Ireland Weekend Trips?

Hannah,

I recently posted this on a previous thread about Dublin, it is a list of free things you can do in the city.

GPO - The headquarters of our Patriots during our 1916 uprising, it was entirely gutted but thankfully restored during the 1920s. It is now a fully working post office (GPO, stands for General Post Office) so you are totally free to walk around. The exterior is beautiful and the imposing columns still have bullet holds from the uprising. For keen photographers, if you stand in the middle of O' Connell Street beside the Jim Larkin statue, you can take a great portrait shot of both the GPO and The Spire (you will have to crouch to take it), old and new together, a wonderful shot. I've been able to get the whole Spire in the shot. Located in the City centre in Dublin 1.

Garden of Remembrance - This beautiful garden in the heart of the city is dedicated to the memory of all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom. The large sculpture is based on the theme of the "Children of Lir". The garden is intended as a place of quiet remembrance and reflection. Located in Dublin city centre, Dublin 1

Hugh Lane Gallery - The Hugh Lane Gallery is funded by Dublin Corporation, houses one of Ireland's foremost collections of modern and contemporary art. The original collection, donated by the Gallery's founder Sir Hugh Lane, has now grown to include almost 2000 artworks, ranging from the Impressionist masterpieces of Manet, Monet, Renoir and Degas to works by leading national and international contemporary artists. The Gallery also stages historical and retrospective exhibitions, particularly of Irish art. Located at Parnell Square North in Dublin City Centre, Dublin 1

St. Mary's Abbey - St. Mary's Abbey is one of Dublin's best-kept secrets. It was once the wealthiest Cistercian Abbey in Ireland. Today only two rooms remain - the Chapter House and the Slype. Located in the city centre in Dublin 1

Georgian Dublin - Walk around the beautiful square of Merrion and Fitzwilliam and admire the absolutely beautiful Georgian houses around this area and shudder to think what would have replaced these if the governments of the 1950s had actually torn these down as they wanted. Still one of the wealthiest parts of Dublin the houses are now mainly offices for accountant, solicitors etc, if I won the Euro millions, it would be my ideal area of Dublin to live. If only walls could talk. I find this historical area of Dublin fascinating. There are also beautiful Georgian buildings on the north side of the city but the ones on the south side are more visited. Located on both the north and south sides on the River Liffey in Dublin 1 & 2

Merrion Square Park - Lesser known and more tranquil than it's sister park St. Stephen's Green. It is my favourite green area of Dublin city, always peaceful, calm and beautiful. At the corner of the park is a statue of Oscar Wilde who was born directly opposite at Merrion Square West; you will always find a number of tourists in the park at his statue. Located in the city centre in Dublin 2.

The Iveagh Gardens - The Iveagh Gardens are among the finest and least known of Dublin's parks and gardens. Located in the city centre in Dublin 2

Government Buildings - The imposing complex of Government Buildings on Upper Merrion Street was undertaken by the British administration in Ireland.. Fortuitously, the complex was completed in March 1922, and was available immediately to be occupied by the new Irish Free State government. Admission is free and tickets can be obtained from the National Gallery. Located in the city centre in Dublin 2

National Gallery of Ireland - The National Gallery of Ireland houses the national collection of Irish art and European master paintings. Admission to the permanent collection is free. Located in the city centre in Dublin 2

National (History) Museum - The National Museum of Ireland - is the national repository for all archaeological objects found in Ireland and home to over two million artefacts. The archaeological collection is the primary repository of ancient Irish artefacts and an indispensable source for researchers into the development of Irish civilization from prehistoric times until the end of the Middle Ages and beyond. The period covered by the exhibitions extends from the Mesolithic through to the end of the medieval period, and includes internationally known treasures such as the Ardagh Chalice, 'Tara' Brooch and Derrynaflan Hoard. Located in the city centre in Dublin 2.

Arbour Hill Cemetery - The military cemetery at Arbour Hill is the last resting place of 14 of the executed leaders of the insurrection of 1916. Among those buried there are Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and Major John Mc Bride. Located at the rear of the National Museum of Ireland about 1.5km from the city centre in Dublin 7

National (History) Museum - Decorative Arts & History Collins Barracks. This branch of the National Museum of Ireland displays houses fine examples of silver, ceramics, glassware, weaponry, furniture, Folklife, clothing, jewellery, coins and medals. All of these are displayed with imagination in innovative and contemporary galleries, which entice you to go further, look harder and examine more closely. Located in the city centre in Dublin 7

Aras an Uachtarain - Residence of the President of Ireland. Admission is free and ickets are issued at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre only on the day, on a first-come, first-served basis. - Located in the Phoenix Park a few km from the city centre in Dublin 8

Royal Hospital Kilmainham - The Irish Museum of Modern Art, in collaboration with the Office of Public Works, presents the magnificent 17th century Royal Hospital. Located 3km from the city centre in Dublin 8

