has undergone several revisions, of course).
Thanks for all your help...I really appreciate knowing if I have a question, you (and the others) on this forum will offer suggestions.
The Great Southern Dublin has a restaurant which serves breakfast from 7 a.m to 10 a.m. That might be your best bet when you arrive. There are coffee bars at the airport itself but Potter's has an extensive breakfast menu.
As for Newgrange, you want to get there early, before it opens, in order to get your name on the list for the tour, especially during high season.
Have you tried Tylenol PM or even chamomile tea & valerian root caspule just after settling in on the long flight? The flight attendants will give you hot water for a tea bag. I have found both helpful, as I am usually a light sleeper. There is a Continental Airlines Attendant who wishes they'd not touched my shoulder whilst trying to regain their balance. I am a bit aggressive when startled awake.
Along with Michele's suggested lodgings, check in to Clifton Court Hotel and Kellys Hotel. They are basic hotels nothing frivolous. That being said, both have excellent, knowledgeable staff, the rooms are clean and comfortable, the breakfast hearty and tasty and they are close to everything. Clifton Court even has an excellent Pub which usually has traditional music at night. Kelly's has a family room, double bed and two twins, for $100 euro a night.
There are mixed reviews of both on tripadvisor and other travel ratings sites. However, I stayed at Kelly's this past July whilst waiting "patiently" for globe trotting luggage. I drew the short straw and had the time of my life. Someone at the information desk suggested both hotels. Kelly's had an airport bus stop close at hand so I chose Kelly's. I am not a fan of Dublin, because of the traffic, but that stay over has softened me some. Lanagan's I believe is the name of the pub at Clifton Court, which is where the staff at Kelly's directed me to head. I found trad music in full session, which I was invited to join and did, and Jamesons at the bar. The luggage I was waiting for was there at the desk upon my return.
Thanks for the info, Bit. I sent Kelly's an email asking about accommodations. Michele is right, Dublin is expensive. I was thinking I could find a cheap (by my standards) hotel, but I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and pay to stay there. I HAVE to see the Book of Kells!
As Bit suggested you can get breakfast either at Dublin Airport's cafes or the Great Southern Hotel. If you get to Newgrange early you could maybe have a nap in the car for an hour in the parking lot to perk you up.
Kelly's is a great value in Dublin. I hope they have a family room for you!Taking the Open-Top hop-on/off tour is an excellent way to see all the main sites, as they offer discount admissions to the sites at which they stop. Value Menu is another way to save money whilst dining at some of Dublin's best restaurants. Boticelli, in Temple Bar, has a Value Menu for both Lunch and Dinner. If you love seafood, have lunch at Brownes Brasserie in Stephen's Green, which offers a value menu for lunch.
If shopping is your game, there are some great open air markets to explore, Cow's Lane Market for fashion, Moore Street Market for watching Dublin's best street hawkers in action, Temple Bar Market for a gourmand farmer's market. If all that walking has you wishing for a rest stop, Butler's Chocolate Cafe would be my suggestion. Now, if they just had one in the States!
Be sure to buy some Butler's Irish Chocolates while on vacation. And if you find Thornton's mini carmel shortcakes buy them all! Good thing they aren't sold in the US 'cause I am addicted to them.
Are the Thorton's carmel shortcakes covered in chocolate? That would just be a little bit of heaven! And they come in a mini size? What's the weight limit a person can bring back to the US? I could bring a whole suitcase full of them home. YUMMY! What I'm really looking forward to in Ireland is a good draft hard cider. It just doesn't taste the same here as it does there (I think it's the preservatives that the US makes the companies put into the imported cider that aren't in the ingredients over there). Hmmm can I smuggle cider home???
There are lots of different ciders to try in Ireland. I haven't done a taste test myself. The Thornton's mini carmel shortcakes have a bottom layer of shortcake, an inch of carmel and a layer of chocolate on top. Decadent!
Welcome to the forum! I have personally gleaned many wonderful tips on this wondrous website from Michele and company, but alas, I have my own experience of the best Irish cider EVER! It is, of course, Bulmers, which my friend and I grew very addicted to whilst on the Emerald Isle. To me, no others compare and I now have my local liquor store order it in special for me! When you leave Dublin for the airport, somewhere along the line is a big billboard saying " Remember, here it's Bulmers, over there it's Magners!", meaning North America, I guess. And it is called Magners, at least here in Canada. But I do believe it is brewed right there in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary! It's wonderful! I wish you a great journey and good taste testing!
Ha! So I'm not the only cider addict out there :) I'll have to try the Bulmers. I know Strongbow is in England, and given Irish history, it should be in Ireland too. I'm looking forward to doing research. Any other brands out there I should get to know?