My wife and I would like to see Ireland, maybe spend a couple of weeks there. I’m sure there are threads on this subject, but my search gave nearly 4000 results and after reading for 30 minutes I found no useful info.
Package vacation deals all read about the same with several variations depending on your length of stay. But I find nothing in any of them about ITM or where to go to hear the music. It seems to me that you would be confined to staying with the tour group as they travel around Ireland visiting points of interest. We’re not so sure that this is what we want to do.
Anybody on C&F been there on vacation? Any information/advice/insight would be greatly appreciated.
When we went over for a visit we rented a car and booked farmhouses (a type of bed and breakfast) ahead of time after we decided where we wanted to go. We were not looking for music at the time we wanted to see the sights. We spent a few days in Dublin at a Comfort Inn and toured the city. The rest of the time we spent in the west, Cork, Clare, Galway, Limerick, etc. I wanted to go to Kilmeedy in Limerick because I believe it is the town were my ggmother was born. We had a great time everywhere we went. The people were wonderful to us giving us info on great places to eat, etc. If you ask people where the music is they will let you know. Be sure you tell them you want to visit real sessions and not the ones staged for tourists. Whatever you do you will have a great time. BTW be sure to take a jacket.
Galway is a great base for music every night and day trips elsewhere. You can plan a trip where you’ll always catch music, too. Dublin would have music every night somewhere. Ennis (check with Custys) would have music. After those few places with music every night, one has to plan and coordinate. Matt Molloys Pub in Westport, Co Mayo has music every night. Doolin, Miltown Malbay, Dingle - all would have music on certain nights. There is music all over but not necessarily every night of the week.
For new places, tours are a good way to get the lay of the land, see the historical and cultural high points, and discover the areas where you want to spend more time on future trips. They are not good if your focus is on one particular facet like music. My wife and I like to take tours first, then go back to the places we found most interesting and just “hang out” for awhile to relax and better absorb the culture. In Ireland, you’ll find music every place you go, though it might not always be ITM, but then that is part of the culture of today. However you go, you’ll have a great time and meet a lot of warm friendly people. Just don’t say you’re a fan of Oliver Cromwell.
stay off the tour bus!! - as above Doolin in Clare, West Coast, stay away from the touristy events although again these can be a laugh. we have been to Ireland a few times now, alway great folk, great music . just ask the locals you’ll not go far wrong. we have found ITM all up the west coast from south to north and also in NI too.Derry, Belfast As for all holidays - stay away from the packaged deal and off the tour bus and find your own pace and places - envy you. Find out about festivals, Doolin, Kilorglin, Dungloe. Have a good un. You need time,space and flexibility don’t get a schedule Ireland soon makes a nonsense of any itineray
We went a few years ago. We went through a company called emerald isle, (or someting like that.) It included the airfare, car rental and vouchers for B & B’s. We had a blast. Unfortunatley I had not been bitten hugley by the whistle bug, so I really didn’t search out music. We had great meals, meet some fantastic people, saw a great deal. I would love to go back now and see some music.
Tour itineraries are handy for hitting the highlights but not for music.
One other consideration is to add on a train trip or two to your vacation. Nice way to see the country without the pressure of driving. Train stations always leave you dead center in the city, too.
You can also fly in to Dublin and fly home from Shannon or any combination that works for you. Fly to Shannon, bus to Galway (base there) and maybe day trip to Aran Islands, train to Dublin, train to Waterford or Cork (if Cork get a car for Kerry), train to Dublin and fly home. Cars are expensive so finding a way to lower that cost and insert train/base time might be nice.
Stay off the tour buses unless you’re REALLY challenged about driving on the other side. It isn’t hard to learn.
Get a few guide books and read through them. Don’t be wedded to an itinerary. Get a Very Good Map. Get two or three different ones. Be willing to get lost, talk to strangers, and stop in itty bitty villages for directions. Talk to the person behind the bar about music…if there is a session in town they’ll probably know about it.
There are very nice B&Bs all over Ireland, and some VERY upscale ones. We booked some awesome nights through a group called Hidden Ireland (www.hidden-ireland.com I think), my favorite being Temple House in Co. Sligo where Sandy knows where to find good music.
my m-i-l lived in county Sligo (in Calooney (sp?)), so we had a base camp per se…we did not have much of an itinerary, but if we liked where we were, and came upon a b&b, we would stay the night..only 1 time was this inconvenient…we always asked to see the room afore, and were most accommodated…we stayed on the west coast between Donegal and the airport…everybody was very nice and really gracious…the epitomy of a host (ess) country…hope you have a great trip…
Think about visiting somewhat off-season (research the weather, though) and/or visit places off the tour-bus track. The northwest (Sligo, Donegal, etc) is strikingly beautiful and full of things to do and see (including music). We spent some time there one August (high season) and saw very few other tourists. Perhaps in part because of this, we had a lovely time meeting lots of people and experiencing the area on its own terms. We spent the bulk of our time based in Co. Sligo and surroundings, and as a result that area feels a bit like “home,” as we got to know little villages and back routes.
We also spent time in Galway, which was a fun contrast with the more rural feel of the northwest. Daytrips into Clare were nice, too, but the tourist density was quite high.
Consider, also, that there is usually a tremendous amount to see and experience in a small area, so I’d avoid trying to see the whole country in a short time. Do some reading, and find out what region(s) most interest you.
And don’t be too rigid with your itinerary…Ireland is ripe for spontaneous exploration!
I can heartily recommend Ed Millers tours of scotland. Off the beaten track, great food, lovely scenery, music every night and for the fit folks - and I do mean fit, walking through the glens. He is booked for 2006, but if you want 2007 …
