The Irish sky. Ireland travel report

"The sky of Ireland is an ocean of clouds and light
The sky of Ireland is a carpet that runs fast
The sky of Ireland has your eyes if you look up there
You drowning in green and blue covers you
We cover the green and blue you drowning
The sky is the Irish moss and feeds the wool
The sky is the Irish sifting the hair to the moon
The sky is the Irish sheep that graze in the sky
It is drunk with stars at night and the morning is light
It is drunk with stars and the morning is light
From Donegal to the Aran Islands
From Dublin to Connemara
Wherever you're traveling with gypsies or re
The sky of Ireland is moving with you
The sky is the Irish in you
The sky of Ireland is a great rain hat
The sky of Ireland is a child sleeping on the beach
The sky of Ireland sometimes makes the world in black and white
But after a time the colors makes them shine more than true
But after a moment makes them shine more than true
The sky is an Irish woman who often changes of mood
The sky of Ireland is a skirt that goes round the Sun
The sky is the Irish God who plays the accordion
Opens and closes with the rhythm of music. "

Fiorella Mannoia
M. Bubola

The sky of Ireland was lenient with us and gave us 10 days of time is acceptable and almost total absence of rain.

We started from Milan-Linate Airport on 5 August with Air Lingus flight booked via the internet months in advance (but cheap). We have deposited the car in a parking lot outside the airport but also connected with convenient shuttle service to Dublin and landed in perfect time. We find it difficult to find the place in which to withdraw our car rental booked with Hertz in travel agency. After long wandering the airport, we are given the keys and we can begin our tour DIY.

The preparation of our trip took months of study by consulting several guidebooks and websites. A point in our favor is that Max has been in Ireland a few years ago 'and then his experience is helpful. But our source is the most valuable guide Mondadori, very comprehensive and graphically beautiful. The bed & breakfast, however, have been booked by e-mail, after perusing visited Internet sites found by various search engines. When the choice is crucial to assess the distance from the center, perhaps favoring those with attractive appearance and atmosphere (at least that is our meter and we believe we are almost never wrong).

 

Dublin

Just landed, we head to Malahide Castle, located a few km from Dublin Airport. The castle is placed in a large park and the interior design can be visited.

Later we move to the center of Dublin in search of our accommodation (O 'Neills) located above the eponymous pub. We have the parking problems because those are expensive fee (given that we have to stay 2 days). Then opt for a car park on the street regulated parking meter time (limited only to weekdays and daylight hours) but we are having to renew the ticket every 3 hours.

The b & b has a bad value for money. The cost is probably over due to the location, close to Trinity College. We start the visit of the city starting from Grafton Street, a long pedestrian street with many shops, and then move into the Temple Bar area rich in local color, where to drink and listen to live music. Warning: If you want dinner in a pub, remember that they only serve food until a certain time (often only until the afternoon). From 19 hours onward, many local serving only drinks.

Dublin

Dopo il primo di una lunga serie di Irish breakfast (tipica colazione irlandese composta da: uovo, bacon, salsicce, pomodoro, black pudding, pane tostato o in alternativa colazione continentale per chi la vuole) iniziamo il programma di visita. Al Trinity College è possibile, dopo lunga coda, visitare la Old Library. Attenzione: si visita un'unica e grande sala ed il costo è di euro 7,50 a persona.

Più economica e soddisfacente è la visita del castello di Dublino.

Gratuita invece la visita della famosa sala di lettura alla National Library.
La principale via dello shopping e del passeggio è Grafton Street (piuttosto caratteristica) oppure O' Connel Street, (più moderna) che si trova al di là del fiume Liffey, magari attraversando il ponte Ha' penny bridge. Consigliamo inoltre anche un passaggio al caratteristico Centro Commerciale Powerscourt (architettonicamente interessante) situato in una traversa di Grafton Strett. Cena in Temple bar e dopocena in uno dei più bei pub della zona (Olive St. John Gogarty's), con musica dal vivo.

Powerscourt, Kilkenny

Negative is the fact that our B & B in Dublin serves breakfast starting at 9 and we create off track. The first stop of the day is Powerscourt: beautiful gardens south of Dublin (ticket euro 7,00). Pleasant visits to the shops in the visitor center.

We start then towards Kilkenny, colored by beautiful town with wonderful shops and castle at the center of a large park. The visit to the castle takes a long time (in fact the guidance dwells too).

The B & B (Fanad House) is a 10 minutes walk from the center. This is a relatively new Guest House with large rooms and bathrooms, service a little 'slow for breakfast. The prices for B & B in Kilkenny, as also in Dublin, are quite high. In the rest of Ireland, however, will cost exactly half.

Cahir, Youghal, Cobh, Kinsale

Cahir stage technique where the ruins of a castle on a river.

Stop for lunch in Youghal, a village on the coast with colorful feature tower / clock and a long street with shops. We continue then to Cobh, seaside resort famous for being the last stop of the Titanic and we finally head to Kinsale, where staying.

Kinsale is a colorful seaside village with many restaurants and nightclubs. We choose a restaurant where a dinner of fish pase and, after dinner, a great and particular pub, where there is live music.

The B & B (Ashgrove) is a charming villa 10 minutes walk from the center. The cost is contained and the service fairly accurate

Clonakilty, Baltimore, Bantry

We follow the coast road to stop doing Clonakilty. Transiting to Baltimore, but not worth it.

We reach then Bantry, where staying. First we visit the beautiful Bantry House, home to vintage with beautiful furnishings. Lunch also in Annexe Tea Room, and with the giant slice of cake. Then we go downtown to Bantry where, however, there are no tourists, few shops and then we understand that it is a little tourist town.

