Ireland

-BBH-

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Mar 13, 2004
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Just found out I am going to be spending some time in Dublin this summer.

First time to Ireland. Any advice on what to hit and what to miss?
 

Kybluedude

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In Dublin _ Trinity College see the Book of Kells. Go to Guinness Brewery. Parks and churches like St Pats Cathedral. Irish stew and Coddle. Irish smoked fish. Kilmainham Jail. Dublin Castle. At night Grogans, O’Donaghues, Temple Bar , Frank Ryan’s are just a few spots. You’ll like it. Are you Irish?
 
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AustinTXCat

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Jan 7, 2003
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Visited summer '84. Really looking forward to returning someday soon.

+1 on Guinness Brewery. Go through a short class and earn a certificate. Ireland rocks.
 
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-BBH-

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In Dublin _ Trinity College see the Book of Kells. Go to Guinness Brewery. Parks and churches like St Pats Cathedral. Irish stew and Coddle. Irish smoked fish. Kilmainham Jail. Dublin Castle. At night Grogans, O’Donaghues, Temple Bar , Frank Ryan’s are just a few spots. You’ll like it. Are you Irish?

No I am not. My wife has some heritage there though and her sister is having a destination wedding.

Thanks for the suggestions. It wasn't at the top of my bucket list but I am looking forward to it.
 

entropy13

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Apr 27, 2010
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Don't order an Irish car bomb. Just don't do it

Co-worker of mine studied abroad in the U.K. He was in a pub in London, and after several rounds, decided to turn it up a notch. He calls the bartender over and asks "Can you make me an Irish Car Bomb?" Bartender stares at him, and then coolly replies "No, but how would you like a 9/11?"
 

GGCAT

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In Dublin _ Trinity College see the Book of Kells. Go to Guinness Brewery. Parks and churches like St Pats Cathedral. Irish stew and Coddle. Irish smoked fish. Kilmainham Jail. Dublin Castle. At night Grogans, O’Donaghues, Temple Bar , Frank Ryan’s are just a few spots. You’ll like it. Are you Irish?

We went last fall and loved it All the above are certainly a good list of the high spots to hit, but throw in a couple others

Brazenhead Pub (oldest bar in Dublin)

Also check out a pub call "The Church"

Literally is a 18th century cathedral they have converted into a bar and restaurant. Beautiful place and kind of weird / cool that you have to go down into the catacombs to make use of the facilities.
 

Kooky Kats

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The museum of Irish History is a must...

Try the chicken.
 

DSmith21

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The last time my wife and I went we hired a fantastic guide. Here is a link to his company (Kieran is the owner). Prices are reasonable and he is also willing to take you outside of Dublin if you want to see more of the country or even provide airport shuttle service. Be sure to ask him how much he hates the English.

http://www.tourdublin.ie/

If you want to venture out a little, there is a fantastic resort and spa near Kilkenny which is about an hour from Dublin. The place is beautiful, has Michelin star food and all kinds of activities like golf, sporting clay shooting, horseback riding, falconry, fly fishing, etc. It is one of the nicest places that I have ever stayed. If you want to impress a female, this is the place to take her (assuming you are not in your 20's then stick to a pub crawl).

https://www.mountjuliet.ie/
 
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gollumcat

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Been several times. Dublin is cool, but its a big city.

Get outside of it and explore.

My favorites: Kinsale, Dingle Peninsula, Galway..anything in the West of Ireland really. Donegal if you can get up there is fantastic.
 

GGCAT

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Been several times. Dublin is cool, but its a big city.

Get outside of it and explore.

My favorites: Kinsale, Dingle Peninsula, Galway..anything in the West of Ireland really. Donegal if you can get up there is fantastic.

Agreed, if you have the time to go beyond Dublin, you should do it. We spent 3 days in Dublin and 5 days in a house on the west coast near the cliffs of moher and explored from there.

just be prepared if your driving that as close as places may appear on a map outside of few highways its some pretty narrow roads and allot twice as much time for the distance as you would here
 
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-BBH-

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Agreed, if you have the time to go beyond Dublin, you should do it. We spent 3 days in Dublin and 5 days in a house on the west coast near the cliffs of moher and explored from there.

just be prepared if your driving that as close as places may appear on a map outside of few highways its some pretty narrow roads and allot twice as much time for the distance as you would here

Any off the path pubs on the countryside?
 

GGCAT

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Any off the path pubs on the countryside?

Every small town has several, the town stayed near had maybe a population of 500 and Im guessing they had 6-8 pubs and we tried probably 5-6 of them.
 
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GhostVol

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Have ancestry dating back to County Cork. Too bad I didn’t find out until AFTER I got out of the Navy! Plan on returning after I retire and rep the Black Irish. Then I’m heading to Scotland and rep the Campbells (my mother’s side of the family)
 

BlueVelvetFog

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Have ancestry dating back to County Cork. Too bad I didn’t find out until AFTER I got out of the Navy! Plan on returning after I retire and rep the Black Irish. Then I’m heading to Scotland and rep the Campbells (my mother’s side of the family)
When you go back you might get greeted by one of those strong gales that apparently are big at all those castles

 
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Wildcats1st

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Watch out for the “rotten potatoes”. You’ll know what I’m talking about if you were on RR last night. Wtf do rotten potatoes smell like anyway???
 

domino79

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Don't go to Ireland and neglect to see where Jennifer Lopez grew up and came into her own. There on the streets of Dublin.
 

domino79

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If you go to Ireland but fail to visit the birthplace of Dwayne "the rock" Johnson, then gfy.
 

domino79

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I also liked going to Ireland and seeing where noryuki "Pat" Morita was born. Again when I was in Ireland I did this.
 

FtWorthCat

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Just found out I am going to be spending some time in Dublin this summer.

First time to Ireland. Any advice on what to hit and what to miss?

Hit all the cool pubs in Dublin, obviously. Take the train to the coast one day and do a trek from Howth to Bray and make a few pub stops along the way. Spend a few days in Galway, cool little town. Ireland is great, would be a really cool place to retire or have a second home in retirement.
 
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Chuckinden

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I was there a couple years ago. Stayed at Dromoland Castle near Dublin, which was very nice. Toured Guinness and went over to The Cliffs of Moher, which was very nice.