Ideas for a holiday in Ireland

[Peasant Phill]

It's very likely I'll add the Irish flag to my collection in my sig of places where I've been or lived as my girlfriend and I are planning to go on a vacation to Ireland.

I've gone through some leaflets of the Irish service of tourism but so far there's nothing that really catches my eye (it could have something to do with the leaflet itself).
My GF and I are both 23 and are quite active (no beach holiday for us). So we're looking for a good mix between sightseeing (cultural/historical/amusement) and activities. We'll probably be staying in youth hostels and have no problem with moving around as long as it doesn't become trip through Ireland (as least a few days in every place).

I know some on the .Org are Irish and others have visited Ireland. If any of you have some great ideas or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.

[Beirut]

Visit the Bushmills distillery.

[Bijo]

I'm not Irish, but have a suggestion or two:

(1) Get yerself som stout.
(2) Go to 1 again ;)

[Tribesman]

My GF and I are both 23 and are quite active (no beach holiday for us)

no beach holiday
We have some of the best waves in Europe

Anyhow , for "activities" can you be more specific , you can get most ...well apart from skiing and camel trekking .

[Strike For The South]

1.Drink
2.Repeat

and so on etc.

[HoreTore]

no beach holiday
We have some of the best waves in Europe

Anyhow , for "activities" can you be more specific , you can get most ...well apart from skiing and camel trekking .

There are surfers in Ireland?

[Peasant Phill]

no beach holiday
We have some of the best waves in Europe

By no beach holiday, I meant that a whole vacation tanning on some beach or pool just isn't for us. I would love to go surfing (I have windsurfed once) or another water activity but just not the whole two weeks. Are there other things us toerists can do on the Irish beaches and sea?

Anyhow , for "activities" can you be more specific , you can get most ...well apart from skiing and camel trekking .

What, no camel riding? As a fellow orgah I'm disgusted.
As for activities: things that are typical for Ireland like road bowling (apparently quite similar to the Dutch klootschieten) or just great fun.

[Tribesman]

By no beach holiday, I meant that a whole vacation tanning on some beach or pool just isn't for us.

Well tanning on the beach might be a problem due to it being Ireland and it having that thing called Irish weather .

I would love to go surfing (I have windsurfed once) or another water activity but just not the whole two weeks. Are there other things us toerists can do on the Irish beaches and sea?

You name it they got it , surfing wind/kite surfing ,sailing , scuba , land yachting, beach riding (horses not camels) , cliff diving , swimming with dolphins.....
Try the irish tourist board website ,apparently they are really pushing the "activity/adventure" side for visitors this year , rather than the come to Ireland it has lots of pubs side of things .
http://www.ireland.ie/Result/Activit...y=1&thisPage=1
BTW road bowling is mainly confined to the South West .
One thing though , Dublin , its just an expensive smaller version of London with a different accent , but without as many attractions or a decent transport system .

We'll probably be staying in youth hostels

Good choice .

There are surfers in Ireland?

Where theres a wave theres a........

[I of the Storm]

I did a one month backpacker Ireland trip a couple of years ago. Stayed in hostels, took the bus to get to next town and travelled clockwise through Ireland.

I can't help you on activities but if it's the country you'd like to see simply do as I did. The most rewarding activity to do in Ireland would be hiking/cycling anyway. After an initial stay in Dublin (including a trip to Drogheda/Monasterboice - quite an adventure without a car...) of 3 days we went to the wicklow mountains, which would make a very nice hiking ground. Make sure to find some local guide, go see Glendalough and have the guy show you Lough Tay (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fryd/22...7594244365990/from the proper spot. If you want people and a good tourist infrastructure around, then go to Killarney and Ring of Kerry, if you want quieter spots go to the Ring of Beara just next to it. Good hiking opportunities there also.

Dingle is nice too, good for cycling, the Doolin/Cliffs of Moher area should not be missed, Galway is a very nice city too. Good pubs there and nice people.

The place I liked the most was Donegal and the village of Glencolumbcille (sp?). Very old, very small and very lovely. Go and climb the Sliabh Liag (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ca...gue?uselang=de) while you're there.

Finally I went to Eniskillen and Armagh (not much to see in both but the countryside is nice) and another beach town (for recovery) I forgot the name of, and then back to Dublin.

I'd say this is quite a good tour to get a good impression of this beautiful island.

Make sure to bring some money. I was surprised how expensive everything is. I think Ireland is one of the most expensive countries in the EC (~25% higher prices than in Germany).

Good luck.

[Peasant Phill]

Thanks I of the storm, I was afraid no one else would post.

[I of the Storm]

You're welcome. Have fun!