Where to go in Ireland for a week?

Since Waterford is south of Dublin and the other places you mention are to the north, you might consider dropping Waterford unless you have a specific reason for going. There's lots of history to be had in Meath, Westmeath (Battle of the Boyne, Newgrange, Hill of Tara), and then north into Ulster.

thanks so much! i wrote your spots down and will continue to research.

As a historian, you'll surely realise that history is in the past. Have you been to Ireland before? What if 'modernity' was Ireland's present and 'authentic charm' its past? Then again, what if the authentic charm you allude to never really existed in the way you imagine but was actually an invention of certain films (The Quiet Man etc...), postcard companies (John Hinde) and, jumping on the bandwagon, Ireland's tourist promotion agencies (the former Bord Failte in particular)? What do you really expect to find and how will you feel if or when you don't actually find it?

There's a maxim I'll take some credit for coining that I use when I meet people on my own travels who haven't been to Ireland and get a little misty eyed over a beer or two at the prospect of coming here: 'Come to want what you find, not to find what you want.'

The reality is, of course, that if you want picturesque small towns and villages, you'll definitely find them. The chances are that if you go for a drink in a local pub in the evening, you will meet a character or two - although the chances are they won't be waxing lyrical with poetry, but rather coming out with the same nonsense we all do after a few too many! It'll be fun, if not particularly romantic! Ireland remains a country of real charm but I think you need to be more realistic than your post comes across.

What the quaint postcards of the past never conveyed was the grinding poverty and stunted development of many rural and even urban areas. This was a country that couldn't support its people and the chances are that the bucolic peasants you saw in the postcard imagery were either the eldest children given the inheritance whilst the others had little choice but to emigrate, or the most stupid or lacking in initiative who simply didn't have what it took to go and seek their fortune in more prosperous lands.

Visiting Ireland in 2009, you will, unfortunately, meet people deeply concerned for their future as the global economic downturn hits hard. Some projections speak of a contraction of 4.6% over the year. What they will be seeking is a return to prosperity as quickly as possible, not a return to a deeply sad, however quaint, backward Ireland of old. Since you want to interact with local people when here, maybe the first thing you need to realise is that these people are not living in a museum for your benefit but rather living lives of hopes and aspirations but also fears. Being on their wavelength would help if you want to have fruitful discussions with them.

Jeez, barry, that's a bit heavy, isn't it? The OP is only asking for a bit of travel information. I don't disagree with your analysis at all, but do you really think it was necessary or appropriate here?

I'd a feeling someone might reply to me in that vein. You know, there was a time, before changes to the site drove a lot of regular posters away, when the Ireland forum was a place where straight talking was commonplace. Now, it seems we have to tread on eggshells...

I mean no disrespect whatever to the OP. Indeed, it is because the OP is a learned person, a history teacher, that I wanted to test one or two of the assumptions in his/her post. The OP mentions a couple of things - a desire to escape from modern Ireland and a wish to experience some sort of measurable authentic charm. Taken at face value, such a journey risks ending in disappointment to a greater or lesser degree. Moreover, one runs the risk of actually missing out on the real Ireland because it doesn't match up to what was sought or desired.

The next thing is the commonly expressed desire to interact with local people. I don't know where you're from Joe, but you obviously know Ireland well. The problem is - and I want to tread carefully here to avoid causing personal offence - that tourists who express similar desires to the OP can often come across as rather condescending towards the 'natives' they encounter. The Irish are well used to tourists and the more sincere and down to earth you are, the better your chances. We don't like feeling as if we're undergoing some sort of anthropological analysis and I might say that some American tourists do give that impression. By the way, OP, I've no idea where you're from!:)

Now, with fences hopefully mended but, at the same time of the view that there was a place for my contribution, I'm off to bed!

I think the answer to your question is more about approach than itineraries. You say that you want to be able to take in as much scenery, villages, pubs and mingling with the locals as you can while you're there. Well, you won't have time to do that if you're going to go rushing from place to place. Meeting people, visiting villages and appreciating scenery can't be done when you're rushing around meeting deadlines.

By the way, contrary to popular images, the Irish people aren't waiting on the edge of their seats, hoping that a friendly stranger is going to walk through the pub door and strike up a conversation. That's part of the myth that barryhennessy is talking about, although I accept that it also depends on what you mean by "mingle. If you just want to share the same social space, fine, that's easy. If you want to get into genuine conversations with people, you'll have to slow down and stop dashing all over the island. A lot of Irish people are gregarious and friendly but, as is the case anywhere, they've got better things to do than indulge perfect strangers.

One piece of advice though. When you're in Northern Ireland, be careful about initiating, or participating in, discussions about politics, religion and The Troubles.

About 8 years ago, a German friend and I drove around the whole of Ireland. It was hard work.

My advice is to have no plan, spend a few days in Dublin, get in a car and just head into the country (stay away from large towns). Go into any local pub and start up a conversation and you'll be greeted with a friendly heart. Just be ready to take some piss taking, and be able to give it back. If you have Irish ancestory, keep it to yourself. No one is interested.

p.s. You'll find that in most villages now the favoured vehicle of choice is some sort of black windowed 4-wheel drive. Although, they'll be traded in less often now for newer models as the recession kicks in.

I am also planning a trip at the beginning of March. I am curious about the weather for the first couple weeks of the month. I can handle cold weather, however I would prefer not to travel when it is constantly raining. Will I run into this during this time? Thanks.