St. Audoen's Church - Sited in the heart of the walled medieval city, St Audoen's Church is the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin. Located in the city centre in Dublin 8

War Memorial Gardens - These gardens are dedicated to the memory of 49,400 Irish soldiers who died in the 1914-1918 war. The names of all the soldiers are contained in the beautifully illustrated Harry Clarke manuscripts in the granite bookrooms in the gardens. Located in Islandbridge in Dublin 8

National Botanic Gardens - The National Botanic Gardens is noted for its fine plant collections holding over 15,000 plant species and cultivars from a variety of habitats from all around the world. Famous for its exquisitely restored and planted glasshouses. About 3.5km north of the city centre in Glasnevin, Dublin 9

Farmleigh - Farmleigh is an estate of 78 acres situated to the north-west of Dublin's Phoenix Park. Developed in order to provide accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation, for high level Government meetings and for enjoyment by the public. Farmleigh remains a unique representation of its heyday, the Edwardian period. Located in the Phoenix Park a few km from the city centre in Dublin 15.

Enjoy!

If your interested in adventure activities check out the book "30 Irish Adventures" by Padraic Woods. There's 30 different adventure activities spread throughout Ireland featured in the book, the website www.30irishadventures.com also gives tips on other adventure activities worth checking out.

Don't miss a trip to Galway.Make it a weekend.Great atmosphere.

I've only just spotted this thread. I know Cape Clear well. Are you still reading the replies you're getting before I start writing?

Still reading!
I check lonelyplanet all the time, as I'm still planning my trip.

One of the lovely things about Cape Clear is its isolation out there off the SW tip of Ireland. The rugged scenery is magnificent, the Atlantic ocean can be breathtaking (literally so sometimes) and you'll have some great nights listening to traditional music in the island's three pubs and having a chat with the locals. You might even pick up some Irish (Gaelic) while you're there - the language is very much alive and kicking on the island. As you may know, there is no police officer on the island: no need for one - there's no crime. That might change, of course, if there was a sudden influx of tourists but I can't see that happening. It certainly hasn't happened in the 20 years or so that I've been going to the island.

However, that very isolation makes it a very poor departure point for somewhere like Belfast. You'll be really hard pressed to make that kind of weekend trip from Cape Clear and I can't see you doing it, certainly not to Belfast anyway. It's just too time-consuming. Ireland may look small on the map but the journey times can be deceptively long.

The ferry from Cape Clear to Baltimore takes about 45 minutes, that's if it hasn't been cancelled because of high winds. As you can see from the timetable there are only two crossings each way in March-April.

Then you have to find a bus from Baltimore to Cork and there are only a very small handful of those every day. The journey takes almost 2.5 hours and you may have to wait around for an hour or two in Baltimore for it to arrive. You might even need to change buses in Skibereen. Then, of course, you've got to get from Cork to Dublin (another 4.5 hours) and then on to your final destination.

Of course, all of this is possibly feasible if the connections work out, of course, but you'll spend a whole, long day doing it, and that's just one way. That's why I can't see you doing it.

On the other hand, you can do some wonderful 'micro-exploring' in that part of West Cork, especially if you don't mind sticking your thumb out at the side of the road, something that young locals do all the time. But that's not answering your question. However, you'll always need to be back in Baltimore in time for that last ferry at 4.00 p.m. (16.00) unless you're going to spend the night somewhere. Baltimore itself is tremendous fun, especially in the Algiers Inn at weekends, so try to find a contact there who can put you up for the night. I'm sure your homestay will know someone.

Get some good boots before you get on that ferry for the first time: you'll love the walking around the island, especially when you get a sudden view from the top of a cliff. You'll have a great laugh when you see the state of the cars on the island. Held together with bits of wire and rope and no headlights. Cars on Cape Clear Island aren’t subject to taxes or inspections for roadworthiness. That's because the cars generally don’t leave the island (they have to be hoisted onto a ferry) and they only do just a few miles a week. There's a kind of lawlessness about Cape Clear but it's a lovely, embracing kind of lawlessness - the absence of any need for laws.

It has just occured to me that you might just catch the beginning of the whale migration while you're on Cape Clear: they pass right by the island and are visible even to the naked eye. The people at the permanently staffed bird observatory near the North Harbour will be able to give you more information and might even loan you some binoculars or a telescope.

Minke whales are the first to arrive, they start arriving in May. There are also resident populations of dolphins and porpoises which you may see in or near the island's harbour and which I've seen several times from the ferry. Very occasionally you can see killer whales (a.k.a. Orca). Any one of the island's 120 residents will point you in the right direction.

If you see people getting off the ferry carrying musical instruments, cancel any arrangements that you have for that night that don't involve going to the pub!

Thanks for your PM. You're going to have the experience of a lifetime.