So far, the recommendations are something like this:
Cork=1
Galway=4
Ennis=4
Donegal=2
So it seems to be between Galway and Ennis. Anyone else like to put in their 2 cents worth? Thanks everyone for responding.
I haven’t been to Galway, so I can’t really judge, but Ennis is a lovely city, with lots of music as well. Of course, I’ve heard the same about Galway. But personally, I just love all that I’ve seen of Co. Clare.
The two are quite close together anyways, so why not visit both? Car hire is so cheap in Ireland you won’t believe it, and petrol they practically give away, compared to the UK.
The buses will also get you around, though of course you’d have to watch the timetables carefully, and hefting luggage about can be a pain.
Not so sure about car hire being all that cheap in Ireland, there are off-peak deals but it can work out expensive in the high season, especially if you add in all the options (extra insurance etc.). Also petrol would probably appear expensive to anyone used to US prices - though maybe the non-gas-guzzling cars on hire in IRL might compensate, and if the visitor numbers from the US are down in the light of 11 September (not to mention the as yet unlaunched war against Iraq), there might still be attractive deals.
A factor in favour of Ennis is proximity to Shannon, which is served by some of the airlines operating from the US. There might be good fares to there. It’s also worth checking out availability of a “fly-drive” package combining air fare and car hire, which is certainly very good value in intra-Europe travel.
Also Clare has a special resonance for music-lovers, especially pipers and concertina players (not decrying Galway, but Clare has always been the heartland whereas Galway seems to have rebuilt a waning tradition - apart from Sean nos singing which always remained strong there).
It would be quite possible to divide the holiday between Clare and Galway, as they are adjoining counties, but I would advise against trying to range much further afield.
Oh, and by the way, if you do hire a car, the risk of heading off on the wrong side of the road is insidious: it is most likely to happen when you’re already there a week or more and you think you’re used to driving on the left. Then you drive out of a car park or petrol station, and suddenly you realise you’re on the wrong side of the road. It still happens to me at least once every time I go home! If I remember correctly, it was a German tourist driving on the wrong side of the road who caused the accident which killed Miko Russell.
[ This Message was edited by: Roger O’Keeffe on 2002-04-17 12:48 ]
Has anybody ever been in Kenmare, Co.Kerry? I’m going to spend my holiday there. What can you tell me about it?
I’m surprised no one has recommended Dingle, the nerve center of Irish music. It’s a three hour drive southwest from Limerick, but worth every minute on the road. See if you can catch Eoin Duignan in concert. When I saw him play four years ago in the Bridge Pub (the sign outside is in Gaelic and I can’t spell it or pronounce it), it began my love affair with the low whistle. And there is music every night of the week somewhere in that small town. And besides the music, it’s an archeological treasure trove. You could spend three days just seeing standing stones, ancient churhes and castles. It’s on the expensive side as far as lodging, but probably no worse than the big cities like Dublin or Cork. And again, the music is incredible.
Dingle is a nice place, too. I had a great time there a couple years ago… caught a Seamus Begley performance in one of the pubs, which was great fun.
On 2002-04-17 13:43, darvis wrote:
I’m surprised no one has recommended Dingle, the nerve center of Irish music
You must be joking!! (allthough I don’t doubt there’s good music to be heard there)
As to the other things: car hire may be cheap, but let’s talk about he insurance you will need! Read for a good account of this in Pete McCarthy’s travel book McCarthy’s Bar
Galway is a city, and a nice one too but still a city. Ennis is a smaller town and nice too. Ennis has all of Clare and great music on it’s doorstep Galway has Connemara and Mayo great for scenery but maybe not so for music.
Maybe an alternative in the middle?? (Kinvarra, Ballyvaughan, Kilfenora-ish)decisions decisions.
.
And Micho Russell was in the car of an American woman who gave him a lift home when he was killed. Micho wanted to make a phone call before taking the turn into the Kinvarra road at Kilcolgan. After the call was made the driver tried to turn the car but took a turn too wide and ended up in the middle of the road. Another car hit the passenger side of the car while it was in the middle of the road.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2002-04-17 14:18 ]
On 2002-04-17 14:12, Peter Laban wrote:
And Micho Russell was in the car of an American woman who gave him a lift home when he was killed. Micho wanted to make a phone call before taking the turn into the Kinvarra road at Kilcolgan. After the call was made the driver tried to turn the car but took a turn too wide and ended up in the middle of the road. Another car hit the passenger side of the car while it was in the middle of the road.
Hard to imagine what it must have been like that night in 1994 in O’Connor’s Pub. 
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-04-17 15:22 ]
How is Ballyvaughan for trad music sessions? I assume it must be good, because B-vaughan is little more than a crossroads with a few stores, a hotel, and a couple of pubs, but two of those stores are music stores. I was there on Good Friday (this year) and although almost everything was closed, those two little stores were open. And in one of them, they had as many brands of tinwhistle and low D as I saw in the music store off Grafton St in Dublin. I bought a Dixon high D, a couple of songbooks, and a tape of locals playing trad. So B-vaughan must support sessions somewhere locally, but where?
We had a very nice time in Cork and Kerry (more Kerry). I can’t really speak to the music, since we didn’t focus on that while we were there, but we had a lot of fun. We rented a car - no problems, beside sitting on the right and shifting with my left hand.
Erik
I think the driving problems are greatly overrated. I’ve been there 3 times now, and although it was tough the first few days, I learned quickly how it all works and have had no problems at any time since. And if you rent the car with a gold mastercard you get free collision and theft insurance.
On 2002-04-17 15:46, darvis wrote:
How is Ballyvaughan for trad music sessions
Wednesdaynights Mairtin Fahey and often his daughter playing concertinas, if you are lucky Charlie Piggot and that crowd coming in Lovely stuff.
I just returned from Ireland and may have a few tips for you. My reply would surely turn into rambling on in a lengthy post - please email me for info.
Teri