Would anybody happen to know the big tourist cities of Ireland? For a school project, we have to plan a trip to Europe.
Collin
From my own firsthand tourist experience - biased towards SW Ireland:
Dublin, Cork (Blarney Castle is near here), Limerick.
I’m sure there are a fair number of other places that see a lot of tourists, but they are mostly mostly in the village-to-large-town size range (Cashel, Adare, Killarney, etc fit in here). Even Cork and Limerick are fairly small cities by US standards - I believe Cork City is <200K people and Limerick is <100K.
I believe that only Shannon (near Limerick) and Dublin airports get direct flights from the US - I know that when I’ve gone to Cork the fastest way was to fly into Heathrow and catch a local flight from there to Cork. There are several ferries from the UK and (I think) France, too.
On this board I’m sure that lots of folk can give you more specific info if needed.
Thank you very, very much! Your input helps a WHOLE BUNCH!!! We have to plan to visit at least 3 countries and visit 3 cities in each over a span of 3 weeks.
I chose to plan to fly from US to Ireland, take a boat (ferry, ship, whatever I can find) to France, and make a way down to Italy, and fly back to the US from there. I hope my plan all works out!!!
Collin
Lonely Planet travel guide calls Killarney “the tourist trap from hell”.
It gets my vote as # 1 as well.
You’ve a better chance of meeting folks from Chicago there (during summer) than from Ireland.
Dublin is the capital and gets the bulk of the tourist trade. Galway would be next on my list of places to visit.
Dublin is one of the most expensive cities in Europe so shop around. Avoid anything named after a writer, poet or suchlike as these places are tourist traps. Avoid Temple Bar, even Dublin people avoid that rip off.
Donegal is incredible if somewhat tricky to get around without a car, Gweedor and the surrounding area should not be missed.
Brian C has it right about Killarney 
Slan,
D.
The new Rough Guide is out this week, and has had quite good reviews.
Last time I was in the city (for the '00 GAA football final), I stopped into ‘The Temple Bar’ to see what the fuss was all about. Criminy, I was sure I’d been transported to some place in the States.
So I’m sitting there, having a quick pint, (wanting to leave quickly) and some guy at the table next to ours asks,
“Hi, we’re from Chicago, and we just arrived today (as though I couldn’t tell from the matching Chicago Bears hat & jacket) and my wife and I were wondering if you could take our picture?”
“Sure,” says I, “no problem - do you want the session band in the background, or the bar?”
He immediately looks crestfallen - complete disappointment, as he says, “Wait - you’re not Irish? Where are you from? For some reason I thought you were from here…”
Ah, well, there’s lots of money and jobs being made for the tourists (of which I’m one, by the way) so it’s all good.
Actually there is a lot of talk at the moment around here(Dublin)
about cleaning up Temple Bar and trying to get rid of the “Brit stag and hen nighters”.
To start it off, they have come up with “Temple bar trad fest”.
http://www.temple-bar.ie/
Hope it works out well!
Thanks a bunch for the info!!!
Speaking of the ferry to France, anyone know how much it is to take the ferry from Rosslare to France? All I’ve seen is something like 150 pounds, but that seems to include a car… is there a fare without the car? 300 bucks is alot to pay when you can get a flight for 40.
Most ferry lines have prices for “foot passengers”, as they are known in the ferry trade. Usually very cheap.
Mind you, in Ireland, very little comes cheap
Slan,
D.
Thanks dubhlinn.
Looks pretty good, based on what their website offers.
But why have it in January? Why not July or August?
Well who do you want attending? Hordes of Bostonians in bright clothing requesting Danny Boy or people who are serious enough to go to Dublin in January for some music?
ha ha,
no honestly, do not go anywhere near temple bar!
repeat
do not go anywhere near temple bar!! unless you like the smell of vomit and urine!!
hughes!!!
cobblestone!!
ferryman!!
the duke!!
give me a p.m if you happen to be calling to dublin and i will gladly meet you for a pint and go for “tunes”!