Sharing: We have a great little community here on the IrelandYes.com Travel Forum. I want to thank everyone for their contributions and for helping others. It is an invaluable experience to be able to share the wisdom gathered after visiting Ireland. It is enriching for those sharing and for those who receive the info. Once those "newbies" return from their trips, they too might join us in helping others make the most out of their time in Ireland.
Regulars: A few of us have become Ireland addicts. We just can't stay away from the Emerald Isle or quit talking about it. We are always planning another trip. We want to see what is down that little road we had to bypass on our last trip. We just have to visit the castle we didn't have time for previously. Since Ireland is so rich with things to see and do we have made multiple trips and still have more to see and more to share. Even when another trip seems far off in the distant future we love to keep up to date on happenings in Ireland and on the forum.
Contacts: There are many different people on the forum. If you click on the user name of each individual you can see their profile, read their posts, write them a message on their Whiteboard or send them a personal message. But this will depend on what they have enabled on the forum. Please keep in mind that the profile and Whiteboard is public and anyone can read it. You must be a registered user to use many of those functions.
Registration Problems: On occasion there is a glitch when registering as a user. If you have a problem, do not hesitate to contact me: http://www.irelandyes.com/contact.html I will sort out the problem so that you can become a community member and post your questions.
Personalities: As you are using, enjoying and navigating around the forum you will get to know the various members. You will realize that each one has their own style, personality and advice to share. By reading their past posts you can decide if their personality meshes with yours and whether you feel comfortable taking their advice. Since this is a public forum you can choose to take that advice or not. There are nuances to personalities. Some are positive and upbeat. Others take a more cautious approach to life. As in any community there are those you embrace and those you tune out. That is up to you.
My Goal: As the host and moderator it is my job to keep the forum fair and balanced. I try to use humor, common sense and my knowledge of Ireland in a positive way. On rare occasions I have had to ban certain people from using the forum and ruining the community. They are mostly spammers or people with their own negative agendas who have nothing to share and want to cause trouble. Can you disagree with something that is said on the forum? Absolutely! We learn from those exchanges. But try to be kind and have an open mind. That is what I try to do.
This is our own special little neighborhood. There are some who will just pass through and those who have a permanent home here. I invite everyone to join in and have fun planning their trips to Ireland on the forum. If you have any problems or concerns you should let me know via email.
Michele
-- Edited by Michele Erdvig on Thursday 19th of March 2009 07:02:47 PM
Although I am new to the forum, I have found the advice helpful, the stories entertaining and the personalities unique. I have already benfitted from the information on the site even though we haven't been to Ireland yet (leaving May 22).
Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad that the forum is proving useful for planning your trip. We hope you will share your tips and thoughts on your return.
Those on the forum for some time know this well, but to the newcomers, you will find people on this site to be extremely nice and willing to share any comments they can that will assist you with your travels.
A real great group of online friends for sure!
Thanks Michele for this excellent electronic space for us all to gather every so often.
I'm honored that you find this forum a "home from home" as they say in Ireland. It is always a pleasure to check in several times a day to see what is happening and to catch up with old friends and new ones.
A day without those little starbursts that tell us there are new posts is like a day without that Irish sunshine that sometimes hides behind the clouds.
One of the best things of many about this forum is the just plain nice-ness of the members. No one ever disparages anyone else, even if we have heard the same question a brazillion times, never any name calling or harassment. Oh, we've had folks to try but Michele handles it quickly and pleasantly. If we ever had a get-together of the IrelandYes Irregulars we would spend the whole time like Chip and Dale, being ever so polite to each other! Maybe after a few Guinnesses and/or Smithwicks we would loosen up a bit but I'll bet we'd still be nice.
How about if everyone agrees to come to south Texas next St. Patrick's Day for the rattlesnake races in Old San Patricio? As I have said, you needn't bring your own snake; they have rentals.
We are planning a trip to Ireland June 19th for a week and would like to rent someplace to stay for the four of us. Somewhere between Dublin and Shannon, public transportation if possible. We are interested in feeling the true Irish lifestyle. Would our plans work out better is we took a tour for a week, we really didn't want to spend all our time on a bus, but need to save as much money as possible. Thank you for all your help
Michele, I loved the part about personalities and know just what you mean! I enjoy that you seem to take a deep breath but allow people to be who they are and say their piece. Thank you for allowing us to see both sides of the coin. I am the one planning a vacation for my whole family and at times they quench my immense excitement - but then I find a forum like this and my excitement is fueled again! Thanks everyone! Michelle
I have moved your post to the proper area. You will see your name there.
irondogm,
Thanks for your comments. It helps to know what my forum members like. Keep the excitement high. And remember, your family is precious. Love them and enjoy their company. (Even if they do drive you crazy at times). That's what family is for.
I will be traveling to Maynooth Ireland, via Dublin in a few short weeks. I have loved reading all the posts regarding Ireland and would like feedback regarding traveling and making the most of the trip with my traveling compaign. We will be celebrating her 83rd birthday on a first day in ireland. While we will have traveling compaigns on our trip to West Ireland we will have several day to visit other areas. I am looking at options that will provide the adventure - safely. My complaign has difficulity with long walking type tours; we will be traveling by car.
WE have three days on our own - and I would like to make the very best choices for her. We will be leaving from Maynooth. Your advise and counsel will be greatly appreciated.
Thank-you once again for the #1 Ireland forum! Not a single day goes by but what I don't get on the computer and check for any new entries on Irelandyes.com. It is, and has been for some time, a daily ritual. It is often the last thing I do at night before going to bed, but I rarely miss, and sometimes my wife wonders if it is some kind of compulsive disorder!?! We have a 2 week trip (our 3rd) planned for Spring Break plus the week before, starting March 26 2011. Can hardly wait. We are taking some good friends along for their 1st trip to the Emerald Island. Keep up the good work. Dan
You have made my day! What a wonderful comment. You are definitely an Ireland "addict" like the rest of us. But what a fun obsession to have. I'm sure your trip with your friends will be all the better for it. And I'm looking forward to helping a little with your trip.
This is indeed a very special neighborhood. At one time, I contributed to several different travel forums. I now only contribute to two. They feel like home and help take the edge off of my Irelan-itis.
Through this home place, I have met some wonderful people both online and in person. The best of these meetings came last year when I was able to share Inis Mor with Karen & Dave Hoyle and then hook up with Michele and her wonderfully funny husband!
There are others on my "wish-we-could-meet-in-person" list and perhaps one day, we can find a central meeting place. What a wonderful and wacky weekend that would be!
I know you have had a very busy year but we are always delighted when you check back in. I agree that it was fun meeting up at Bunratty Lodge. How often can I have dinner and breakfast with a cowgirl? And in Ireland!!
Barry says "hello". He keeps me in stitches and on my toes with his practical jokes.
We are going to Ireland for our first time in less than a month. I've read several books and have done countless internet searches. But nothing compares to this forum. Between the variety of suggestions and the genuine helpfulness of the people here. You won't be disappointed.
I know this might seem odd but I am a fodors user and Tony2phones has been absent for some time and we are worried. I have been linking his maps and this sight to people since he always had such good info. Please tell us he is alright as we are worried.
Pat, Thanks for your concern. I've sent Tony an email. I noticed that he posted on July 19th on Facebook. He travels to England frequently so it is possible he is on holiday. I will let you know when I receive a reply. We miss Tony here too. He is a great guy with excellent advice about Ireland.
I heard from Tony. He has had a lot going on in his life recently including guests and a vacation and is taking a little break from the forums to deal with some issues. He expects to be back posting in September.