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I'm heading to Ireland in 5 weeks! Galway and Dublin will be my first stops on a trip to over 25 cities in more than 15 countries across Europe. As a matter of fact, the only place that I've been in Europe is Ireland actually. So I'm really excited. I have tons of family there, and I'll be using Dublin as my home base as I travel.

Be sure to tune into my travel blog as I'll be posting plenty of interesting and definitely entertaining blogs, videos, photos and more!

Pause The Moment -- The Trip of a Lifetime!

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RG
Email: pausethemoment@gmail.com
Web: www.pausethemoment.com

Wow sounds like a lot of fun! I'm based in Dublin but used to live in Galway! If you ever need any hints just let me know!

Where else in Europe are you heading? I am heading to Lithuania in May after a friend (from Co Clare) moved there after she fell in love with it during an Eastern European backpacking trip. Vilnius, apparently, is a great place to go!

Have fun planning & embarking! x

Cool, I'll also be traveling to London, Paris, Lucerne, Monaco, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Venice, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ischia, Dubrovnik, Munich, Prague, Amsterdam, Rhine Valley, and much much more...

I'll be spending the first three weeks of my trip in Ireland. First week or so in Galway, and the rest in Dublin.

hiya, just saw this thread now. what are your plans as regards dublin?

I am heading to Ireland "next month" now too. I have a deal through work, $50 round trip - how can I not go?? I've been once before, biking for a week through Co Clare. LOVED it. Also two nights in Dublin. I'm starting to plan this trip. Will be 4-5 days sometime in May.

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quarterlifecrisis: Vilnius IS wonderful! I think you'll love it - it's a beautiful city. Try heading up to Riga as well. Vilnius is more laid back, Riga is a big more lively. Both beautiful. I took a bus from one to the other, was very inexpensive. Wish I could remember the exact price for you. Have a great trip.

so whats your plan for it capt steve?
did you get to see the hurling at all? the championships start on 11 may....

i have no plan yet. i'm pretty sure the dates will be May 9-12, so perhaps I'll catch the hurling. how does one go about getting good tickets, if possible?

Thanks Capt Steve! I'm really looking forward to it, despite knowing NOTHING about the place!!

I think you can get hurling matches on ticketmaster? I got them that way for Patrick's Day.

Aw I love it when people are looking forward to coming to Ireland. I'm just excited to be going 'home' to Galway this weekend!

i had a look on ticketmaster and i don't see anything except the minor games. i know that the GAA (Irish games association) advertise tickets on their site, and i think you can buy them through the site, when they are available http://www.gaa.ie
Failing that, when you get here, pop into the tourist office and ask. They will be able to tell you. Normally, you can get tickets fairly easily for most of the matches, except the semi/finals. Then, depending on the teams, it gets pretty intense!
are you going to stay just in dublin or tour around?

I am going to be in Ireland for 2 weeks in the beginning of may end of april.

Trekker

Kiki: Thanks for the info about the tickets! I'll look into it more soon.

quote:

are you going to stay just in dublin or tour around?

Well I can fly into Dublin or Shannon, arriving early on the 10th. However my flight out will likely be the 14th, and can only be out of Dublin.

I know nothing about Shannon. (As you can figure, I'm a last-minute trip planner.) I do know I don't want to spend the whole five days in Dublin. I've done the touristy bit there, and also my week bike tour of Co. Clare. I'm ready for something new.

Suggestions welcome.

have you ever been into Northern Ireland??? Catch a bus up to Belfast and check out the history there, esp in Shankill Road, and there are some amazing spots right up north, the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery and Gaint's causeway comes to mind!

i fully agree with dopeyzn, northern ireland would be great to check out. really liking the idea of the Bushmills distillery...yum!
you could do a tour of Stormont (Northern Ireland Assemly), i think this is the site http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/io/accessinfo.htm
that'd be very interesting to do. check out the northern ireland tourist board for more ideas http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
have you been surfing in Achill or Donegal? on the eastern side of the country, you can visit Newgrange (neolithic monuments), go to Kilkenny (great craic to go out in, the castle is great), there's loads to do- the official ireland tourist guide http://www.ireland.ie
i'd probably fly into and out of dublin to be honest, its just easier. as you've already kinda done Co Clare. Although I hear County Limerick has an excellent biking trail...
do you have a rough plan at all?

Northern Ireland/The-North-Of-Ireland is a great suggestion--Bushnills, Giants Causeway, etc...awesome.

OR, I might also suggest zipping over to Galway, Shannon, or Doolin, either by rental car, rail, or cheap domestic flight and "base" yourself there for a 4-5 day chilled out exploration of Ireland's west coast, the islands, etc. You could take in Doolin, the Cliffs, the islands, some incredible oceanside scenery and some great music (def. in Doolin).

You may even be able to swing in a day trip north up the west coast to Giant's Causeway & back, possibly.

Considering you've already 'been there/done that' for Dublin, I wouldn't spend any time there at all...long enough to turn in your rental car or change planes from an Irish domestic flight.

Northern Ireland is a good option, but trekking to Derry, Giant's Causeway, or Glens of Antrim etc in just one day is exhausting. If you're going to go up to see a few of the sights beyond Belfast, spent a couple days exploring so you can actually function. Or if you've never been, do a day trip to Belfast & take a City Sightseeing Tour (I did that with my parents, had dinner at the famous Crown Parlour, and got on a bus back to Dublin that evening).

The only cautionary remark is that being a part of the UK, the sterling will hurt your bank account more than the Euro. If you don't want to exchange currency, you might want to stick to the Republic. Aer Arann has flights within Ireland (and beyond) and I've always had good experiences with them. I would always encourage a trip westward to Galway and Connemara if you haven't been.

update: looks like my Ireland trip is sliding back to the May 25-31st timeframe. i'm heading back to Italy for work May 6-25, then straight to Ireland, if I get my way. So, so much for the hurling, but i have more time to plan -- thanks again for all your suggestions - I'm looking into them! details later...