I have nothing to add...you put together my first (and so far only trip) to Ireland and every place we went to was A - MAY - ZING!!! :)

Maggie,

I only send my clients and readers to good places. I see the bad ones and stay at the bad B&Bs so you don't have to. It is a gleaning process. Then I recommend the stellar places. Actually, there are not a whole lot of towns in Ireland that I dislike. Mostly Ireland is great.

Michele

I never liked Limerick much at all, and usually get out of there ASAP. Not my idea of why I go to Ireland.

Of course I don't like Dublin Airport, but I keep going back there!!!

I agree with Bit completely about Cork City traffic. I always liken it to a black hole that sucks tourists in and won't let go. It is confusing to get around in or out of.

I actually liked the Foynes Flying Boat Museum. But my husband and I have an interest in flying and the history of flight. So perhaps that is the reason why. I think the new mock-up of the flying boat is interesting. It is also interesting to know that the original Shannon Airport runway was the Shannon River!

Another town that I find just blah is Wicklow.

Michele

Corey,

I agree about both Athlone and Waterford. I think they are fine for what they are - cities that cater to the local population with the infrastructure needed for them. They have the shopping, churches, cinemas, etc. with a few tourist spots thrown in for good measure. But they are not particularly attractive. Another town like that is Tralee.

Most tourists are looking for picturesque, scenic and cute. A lot of that has to do with the surrounding scenery I think.

I remeber driving through Irish towns 35 years ago and thinking how gray and dreary they all seemed. But there was a reason for that. Ireland was drained of money and resources for centuries by the British, leaving a dry husk behind for the local people. Without the resources they made do with what they had. Now the buildings in the same towns have been painted different bright colors, they have flower boxes at the windows and have generally been spruced up. Places in Ireland will never look like what the average tourist thinks of when they imagine a typical English village. Some are disappointed because it does not meet those expectations. But it is Ireland not England or Disneyland. It is a real country with its own identity.

Michele

I think you hit on the right word, Corey. It is all about character. What would we or any place be without that?

Michele

Michele Erdvig wrote:

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Corey,

I agree about both Athlone and Waterford. I think they are fine for what they are - cities that cater to the local population with the infrastructure needed for them. They have the shopping, churches, cinemas, etc. with a few tourist spots thrown in for good measure. But they are not particularly attractive. Another town like that is Tralee.

Most tourists are looking for picturesque, scenic and cute. A lot of that has to do with the surrounding scenery I think.

I remeber driving through Irish towns 35 years ago and thinking how gray and dreary they all seemed. But there was a reason for that. Ireland was drained of money and resources for centuries by the British, leaving a dry husk behind for the local people. Without the resources they made do with what they had. Now the buildings in the same towns have been painted different bright colors, they have flower boxes at the windows and have generally been spruced up. Places in Ireland will never look like what the average tourist thinks of when they imagine a typical English village. Some are disappointed because it does not meet those expectations. But it is Ireland not England or Disneyland. It is a real country with its own identity.

Michele

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Very well said Michele. Ireland is certainly not England and MOST certainly not Disneyland. That is part of the reason I love it. My trip report will follow as soon as I can find the time.
Stewart