I plan to travel to Ireland during college breaks in the summer...

United States
January 16, 2007 2:16pm CST
If you have been to Ireland, could you suggest cities, towns, attractions, interesting places there? i would prefer to stay out of the English owned Ireland. I just want to go to Ire. Also if you have been there, was it costly? did you stay at price places? was it alot to travel from place to place? and how did you travel? what time of year did you go and how much did it cost for the plane ticket. (im talking about from somewhere like chicago to ireland. since i live in america and thats probably where id fly from.
5 people like this
27 responses
@forfein (2507)
17 Jan 07
Hi Sorry, but I had to smile about the "English owned Ireland" We dont own it!! It is part of the United Kingdom! England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is what is collectively known as the UK If you put the little Islands that surround the UK into the "pot" as well, then is what is known as Great Britain or GB If you put ALL of it together, including Eire, then is known as the British Isles! If you go to Eire then you will love it! It is very very very Green I think the reason is because of all the rain, and then the sun! The Guiness is EXCELLENT!! But............... Strong!!! Only a few "pints" of this, and you will be singing all the way to Dublin!
@rosie_123 (6113)
17 Jan 07
So did I:-)) And I don't know why to avoid Belfast - it's a great city now - very vibrant and "happening" and not at all like it was in the bad old days. As for Eire - well the "craic" and the nghtlife are good, though I always find it too touristy and over-priced for my own taste. To get a taste of the "real" non-commercial Ireland, I would advise going to Sligo, Galway, Waterford or anywhere on the West Coast. And to get around - it's easy to hire and car and drive round then you can stop at Inns and Bed and Breakfasts along the way if you see somewhere you want to explore.
@smacksman (6053)
17 Jan 07
I agree, Rosie, that's the best way. Why stay in smelly cities?
@korek222 (701)
• Poland
16 Jan 07
If you want to buy ticket - do it as fast as you can cause it is getting more expensive when the flight time comes :P Living there would probably cost you aroung 40L per night ( i mean a single room with breakfast) also it depends where do you want to live - if hotel it would be same price all over but if in a private rooms service or in a small familly hotel you can probably get lower price if you plan to stay more then one night :)
2 people like this
16 Jan 07
Ohh, i love ireland, it's so great, besides the traffic though, it's terrible!!!! My sister and brother live in Dublin, the capital and we went to visit a few months ago, went to the Guiness factory, which is a must!!!! walking through the centre of dublin is also amazing, we also took a drive to the beach, it ws beautiful and the docks are also interesting. I'll post a photo of my sisters and my brother's in law in ireland in a second, you have fun, just make time for the length of your trips on buses because traffic is a major turn off there, and don't forget to have your Guiness and Baileys!!!! have fun!!!! oh and that photo of me on my profile on the bridge wa staken in Ireland last september, that's the city behind me and the river that runs through it!!! Beautiful isn't it!!!!
@bindishah (2062)
• India
17 Jan 07
I have never been to ireland but would love to go there somewhere. Actually i responded to this discussion coz i am currently reading a book in which the protaganist lives in ire. Its a city called Cobh and it sounds wonderful. Its important as survivors of the lusitania and titanic were taken there.It just sounds like a very picturesque place to visit - maybe you should try to fit it in.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jan 07
My mother is from Ireland, and I used to go there in the summers when I was growing up. It's really great in the summer, never very hot. The southwest of Ireland around the Dingle Pennesula is very scenic and has lots of castle ruins, beaches, and small towns to see. Of course, Dublin, the capital, is also full of historic sites, plus pubs, shopping, etc. If you've never been, I hear that the bus tours are a great way to get around the country and see the sites. Driving on your own can be a little hair-raising out in the country, and you can't see mcuh over the rock walls from a car. The exchange rate of the Euro to the Dollar will make the trip a bit expensive, so keep that in mind when you are spending money. If you book your trip early (like,right now) you can get round-trip airfare for about $800-$900 pretty easily for Summer (cheaper if you go off-season, but the weather isn't as good). FYI, pack everything from a heavy raincoat and sweaters to shorts and t-shirts, the weather is quite "moody" over there. Have fun!
2 people like this
@07011987 (70)
• India
17 Jan 07
frankly speaking thnks tht u put upthis question..even i m planning to go there very soon..hope people responses help both of us out of this problem....have a wonderful trip....
