Tourist Attractions in Ireland

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Well this was my third trip to Ireland so it was time to take a dive for the #1 Tourist Trap of all Tourist Traps...Bunratty castle and the Mideval Banquet, the night before our flight out of Shannon. I think ours was tough to take because it was off season and we had a bare-bones crew. The silliness got to me with the performance and I would have much rather preffered to hear more of the lovely voices of the singers . They shuffled us in and out and about like cattle, so if you do not like close crowds....beware. Also, some folk do get a bit rude and rowdy from drunkeness (the meade drink of honey and wine).

Unique Suggestions: I will say it was kinda of fun which I am almost embarrassed to say....but I could have done without this experience. And the cost was not quite worth it. The food was okay but uncomfortable and I know that was supposed to be part of the charm ( we ate with our hands and a knife only).

I did enjoy the decorations and authenticateness of the Tudor Style furnishings.

Fun Alternatives: The Bunratty Folk Park alone was a nice time.....historical and interesting. But leave the Banquet alone, unless there is nothing else to do. I think next time I would take refuge in an out of the way pub with some original local folk.

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ANYWHERE on a rural route actually ---- the danger looms in form of wooly things with legs and rather little brains... they attack in groups, blocking roads and sometimes settling in for a good natter baa-baa-baaa and a snooze on the tarmac....and THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO!

3 major road blockers are:
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1) SHEEP (wooly things with 4 legs making baa-baa - about knee-high)
2) COWS ( tall fellas with sorta big butts - come in all colours, have horns)
3) HORSES (stubborn a** long 4 legs, hufs and short fur mostly bog-colored)
> see pictures below for proper identification ;)

Unique Suggestions: > DO relax and take deep breaths
> Try not to use abusive language (it'll help ya nothing)

> DO NOT venture out cause you might be nipped in the butt or kicked by the ram (alpha-male of the sheep herd) outch

Fun Alternatives: > Sit still, take out the lunch pack and watch the lovely surroundings

> if ya have some old bread throw it out the window - ideally in a ditch, that might help them get off the road

> take out the rosary - so you could and keep praying, it might help - ah go on!

> Ahhh isn't it a nice day, so it is!!!

The Temple Bar Pub in the heart of the Temple Bar district of Dublin caters mostly for tourists. The bar has traditional Irish music and serves Guinness. That's about all there is to this place! Yes it tries very hard to recreate what tourists want, but it fails as there is just no ambience in the place at all. It's noisy and crowded most of the time.

Unique Suggestions: That's not to say it's a bad place, quite the contrary, it may be just what you are looking for..But don't expect to be rubbing shoulders with men talking in broad Dublin Accents, you will more than likely hear the sound of an American, or German accent next to you.

Fun Alternatives: Look a little further away from the city centre if you want to find a true to life Irish pub.

The town of Killarney is a major tourist center as it's usually the base for touring around the scenic Ring of Kerry, a drive round the Kerry peninsula which is also a bit of a tourist trap in that in the summer, the traffic around the ring is just one tour bus after the next. Killarney is just to mundane for me, all hotels and tourist shops.

Unique Suggestions: There is a nice big natural park there but ther's also the jaunting cars, carts and horses that take the tourists around it as well. We did go on one as we had been in the bus all day round the Ring of Kerry and it was nice to get the fresh air but, well, it's not anything to write home about.

Fun Alternatives: We stayed in Tralee which isn't that far from the Ring of Kerry on the northern entrance, crossing the Shannon on a car ferry and then driving up into the mountains.

A nicer and less bussed route is the Dingle peninsula, just north of the Ring of Kerry, equally spectactular coastal scenes.

the word "Leprechaun" means "little people" who were shoe makers or cobblers. The origins are hazy but one theory goes that when the tall, dark, warlike and aggressive Celts invaded, the natives were small, peaceful folk who lived in ring forts which probably became the fairy rings of legend. These people seemed to disappear at will through perhaps they just fled the intimidating invaders. The cute little leprechauns we see were invented for the English tourists and it just got out of hand. Now they are out of fashion and considered tacky. I agree. Ireland to me is not the cartoon pot of gold and frisky, naughty little men in green coats. It's a place of Celtic origins, of shamrocks and a people who are easy going, traditional and open and friendly. And the beer ain't bad either!

After seeing a number of castles this was just one more on the list. The kissing the stone part was all touristy but fun for those who participated. It could be missed. While the castle was interesting - I'm sure there are other more impressive ones to find.

Unique Suggestions: The best part of the stop was the Blarney Woolen Mills store. Great selection of all things Irish. Kind of a one stop Ireland buying spot. Get it all over with at once. Looked like good quality and prices seemed fair.

Fun Alternatives: If you're traveling in the area (to or from Kerry) it's an OK stop if you want to get your Irish shopping done. I'm not a shopper - I just wanted to get it over with and this put everything Irish under one roof. Skip the castle and do the Woolen Mill if shopping is on your agenda.

Blarney Castle was not on my list of "must sees", but when you travel, you have to make some compromises. The Blarney Stone is located at the top of the castle and a man is there to help lower you backwards so you can acquire the "gift of gab" You are allowed to take pictures of your friends bending backwards from a not so great angle ,but there is a photographer who snaps pictures from an excellent view. If you desire to purchase this picture, it is 7 Euros. You can also buy a small certificate with your name on it verifying that you have indeed kissed the stone for 2.50 Euros.
There are the rumours that I am sure most people have heard about what locals do to the stone. Although I doubt these stories are true, I didn't feel like slobbering on it.

Unique Suggestions: I wouldn't visit here during high season when there are crowds of people from the tour buses climbing the narrow steps and then waiting in line to kiss the stone. In December, there weren't any lines at all.

Fun Alternatives: If you are with people who insist that they can't visit Ireland without kissing the Blarney Stone , you can of course, visit the castle with them(it is worth checking out) and snap their pictures for them. You can also take a stroll around the grounds which have pretty winding paths with a stream ,bridges and a rocky glen. It is a pretty place.

Burial chambers from the 4.000 BC. There is a guided tour: you will take a bus from the information center of Newgrange to visit the 2 tumbs which are currently openned to the public. You will need an hour for each tumb and more time to visit the exibition