The b & b is a row house in a little 'off-center (Leyton & B b) .. We decided therefore to leave by car for dinner, choosing a restaurant in the center.

Kenmare, Killarney, Dingle

First stop in Kenmare, where there Attardi Souvenir shops and then towards Killarney, strictly along the panoramic road which crosses the National Park. Here we admire the most beautiful landscapes in all, consisting of lakes and mountains. Visit the Muckross House (dwelling on the shores of the lake and home of the Visitor Center of the National Park). From here start also tours in a horse for the park, although quite expensive (around 30 euros for a round of 45 minutes). Also visit the busy heart of Killarney (unlike Bantry tourism is too) and then we head to Dingle where staying.

Dingle is a colorful seaside town, located on the peninsula. Our b & b, Murphy, placed next to its pub, is a modest but comfortable accommodation in what is right in front of the port. Beautiful and romantic evening stroll along the quay of the port.

Adare, Bunratty Castle e Folk park, Knappogue Castle, Ennis

Let us pause and Dingle to Adare where there are characteristic cottage with thatched roof. In fact, the entire center is pretty nice and worth the stop.

Then we visit the Bunratty Castle, but perhaps even more interesting is the annesso Folk Park. Do not let break down the high price (12 Euro per person for castle + folk park), is worth the pain just enough to have enough time to visit (about 2 hours).

The Bunratty Castle is located in ancient environments towers and the Folk Park is a typical Irish village in the interiors of homes, shops and several buildings, all open to the public. There are even characters in costume to make the best idea.
Then we go to Knappogue Castle (the visit here is pretty fast) and finally, we head towards the beautiful town of Ennis where staying.

The center of Ennis is really nice, but even more pleasing is the fabulous B & B (Lakeside Country Lodge) just 5 km. from the center of Ennis. This is a beautiful country house located on the banks of a pond, with lawns sloping down to the water where sheep graze freely and horses. A nice white cagnolone guide us to walk to the lake. We do not know to describe the emotion we felt in the morning, barely awake, in admiration, the bucolic landscape by the large window of our beautiful rooms, with lake view. The service is well cared for and the price.

Kilrush, Loop Head, Cliffs of Moher, Ballyvaughan, Kinvarra, Dunguaire Castle, Galway

Reluctantly leave the beautiful b & b Ennis, Kilrush where transiting turn the scenic road to reach the rugged tip of Loop Head, where we admire the cliffs overlooking the sea and the lighthouse.

The next stop to the famous Cliffs of Moher where we find a high concentration of tourists.

For the record note that you can not access to the terrace where you lay Proni to admire the cliffs from above, but you must take the scenic path for this set.

Stop for lunch at Ballyvaughan is not anything special, it would be better to stop Kinvarra, a fishing village overlooking a small harbor with a view of the Castle Dunguaire.

Dunguaire The Castle is a tower-house, 3 stories in which are held every evening dinners medieval.
So we come down to Galway to spend the night.

The visit to Galway is limited to one long street with many shops, street artists and historic pubs.

Galway is also home of the famous Claddagh ring, an antique engagement ring with 2 hands clasp a heart surmounted by a crown. E 'can buy jewelry in all of Ireland (where even cost less that in Galway, from 50 Euro upwards, according to the carat and weight) and even at the airport, if not able to inform you first give (I am success).

The B & b Galway very satisfactory, although it is not located in the center which is within walking distance. Her name is Petra House: the service here is quite fine and the landlord very friendly. Average cost.

Dinner in a particular restaurant specializing in fish, placed in a side of the main street, where we eat almost exclusively fish cooked in front of your eyes. Do not miss the oysters, salmon and mussels: here have a very special flavor.

After a pub in the historic city, The King's Head, located in a historic building.

Galway - Dublin

We are running out. We put ourselves in the car to reach Dublin, where we take our plane back.

The stretch Galway-Dublin is really not very interesting. We recommend to those who undertake this journey to not lose that much time. Here, there's absolutely nothing to see, and the few things reported on driving, are closed or not open to the public.

One place could be interesting Newgrange: tomb where Celtic are a great and beautiful visitor center with all the tourists of this world. We can not see anything because the first round of visits can involve about 4 hours of waiting. We therefore be content to have lunch in the well-stocked self-service and we rely on the march towards the B & B in Dublin, Lorcarn Lodge, located just minutes from the airport.

This is a pretty little house in the suburbs. The lady of the house we recommend a great Pub for dinner (one of the most unique among those in which we were) placed in the district of Dublin Santry.

Going back home

Alarm in the middle of the night as our plane to the 7th At 5 am we are already at the airport, already crowded at that hour. Return home without any problems.

At the end of the journey we consider ourselves fully satisfied of just living.

Here the cost of the trip:

DIRECT FLIGHT A / R-Dublin MILAN E. 250.00 about a head
CAR RENTAL FOR CATEGORY LOW (without AC) for 10 days: E. 500.00

AVERAGE COST OF A NIGHT IN B & B E. 35.00 per person, including breakfast (except for Dublin and Kilkenny, where the costs are doubled)

AVERAGE COST OF A DINNER FOR 2 IN A PUB E. 35.00 (E. 50.00 in restaurant)

AVERAGE COST OF AN ENTRY IN A CASTLE / MUSEUM E. 5.00 per person

GAS COST A little 'less than in Italy

COST 1 pint of beer (Guinness) E. 4.00

COUNCIL PROFIT: The current taken in Ireland (as in Scotland) are different and a different voltage. Must purchase a special adapter, otherwise you risk not being able to recharge the battery of the phone. The adapter is on sale in Italy, in most stores supplied the electrical equipment, or at the airport.

Dani and Max
Learn more at our website
http://digilander.iol.it/danidisa
you will find links to all the places listed

texts by Daniela
Photos of Max