Published on 23 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, Dublin, Ireland, Ireland 2009
Our original plan was to go to one of the art galleries, however time was running slightly low so we went to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College instead.
Published on 22 December 2009 in Transport, Travel and Holidays, Cork, Iarnrod Eireann, Ireland, Ireland 2009, railways, trains
Never believe platform indicators on Irish Railways. For they don't actually match reality...
Published on 21 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, Cork, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009
The day after visiting Blarney Castle, we decided to explore the delights of Cork town. In the previous day and a half we'd managed to see little bar sitting in some pubs and visiting the tourist information centre, so this seemed a good idea.
Published on 20 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, Cork, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009
It was in Iceland that I first realised I never wanted to do a coach tour holiday. As we drove round in our hire car, we'd be overtaken by manically speeding coaches which would arrive, thrust 60 people through the door of an attraction. The tourists would then swarm through the place, before being herded back out again about half an hour later.
Published on 19 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, Cork, Dublin, Iarnrod Eireann, Ireland, Ireland 2009, railways, trains
When we were researching Ireland, one of the places that stood out was Cork, down in the south of the country. A good pub culture, Blarney Castle and lots more. It seemed to be the place to go!
Published on 18 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, Dublin, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009
Trawling through the leaflets in Dublin's tourist information office, we found one likely candidate in the form of Howth. Hey, it had a cutely illustrated map, the promise of some walks around the headland and it has the tagline "Howth is Magic!" There could be no other place to go!
Published on 17 December 2009 in Beer, Travel and Holidays, beer, Dublin, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009
Guinness - a pint of the black stuff. So well known it's even in the spell checker on my PC. And when you're in Ireland, you can't escape the stuff. It's everywhere.
Published on 16 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, art, Dublin, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009
The IMMA is housed in the buildings of the former Royal Hospital Kilmainham, and is a based in rooms around a large courtyard. It all looks rather large and impressive, and my initial thought was how were we going to do this place justice in the time we had available. Okay, it didn't look as hefty as Tate Britain or the National Gallery in London, but it looked rather large.
Published on 15 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, ferries, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009, railways, trains, Virgin Trains
Holidays. They always seem to involve rushing about. And it starts with rushing to the airport. Then rushing to security. Then rushing through the gate because security have held everyone up so long that your flight is on final call. Oh and there's an elderly woman pushing a pram in the way.
Published on 14 December 2009 in Travel and Holidays, ferries, holidays, Ireland, Ireland 2009, railways, trains
The £29 is the maximum price you'll pay for sail/rail to Ireland, and you can do it from pretty much anywhere in the UK - there are similar cheap offers for other ferry crossings to Ireland.