Ireland

I have now been to Ireland 4 times, and I must say, I have fallen in love with the place. There are lots of good travel books and sites out there that list better general info than I can. The Lonely planet website is a good place to look for such things. But I am going to use this page to give you some insite into the places that perhaps don't make it into the guidebooks.

Dublin

Wexford

Cork

Dingle

Doolin

I first went to Doolin for the linuxbierwanderung in 2002. I had decided to go by bike, and having got a ferry to cork, I then had the 140 mile bike ride from cork to Doolin. Needless to say, the ride was not easy, with a bike weighed down with as much kit as I weigh, it took me 16 hours. But I made it. The interesting part happened as I was getting very close to Doolin. Infact, very close. I had just left Ennistymon, heading north on the N67, before taking the R478 West into Doolin, thus bypassing the climb over the Cliffs of Moher. Well that was the plan. Then there is what happened.

Having been on the road for many hours, my blood sugar was running very low. And with the end in site, just a few more miles. I was eager to get there. Perhaps to eager. I ended up turning left to early. Coming in south of the Cliffs of Moher, just north of Lahinch. Doh. At this point, I stopped and asked directions. To which I was given a response which I think sums up doolin perfectly.:

Doolin isn't so much a place, more a state of mind

And the random helpful irishman walked off. Eventually, I got the hang of the route, and following a 800ft ascent in under a mile, and the same sort of discent (in the dark, in the rain). I arrived in Doolin. To this day, I remember what I saw that night, as I cycled down the hill, into the valley. The scattering of low buildings, a few with lights on, a few with smoke visable from chimneys, a pub (O'Conners). It was beautiful.

Having arrived in Doolin, I saw what the random helpful irishman had meant. Doolin really is a state of mind.

The village is really centered upon 3 pubs. Its population spread out over quite a wide area, with cottages dotted all over the place. But Doolins main trades are two things, Music, and Tourism. Located just south of the Burren, Doolin is ideally suited as a base for hiking. But it goes further, many regard Doolin as the home of irish music, and if irish music is you thing, Doolin is the place for you. Every night, all three pubs have live music, whether its a planned group there, or just a few strangers "jamming" together, you wont be dissappointed.

As you might expect from such a destination, the clientel of the pubs is quiet a mix, you have as much chance of chatting to a local, as a german, or americian. This is even moreso in the hostels.

A couple of times I have stayed in the Aille River Hostel, which is a nice homely place, with a roaring wood fire in winter, and a welcoming patio by the river for summer. I have fond memories of sitting with an Israelly, a German, an Americian, and me, (a brit) sharing a drink or 3, with one of them playing songs on the guitar, and us all singing where we could. Its something I haven't expereinced in any other hostel I have been in.

Ennistymon

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This page last modified Saturday, 02-Dec-2006 01:21:56 CET.