Fun in Ireland - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Jillian · 06-12-2006, 11:56 PM

My bestfriend and I are going to be spending about 5 days total in Dublin and Killarney. In Killarney I think I want to explore the national park...nature stuff. But other than walking around town does anyone have any advice about what to do in Dublin?

Thanks,
Jillian

**MeTurk** · 06-13-2006, 03:22 AM

There's the guiness and jameson brewery, temple bar area, Dublins all new O' connel street was just finished last week. The fourt courts and Dublin castle are important government buildings, the GPO was taken over by the IRA during the easter rising you can still see the bullet holes in the pillars. You could go see where St Valintine is burried.

Walk down the liffey and you'll see the change the celtic tiger has made to Ireland, if you start inland you'll see all the old buildings then as you get out towards the sea you'll see fancier modern buildings.

Phoenix Park is the largest urban enclosed park in Europe, Dublin zoo and the American embasy is in there.

The Fun Lovin' Criminals own a pub in Dublin, I don't know where but it might be worth finding.

RootBrewskies · 06-13-2006, 05:36 AM

my personal opinion is that the guiness storehouse is a little overpriced and a bit cheesy. kind of feels like the people of guiness are trying to turn the beer into some mythical legend. the jameson factory i thought was pretty cool though.
spending a night at temple bar is a must, even if it can get a little pricey. all the national musuems in dublin are free, so they are worth looking at. trinity college is cool to popl into and check out. the book of kells is located there and if thats your type of thing then i'd say check it out. i thought it was a little overpriced as well but i'm glad i can say i saw it.
i would also suggest doing one of the Historical Walking Tours. they leave from right outside the trinity college entrance. its cheap and it gives you a feel for the history of the city, not to mention, it also allows a local to walk around the whole city so you can get aquanted with the city and he can answer any questions u have.

as far as hostels go, i have a review of some hostels in dublin in the hostel recommended section. the nicest place i've stayed at there has been jacob's hostel, however i've heard good things about the avalon house. it all comes down to price though, i stayed at jacobs cause it was 10euro a night compared to 22 at the avalon. so just hunt around for a good deal. although, i will say that i do not recommend Brown's HOstel.

oh, and i dont know if your from the U.S. but when i was in dublin about two weeks ago i bought some skittles and i'm pretty sure they have a different recipe or something there. they tasted a bit fruitier or something, but i enjoyed them. so i'd have to say, check out the skittles while your there too.

**beergal** · 06-13-2006, 05:56 AM

Killarney is great absolutely loved my time there its so pretty...make sure you go and get a boat to take you out to this island in the middle of the lakes where the monks used to live

**MeTurk** · 06-13-2006, 06:11 AM

Quote:

i bought some skittles and i'm pretty sure they have a different recipe or something there. they tasted a bit fruitier or something,

Ah, that would be because their "now even fruitier!", with added rainbows or something.

catfewd · 06-14-2006, 03:45 AM

The guinness storefront is like the willy wonka factory tour, you even get to take a semi glass elevator to the top at the end...

but in the end all you get is a pint... i guess my poor jobless family and crippled grandparents will have to keep living in that delapidated shack with holes in the roof.

damn you guinness!

**omisan** · 06-14-2006, 07:28 AM

Drink.

**MeTurk** · 06-14-2006, 08:01 AM

Girls

**kingcrazylegs** · 06-15-2006, 09:54 PM

Killarney National Park was one of the highlights for me. Drive the ring of Kerry if you have a chance and hike some of the trails

trailer_park_chick · 06-17-2006, 12:21 PM

I was just in Dublin and its loads of fun! I went to Temple Bar which was great, and ate at O'Neills pub whixh has the best best food, try the Irish stew,a dn the Gaol is a really cool place to see, really sad history, and loads of movies fimled there. Also theres a statue of Oscar Wilde on top of a rock, I think in Phoenix park, and you can take weird photos with that! Its such a fun city! Loads to do even with no specific agenda.

**omisan** · 06-18-2006, 12:55 AM

That Wilde statue is in St. Stephen's Green, just FYI

scottishbhoy · 06-24-2006, 05:57 PM

If you are into the backbround of a country go to kilmainham jail. I have been about 5 or 6 times. Its the place where many of the leaders of the 1916 rising against the Brits were killed. A very harrowing but nonetheless tour.

If you want to get a real taste of Dublin stay away from the temble bar at all costs, i was in with my Irish Girlfriend and some canadian guy told her how to eat Irish Stew, avoid at all costs. Take a walk outside the city centre and you will find plenty pubs which have trad irish music sessions and hosts who are fantastic.

If you are into sports make a point to go see Croke Park, the home of the GAA - gaelic sports. Its a near 80,000 seated ground which still to this day refuses to host rugby or soccer matches - the tour is fantastic and if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of one of the best sports in the world.

The guinness store is a load of shite.

Go to the trinity college and walk around, its fantastic and in the libary you will see the book of kells which is a 9th century manuscript of the gospels.

Fantastic City, was lucky enough to live there for 2 months.