Just Back From Ireland

Anyone here live in Ireland? The trip was a total success. I would go again. The country side reminds me of eastern Pa. where I live now with a few minor exceptions. I haven't heard that many musicians in such a short amount of time in my entire life and they were all GOOD musicians. We ended up at the Galway Music Festival for two days in addition to all the other places we visited.,music was everywhere.
 
There were a few odd things. As a general rule there were no large pickup trucks usually driven here by the country folks. I guess that makes sense as gas there is four times as expensive as it is here. It would cost almost 300 euro to fill one of those there. The roads are small( about half as wide as ours) and if you run off the road there's really no place to go...no emergency lanes.We were on a bus with a very good but crazy driver and on a few occasions I know there was only maybe a half inch between us and a bus going the other way....and every one seemed to be driving on the wrong side of the road ;)
 
In our motels, the toilets were square and some of them had two valves which I wasn't familiar with. They both seemed to flush the thing.I did remove the back cover to see how it worked. Us ignorant tourists.They seem to live a bit more simply in the countryside, I didn't see many Mc mansions, but they build houses to last...usually masonry walls and ceramic or slate shingles.The transportation systems are all very good. The cities of Dublin, Galway and Limerick all had tons of lively pubs and I do mean TONS. I think there must be more pubs in those three cities than the rest of the world.Here we call,them bars and we don't have nearly as many. Here along the east coast I look up when I hear anything other than English spoken. Over there I heard as much French,Polish,German and Russian in the city as I did local Irish..
 
Just for the fun of it I went into a grocery store to see if it was much different. As expected there were many different brands I didn't recognize. Prices seemed a bit higher even in euros. The girl at the checkout just looked at me after she checked me out. I'm accustomed to having my groceries bagged for me and our bags are free. She informed me that I needed to buy a bag. , so I spent .22 on a bag....just different. 
 
The castles and the cliffs of Moore were amazing though as was everything else.The people were great there. The main thing now is adapting to a 5 hour time difference.

I would be happy just to venture away from the river! Glad to hear you had a great time. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I hope there are pictures!

Hi Tim, 
 
I was fortunate enough to have started a business over in Shannon in early 2000.  I was the Director of Finance and Human Resources and flew over once a year for several years.  The people were wonderful.  I loved the countryside in Galway.  There is a cave down there from Shannon called the Cave Bear.  Limerick was incredible with all the little shops and brightly colored doors everywhere. You nailed it on the roads.  Going to the Cliffs of Moore was harrowing - glad I was not driving.  
Had a too many pints at Dirty Nelly's Pub (oldest pub in Ireland they told me?) by the Shannon River next to the Bunratty Castle.  
 
I happy to hear that music abounds.  It is such a magical place. 
 
Jimmy
 
 

I went to London in 2010. Met up Straummy and Jonbouy (and The Mermaid too). Saw the Henge of Stine to. I'm just a wee bit older than that so it ws refreshing to see.
 
I already posted pics so everyone knows it happuned.

The Mermaid too
 
What Mermaid?

sweet, Tim!  I saw some of your pics on FB.  sounds like a great trip!
 
 

"page not found".
Bummer.
Sounds like it was a great trip though. Glad you had a good time.