Ireland Tourist Destinations
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Waterford Crystal Factory Tour
If you’re planning a trip to Ireland and you even mention that you’re going anywhere near Waterford, some people will probably start asking you to “pick up a little something” for them. And if you’re not a connoisseur of high-quality glass, you might not understand their eagerness. That is, until you show up in Waterford and find that every other souvenir is made of crystal. Waterford Crystal is famous the world over, so visiting the factory just outside the Waterford city center and taking the factory tour can be a really interesting experience - especially if you’re into crystal.
The Waterford Crystal company was founded in the late 1700s, and today employs roughly 1,000 people. The factory in Waterford is where all the crystal is made, and there is a visitor center as well as the requisite gift shop. But rather than shuttling visitors through displays and diagrams showing how the crystal is created, the factory tour actually gives you a chance to see real artisans at work. In some cases, you can even chat with them and ask questions about their craft as well.
Date: March 26th, 2008 |
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Dingle's Resident Dolphin, Fungie
Visitors to Ireland would be forgiven if they didn’t immediately associate the Emerald Isle with dolphins. But anyone spending time in Dingle would be missing out if they didn’t take a boat out into the harbor and try to catch a glimpse of Fungie, the Dingle Dolphin.
This bottlenose dolphin, nicknamed Fungie by locals, showed up in Dingle Bay in the early 1980s and chose to stay. He’s been a constant fixture ever since, charming fishermen and tourists alike. Fungie, like many dolphins the world over, is playful and curious and often swims alongside tourist and fishing boats. It’s not uncommon to be able to get photos of him leaping out of the water, as he’s a year-round resident of Dingle Harbor.
Date: February 6th, 2008 |
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The old Galway town walls
In today’s expanding Ireland where ancient sites are regularly paved over in the name of progress it’s nice to see some glaring exceptions.
In Galway, anyone building over a known historical site must both accept responsibility for maintaining the site and allow viewing access to the public. One of the more overt instances of this law is the huge Eyre Square shopping centre, built right over the old Galway town walls.
Rather than demolish them, the new shopping centre was built over them, like a giant warehouse. Shoppers entering the Eyre Square centre will stroll past modern glass storefronts and come face to face with the medieval entrance to the city: the old town walls, standing ancient and proud beneath the glass atrium.
Date: September 5th, 2007 |
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Athenry Priory
This is one of those grand old ruins you find almost everywhere in Ireland.
Just next to the river in Athenry town, County Galway are these noble old priory ruins. While one can read the plaques or take a tour to discover the priory was founded in 1241 AD for the Dominicans, making it the first of its kind in Connacht, the abbey has a lesser known significance: Ireland’s first university.
I was snapping photos of the attractive ruins when a gentleman in a tie approached me and asked, “Are you all right?”
Date: July 2nd, 2007 |
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Locke's Whiskey Distillery, Kilbeggan
I can’t say enough about this place.
A lot of visitors to Ireland stop into the Jameson Distillery (where whiskey is no longer made) in Dublin. Some go down to Cork or up to Belfast to see the Middleton Distilleries (where whiskey is still made). Many people also drive from Dublin out to Galway and blow right past the best distillery tour in Ireland: Locke’s Distillery in Kilbeggan.
When prohibition came into fashion in the states, the Irish whiskey market felt its death knell. It had been battered for years, but ultimately what happened was, without demand and the economy in ruins, all of Ireland’s distillers went out of business and shut down their distilleries (except Middletons, which manufactured all Irish whiskey at one of its two plants until Cooley opened for business in 1987).
Kilbeggan is one of these places that died and was forgotten.
Date: February 17th, 2007 |
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Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle is one of the more popular castles to visit in Ireland, not least because it’s been completely and painstakingly restored to its former glory. The castle dates from the 12th century, although it was remodeled in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was sold to the local Castle Restoration Committee in 1967 for the princely sum of £50 and after extensive restoration was opened to the public.
In addition to having been beautifully restored inside and out, Kilkenny Castle also enjoys a picturesque setting on the River Nore just outside Kilkenny’s city center. There are expansive green lawns and beautiful gardens surrounding the castle, and some items from the collection of the National Art Gallery are on display inside. Kilkenny Castle served as the principal seat of the Butler family for centuries and among the pieces of art which adorn the walls you can see many Butler family portraits - including some that date back to the 14th century.
Date: February 18th, 2008 |
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The Burren
If you just caught a passing glimpse of The Burren in County Clare, you might wonder why anyone would call it a tourist destination. It’s a barren place, windswept and gray, that is famous for its unique rock formations. But it’s also got lots of historic sites contained within its borders, so The Burren makes an interesting stop for anyone in the area.
The Burren is quite large, actually, covering 250 square kilometers, and is roughly bordered by the County Clare villages of Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna. Among the historic and archaeological sites of importance in The Burren are tombs, burial chambers and a celtic high cross in Kilfenora. There is also the Corcomroe Abbey and a couple of well-preserved forts. The Abbey no longer has its roof, but otherwise is also well-preserved. It’s one of the most popular sights in the area.
Date: January 22nd, 2008 |
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Tourism Ireland
This is basically an attempt to show people how diverse and perfect a visit to Ireland can be. Straight from the pages of tourism brochure, the only thing it doesn’t show is the rain *grin*
Date: August 25th, 2007 |
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Birr Castle
This is a real, honest-to-God inhabited Irish castle.
Transplanted in 1620 from the UK, the Parson’s family has inhabited the area of Birr, County Offaly, ever since. The family has distinguished themselves with impressive scientific and artistic achievements and today their Castle Demesne stands on some impressive grounds where what was once the world’s largest telescope keeps company with Ireland’s only Sequoia Redwood tree among many other botanical wonders.
Date: May 22nd, 2007 |
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Cliffs of Moher deaths exhibit?
It was about 6am this morning when I stopped into a petrol station and saw the headline: Mother jumps to her death off Cliffs clutching 4-year-old son.
Most other papers are being more cautious with their reporting, making no mention of possible suicidal motivations. Aside from being a horrific tragedy, this bit of news really underscores how treacherous the cliffs are. How stupid are people (I include myself here)? That’s a REAALLLLY long drop from a sheer edge - stay the feck away from it for feck’s sake!
I feel like a real hypocrite here because, I’ll admit it, I’ve sat at the edge to experience the vertigo for myself. In fact, a lot of the people I’ve been to cliffs with did the same, probably out of peer pressure.
Date: January 31st, 2007 |
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