Trip to Ireland

I will be in Ireland from February 22nd thru March 3rd. I will post trip updates and pictures here from time to time.

Update 26 Feb 2007 Location Galway

Very busy weekend in Dublin -- here are where pictures will be posted

Biggest event of the weekend was the Ireland v England rugby match on saturday -- it was something to experience. I can barely describe how amazing it was. I spent the weekend in Dublin and I am now in Galway till Wednesday morning.

Update: 27 Feb 2007 Location Galway

The weather today in Galway is miserable. Worst yet of the trip. High winds and lots of rain. However the full Irish breakfast at the B&B i'm staying at was more than enough to keep you warm throughout the day. Fabulous meal consisting of ham/bacon, 3 different kinds of sausages, eggs, irish yogurt, mushrooms, tomatoes, 4 different kinds of bread, fruit and oj. I was stuffed. I spent the rest of the day trekking around the shopping/oldtown area. Some things here are reasonably priced... somethings are very expensive. Pints are usually 3.50 to 4 euros, and you don't tip so there are about the same as the U.S. CD's are typically 20 euros, or around $26-$27 each. I'm heading back into town soon to find a good place to eat. I spotted some several places with traditional irish dishes on their menus so I'll pick of them. Then i'm meeting up with some people my friend knows after that.

Update: 28 Feb 2007 Location Tipperary Town

After another plentiful Irish breakfast i headed out torward Limerick. This only took about 1 1/2 hours and i found the main city center. I did not care for Limerick at all. It was a dirtier downtown, shoppes and such but no real "oldtown" area with character. There were few pubs, restaurants and no real decent places to stay. I spent about 2 hours there and then i continued west toward Waterford. About another hour i hit this very small town of Tipperary. This was exactly the kind of place I was looking for. Tucked in the mountains/hills it is beautiful. The B&B I chose to stay at was the friendliest and nicest so far, and also the cheapest at just 35 euro. It is an historic Georgian building which has acted as an hotel since 1847. There is a supermarket around the corner, and the new Excel Center just up the hill (shown in my photos) that offers a choice of cinema or theater by nice integrated with a wireless internet pub/cafe. I post from there tonight. He also welcomed me tonight at his next door place for a night of traditional irish music. Start's at 10 pm. There is some good hiking nearby and a castle (The Rock of Cashel) so i think i will plan on being here 2 nights. The B&B gentlemen said on thursday nights there is a big Irish music performance at the oldest pub in town. I'll get directions from him tomorrow.

On another note -- i was going to go for another run this morning before i left Galway but it was monsoon conditions. So i ate my Irish breakfast and packeted and headed out. Here in Tipperary it's still cool cloudy and rainy but not the huge winds. Probably because it's mostly tucked away in a valley.

And a second note -- the high speed round-a-bouts are brilliant. On the other hand the 120 km/hr narrow roads with ZERO curb area are nerve racking.

Update: holy crap the traditional irish music was a cheesy band doing lawrence welk, and the place full of senior people dancing together. It'a all good but I drank my cider as quick as possible and headed over to the other side of the B&B .. the pub end and ended up staying up till 3 will some more wonderful irish folks.

Update: 1 Mar 2007

Today i traveled back to the west coast to Kilrush and Killamer (photos posted). The drive was about 2 hours each way and finally a day with lots of sunshine. The scenery was beautiful and the drive fun. These narrow windy roads make you feel more like you are doing 80 mph than 67. I stopped at this place that claims to be the worlds oldest family own pub/restaraunt for lunch. Had strogonoff on rice and it was very good. They also claim to be home of Nanny O'deas whiskey egg flip. Whatever that exactly is i don't know but sounds good for a breakfast sometime. I got back into Tipperary Town around 6pm later in the evening i met back up with people i'd met the night before at the B&B's pub. Another late night and a good sleep in the next day.

Update 2 Mar 2007

Drove back to Dublin today. More sunshine and rain mixed. Met back up with a friend i met last week and he took me out with some friends of his to a pub in Blanchardstown Village. My flight is 6:50am tomorrow back.