Shamrock Diaries

[mariesnowgoose]

Heading off to Ireland again this year from mid-April.

Over to Mayo at the start for a week housesitting, then take off after for 3+ weeks to the South West to visit my grandfather's stomping grounds in County Kerry (but that will hopefully just be a small part of the journey).

I want to stay in Ireland a lot longer this time and make a proper extended trip, which was my original intention last year, but Neil is not so keen... he's much more a home bod and creature of routine than I am.

We'll see. I'm booking flexi return ferry tickets again. If he wants to come back earlier and I want to stay on and do more travelling, it's easy enough to drop him off at a train station (or airport) and he can make his own way back.

He tells me 5 weeks is a long time to be away.
My reply is that 5 weeks is a mere blip when you're a long time dead.
And you can't make a trip to anywhere once you've snuffed it!

 

[izwozral]

Long trips are great, you get a better feel for the place, the people, the culture, the food.
Friends of ours have done hundreds of tick box holidays, all they tell us about is how sandy the beaches and how expensive or cheap the booze is.
Whatever floats your boat I guess but there is much more out there to enjoy.

 

[Debroos]

Before covid we would go to Ireland most years. We always stayed a couple of months and were nowhere near ready to return til then...and have never regretted it either

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I need a decent size country for long trips as I can't enjoy the towns much, most are actually not disabled friendly, so driving is my pleasure mostly, but even that is now painful, need an automatic, then I'll be fine again, Liz's limit so far has been 6 weeks, I'm just getting into it then and would stay the full 90 days no problem.

 

[barryd]

Its a bit awkward when one of you wants to be away for a long trip and the other doesn't. I agree with you Marie, five weeks is a mere blip. You're a long time looking at the lid as they say but if he don't want to do it then go for it on your own I reckon.

 

[Debroos]

Ireland is one of the few places I would feel really confident travelling on my own. Maybe a bit less in the east....

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'll not go without Liz, what's the point?

 

[mark61]

Done a few trips alone, but more part trips on my own. Much prefer the them leaving earlier option than me leaving alone and then picking them up at an airport or where ever. Much easier to drop people off than pick them up.

Aren't Flexi tickets a fair bit more £? Haven't booked a return ticket for years.

 

[alcam]

Ireland is one of the few places I would feel really confident travelling on my own. Maybe a bit less in the east....

The sunny south east ! Some beautiful places there

 

[barryd]

I'll not go without Liz, what's the point?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yeah right dream On Barry

 

[barryd]

Yeah right dream On Barry

Get a Swift and a Honda Biff Chariot Kev and you don't need to dream!

 

[alcam]

So , if still on topic , we have Marie , Liz and Mrs Barry ? Not necessarily in that order

 

[Debroos]

The sunny south east ! Some beautiful places there

I meant more around Dublin and more populous areas. Yes the sunny south east is nice but imho not a patch on the west.
Going inland is good though for less touristy areas

 

[marchie]

Heading off to Ireland again this year from mid-April.

Over to Mayo at the start for a week housesitting, then take off after for 3+ weeks to the South West to visit my grandfather's stomping grounds in County Kerry (but that will hopefully just be a small part of the journey).

I want to stay in Ireland a lot longer this time and make a proper extended trip, which was my original intention last year, but Neil is not so keen... he's much more a home bod and creature of routine than I am.

We'll see. I'm booking flexi return ferry tickets again. If he wants to come back earlier and I want to stay on and do more travelling, it's easy enough to drop him off at a train station (or airport) and he can make his own way back.

He tells me 5 weeks is a long time to be away.
My reply is that 5 weeks is a mere blip when you're a long time dead.
And you can't make a trip to anywhere once you've snuffed it!

Or, as a Nun once said to me in the early 1980s, 'Aah, yer a lang time under der sod'

Steve

 

[Robmac]

Get a Swift and a Honda Biff Chariot Kev and you don't need to dream!

Seriously thinking about the 350 Biff Chariot now Barry.

 

[Pauljenny]

The local wildcampers are a great bunch and a source of wisdom, where to go, where not to go, and upcoming events.
Then there's @trevskoda .
So generous with his advice and liable to down tools and join you.
Wild Atlantic Way, is a must do.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

The only issue we had in Oirland, was 6kg gas and refillable places

 

[barryd]

Seriously thinking about the 350 Biff Chariot now Barry.

I don't think its cute enough to attract the "chicks" though Rob.

 

[Robmac]

The only issue we had in Oirland, was 6kg gas and refillable places

Many years ago we went on the Shannon-Erne waterway on a Dutch Barge and everywhere we stopped the same kids appeared on their bikes. As soon as we stopped anywhere and walked into a village they would make towards the boat so we had to go back in case they broke in, the last thing we wanted was any trouble in the Border country so we just walked back and they scattered.

After a while we decided to lose them by making a long all day trip and they got tired of trying to follow us. When we returned the hire boat the operator went mad when we told him, he said we did right not to have a go at them and that we should have 'phoned him and he would have sorted it.