Ireland trip recs

[Anodyne]

The wife and I are headed to Ireland and N. Ireland for a week in May, because we got a good deal and because just for the hell of it. We'll have a car and basically drive from Limerick to up north, then across to Belfast, down to Dublin and Kilkenny, then back over to Limerick. So, if you recommend about anything on the island, we'll be fairly close to it at some point.

Obvious need: distilleries, museums and historic sites

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

I'm sure you've got this on your list already: St. James Gate Brewery, Dublin.

The Midleton Distillery - Cork.

 

[texasbrew]

We were there a couple years ago. There is a a statue outside of Bruxelles of Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy fame (just off Grafton Street). There is also a cool pub near there called the Hairy Lemon. Christ Church is pretty cool (built around 1028 AD). Leo Burdocs Fish & Chips is over 100 years old a good place for fish & chips. The Temple Bar area is pretty cool too.

 

[Cowguy]

Ireland is one of my favorite places we've ever been. We went to Killarney and Dublin, with some excursions around.

Certainly go to local pubs. We saw Ireland play in a World Cup qualifier in a little pub in Killarney ... It was so fun.
Killarney national park is beautiful
Dawson's lounge in Dublin (smallest pub in Dublin)
Trinity college - book of Kells
Jameson tour was surprisingly fun
Walk st. Stephen's green.
Drink as much Guinness as you can. It's truly so much better there.
There are a ton of museums including the Irish whiskey museum.
Guinness storehouse is something I wish I'd done. Some of our group did and loved it
Just walking Dublin is fun. It's easy to get around and the city is just ancient.
I'd even recommend going to blarney castle. Yes it's touristy, but still fun and interesting.
Waterford crystal outlet
Castles and Abbeys

Have a blast, I'd love to go back again

 

[agec]

Ireland is great. Lots of good info above. A couple of places not mentioned yet would be the Cliffs of Moher (Go after it closes to avoid the crowds), Giants Causeway and Bushmill's Distillery. Also, eat lots of fresh seafood.

 

[Anodyne]

We're scheduled to see the Cliffs of Moher on our first day. The Guinness Storehouse tour is part of our package, so we'll base our Dublin stay around that. The more I read about things, the more I want to spend time in Derry and Belfast. Especially Derry. So we'll probably dedicate a full two days to Northern Ireland, including Giant's Causeway (where I will almost certainly re-enact the cover of "Houses of the Holy," minus the bare *** probably unless I have too much fun at the nearby Bushmill's distillery tour). We'll make it to Cork, although I'm afraid that it will be rushed. There's a robust if not recent craft brewing scene in both Ireland and N. Ireland that I'm looking forward to.

 

[tcpoke]

Cliff of Moher are stunning. Well worth the time!

 

[EvilPOKES]

Guinness!