1 person likes this
@divir_vij (1591)
• India
17 Jan 07
No i have not visited Ireland, but would visit it in near future for educational purpose. Anyways a nice topic. I 'll keep a watch on this one to get to know more about Ireland.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
flew out from texas to ireland, ran about $750 round trip on delta. saw Northern Ireland, East Ire, and Dublin, and a few other spots. Stayed in Corick House, a 17th Century listed building in Clogher Valley. Northern Ireland packs in the attractions with a rich cultural heritage, striking scenery and a sweep of stunning coastline. East and Dublin will boggle your senses with bewitching scenery, fantastic city life, sensational sporting events and compelling historical sights. Make sure check out Cliffs of Moher and to stop off in the very pretty fishing village of Dalkey before heading back home. cost will seem cheap if you exchange currency (expensive if you stick with U.S. Dollars) a few sterling here and there but that's because of the exchange rate, U.S. money only worth half their currency lol 500 US Dollar = 254.98 UK Sterling Exchange rate: 0.50996
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
16 Jan 07
I spent an amazing drunken weekend in Dublin a few years ago. I strongly suggest you spend a few days getting to know this city. Go shopping on Grafton st. Go walk the banks of the Liffy. Dublin is relatively inexpensive when alongside London and wont be all that bad for you. Accomodation is reasonable and plentiful
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
Haven't been there yet, but know alot of Irish people... will sure pay it a visit in future...
• India
17 Jan 07
Wow its nice place you are planning to go. Some of these tips might be useful to you. 1)Bring Heavy clothes : It doesn't matter if you go in summer or winter, Irish weather is notoriously unpredictable and it can be cold at ant time of the year. So go prepared with sweaters,jeans and jackets for touring. Its also essential to bring rain gear as Ireland gets a lot of rain. Even if the day starts out sunny don't be fooled. Take your rain gear along with you. Do pack a couple of T-Shirts too though-you never know. 2)Eat pub grub : Pubs in Ireland serve excellent quality food at very reasonable prices. Many serve hot meals for lunch on a self service basis, at the half the price you would pay in a fancy restaurant.Otherwise you'll easily find pubs that serve soups,tea and sandwiches. Take advantage of this cheaper option for dining. 3)Stay in B&B : While its not the cheapest accomodation (there are youth hostels that offer cheaper rates) Irish B&B are the most popular type of accomodation for visitors. B&B are famous in Ireland for their hospitality and value for money. Your nightly fee will include a full Irish breakfast-usually called a fry-of rashers(bacon),eggs,sausagesmblack & white pudding,tomatoes and all the bread you can eat. B&B charge per person per night and rates range from about 17 Irish punts upwards. 4)Rent a car and get lost : The absolute best way to see Ireland is to rent a car and explore your own. You will often find the most amazing scenery from the usual tourist haunts. One of the attractions of this country is the sparse population(just about 4 million in the whole country), so you can find places where you can be totally alone. Getting into your car and just driving the country roads can be very rewarding.
@rajee2007 (331)
• India
17 Jan 07
Sorry, i don't know about the ireland....
17 Jan 07
I went to ireland last year, not alot to do however was a college endorsed trip! definatly worth seeing the blarny stone, its up near dublin, its said to have magical healing powers, but i wouldnt bet your life on it! since i live in England i didnt cost to much an i had a short ferry crossing to cork, but it was pricy once in ireland-but not as expensive as england! since Ireland uses the euro. anyway have fun when u go.
• Ireland
12 Feb 07
The Blarny stone is in Co. Cork. It's up hanging on the side of a very old castle. You are helped bend over backwards to kiss it at it gives you "the gift of the gab" (meaning you always have someting to say! I didn't do it, it looks dangerous and not good if you are afraid of heights! *LOL*). I have never heard of it having magical healing powers tho. Maybe you were drinking too much of the black stuff when you were here because your memory seems a bit fuzzy! ;0)
@Petrakkos (310)
• Cyprus
12 Feb 07
very good choice-friendly kind people-clean country-very good nature-dublin is must-the best city-traveled by aeroplane
@suren2k6cse (2621)
• India
17 Jan 07
sorry friend. i dont know any thing about that place
@katenkim (238)
• Singapore
17 Jan 07
Hi sorry i can;t share anything bout ireland but I hope you can share your trip. Do post something when your back from Ireland.
• India
17 Jan 07
I like to go ireland with my frnds and relatives in summer season.i like to live there with my parents.
• India
17 Jan 07
no ,i haven't been there.i could have told u then
@superbren (856)
17 Jan 07
i am from the "english owned " ireland but we prefer to call it northern ireland . i think perhaps you should cross the border to view our lovely country too but eire is beautiful too but quite expensive , its cheaper in the north where i am and we are very friendly. i dont live in the city ,but down in the fishing county of fermanagh.try galway , it is a lovely city in eire ,also killarny.thee are lots of b&bs to stay in and you will get a full irish breakfast in the morning .
• India
17 Jan 07
its lovely...hav a blast