h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So this year we really are going to come to Ireland for our holiday. In the discussion on the Belfast meet, I've been trying to work in a few days in the North, but it looks rather difficult as we shall be there over the 12th July. So - I ask my readers from Ireland: What do we do?

The plan, subject to everyone's suggestions and knowledgable recommendations is: We land in Dublin (probably care of O'Leary - I've left it too late for the others - price difference of several hundred Euros) on 9th July and would like to stay there a few days - have a drink with Gnomon and Recumbentman and as many others as possible, and do the statue trail (with or without app!). Thence we would hire a car and take a route, vaguely clockwise down the South East coast, possibly including Cork, and on up to Galway or somewhere on the West Coast to stay there for a couple of days.

Would this mean a lot of driving on strenuous country roads? Is it doable? Would it be more sensible just to stick to the South East? Where are good places to stay, what mustn't we miss out, etc, etc.

This is subject to the Belfast meet perhaps taking place after all while we are there, which would mean a complete change of plan if we went to it, but we are rather limited to a period of less than 2 weeks as we have to fly back on 20th July.

It looks like I'll be escaping Belfast myself over 12th weekend.

But it's only a few hours on the bus between Dublin and Belfast - I'd be more than happy to come down for the day for a mini meet.

2 weeks is plenty - it really is a small country. As Mala said, if there's a mini meet in Dublin, it's really not that hard for the Norn Irn posse to come along.

I'd say one of the must sees is the Ring of Kerry. That's a scenic drive. Easily done in a day.
You'll be hiring a car when you get here?

I'll be in Dublin from 16th July and would love to meet up

Oh, and on the west coast, my personal fave is Westport. You could easily amuse yourself there for a few days.

The roads from Dublin to everywhere are very good. Many of them are motorways. Dublin to Cork - less than 3 hours.

From Wexford to Cork to Galway, the roads are not so good, but there's plenty to see. Particularly between Cork and Galway you have to see Clare - the Cliffs of Moher (200m sheer into the sea) and the Burren (strange limestone pavements known as karst).

Kerry is extremely picturesque if you can get to it. Around Killarney is just beautiful, and so is the Dingle Peninsula.

The Dublin Statue Trail is good, but there are other good things you can do in Dublin too, including the Archaeological Museum if you're into that sort of thing, the Book of Kells and Trinity College, and the whole Pub Culture. That's where the drink with Gn and R comes in, I suppose.

The South East of Ireland is nice, but the wildest and most dramatic landscapes are in the West.

The road between Dublin and Belfast is probably the most boring road in Ireland, but it's only about 2.5 hours, and there are good people at each end of the journey.

Driving to Cork via Waterford is very scenic, and quite hassle-free since the Waterford By-pass has been completed. Love to participate in a meet-up. You might catch a Ukeristic Congress gig if you're lucky

www.ukeristiccongress.com

Well I've booked the flights. We arrive (Dublin) on the Monday night, the 9th July, quite late, and leave on the Friday evening, the 20th. Which makes meeting up awkward, because the only weekend would be in the middle, where we shall probably be somewhere on the West Coast. I'm still working on an itinerary, so watch this space. It would be so nice to see you all in your natural habitats (!) but I can't expect people to turn out on a week night.

My new job hasn't started yet, and when it does, it won't be "normal" working hours. So that shouldn't be a problem.

And if you're up here on a weeknight, you're welcome to drop by for dinner!

Lovely - thank you. More later....

and we do (in the North) have extra holidays round that time of year, and might be glad of an excuse to go somewhere!

Please advise on date soonest, so I can book the time from work, as long as no-one has pre-booked.

Would love to visit!!!



MMF

I live roughly half way between Dublin and Galway, and could get to either without hassle. Would have to be a weekend for me, though.

TRiG.

So it's looking like a Dublin meet instead of a Belfast meet?

Sounds like a good idea.

That could work.

And we could go walking in Wicklow!

TRiG.

That could be pretty cool. I've been thinking about having a scoot along the Wicklow Way for a while...

*pout* but I want to do Glenariff at some point, too!

Awww, and who could refuse that face!

You *shall* go to Glenariff, Cinderella!