Visitors to Ireland…. what to do????

[Pastela]

Okay folks…

As of Wednesday, I have three lovely ladies from South Africa coming to stay with me for a week….

Now, having only been here for 4 years myself, most of which has been spent up country…..
What can I do with them? Where can I take them? What makes Ireland really special? Bear in mind that the euro will be in short supply, as they will be converting Rands to euros… and thats quite a desperate situation.

We are based in Bettystown….. so, I’ll be sending them into Dublin on the train etc…
but, I’m just trying to get ideas on how to entertain them…

ages…. 23 / 24 and 37….
I only know the 37 year old… as I used to work with her in SA, but the others are new to me….

HELP!!!!!

[Bookwitch]

Take a trip to Newgrange. Take a drive to the Cooley Mountains
Visit Ardgillan Castle and grounds in Balbriggan, Malahide Castle and Museum in Malahide.
In Dublin City Centre visit the National Gallery and the National Museum both free. See the book of Kells at Trinity College and if it’s a nice day talk a stroll in Stephen’s Green or The Phoenix Park.
That’s all I can think of for now.

[Bookwitch]

Take them to Carberry’s pub in Drogheda for traditional music and song and to the D hotel for cocktails

[Siobhán @ Mams]

Hiya,

When you’re bring the kids along, try Newbridge Farm in Donabate, just off the Swords exit on the M1. You can pack a lunch and spend a good few hours there. There is a playground, animal farm and coffee shop. You can even bring a BBQ if its sunny….

Also, Skerries Windmill is a nice place to go and I would also recommend Ardgillen Castle too.

The beaches around Balbriggan are nice as well. Go to the ‘back beach’ and you can see the Martello tower and walk along the beach to a big pile of rocks called the sailors grave. Its tradition to throw a stone on to it.

And bring wellies for the kids so they can climb the rocks and hunt for crabs and winkles. Good old fashioned fun and not expensive either. Lots to do…and if it rains, just duck into PJ’s Play centre for an hour or two!!

If you want to take them into Dublin hop on the train to Connolly and then get the Luas or Dublin city tour bus around. Thats is a great day out too…

And if you want a nice early bird dinner thats good value and close to home, try Romanza, Eastern Seaboard or Relish.

If you want a tipple of two, walk down to Bettystown Court Hotel – if you ask nicely they’ll give the kids some toys to play with while you’re there.

[Pastela]

Thanks gals! I’m definately going to look into those ideas! 😉

[Fabienne]

First to go to Dublin it’s way cheaper by bus Matthews coach.
It’s 12 return ticket. But you also can buy 10 trip for 50Euro (it’s then 10 for the return. If more than one person goes you can use the same book of 10 trip (3 pers it’s 6 trip, the 4 trip left over you have a year to use it, nice excuse to go and do a bit of shopping in Dublin maybe for Xmass)

Then, if you can drive your guest a bit, what I always do with visitors, and students (I’m host family)
– newgrange and Knowth : you can buy a Heritage card valid for a whole year (they’ll never check the name so give your name instead of the guests and then you’ll use it another time (pretty sure you can find info about that card on internet), with the same card that does include over 80 sites in Ireland, including Trim Castle
– for free :
– mellifont abbey if you just look from the entrance or after closing time it’s open, and it’s enough
– monasterboice cimetary : nice example of one of the first carved celtic cross, and one tower with very high door a bit like the one in the Wicklow mountain, not as nice but it’s near us.

And if you drive to dublin or collect them at airport at decent time you can go up to Pnenix park and shom them the deer (they have a lot of wild animals in South Africa, but it’s one of the largest group in liberty in a ciry centre.

I took myself the heritage card few times, then later it did gave us an excuse to go and visit other places in Ireland. Card single or couple or family available. Look at the website.
That card did cost half of the price of the newgrange + knowth visit, if you go there twice in one year, it’s paid for, all the other visits are a bonus.

If you’re on a budget, it’s cheaper to drive to Dublin, and on sat and sunday if you park along the canal (walk then along baggot street and your in the city centre and car park there is free on WE.

Enjoy you friends visit.
I suppose you know all the places to visit in Dublin. The free ones and the others….

Take care,
Fabienne

[MNG]

Hi Pastela,

Yes like Fabienne says Mathew Bus Coach is a great way of travelling
Not just convenience for any tourist also for all walks of lives like me who doesnt have a carat all.

i cant go anywhere But with Mathew Bus Coach i feel im on Holiday trip
the bus always comes on time be it rain or shine their good drivers are so friendly and you feel like in a travelling mood. 😀

In fact if next time my friends or relatives comes from singapore for a visit i will take them using the Mathew Bus Coach. Let them have also a great experience of travelling thinking of it makes me excited 😉

[MNG]

Hi Pastela,

You can make an itinerary lst so you get more organized when they are here no hazzle no puzzle hehe

If your driving, Wicklow is a good place for visiting or glendalough, i really enjoy that place amazing to discover that how people used to live in those ancient days.

and visit the shop carroll a must for any tourist we just cant leave without any sourvenir home 😛

Ireland has so much to see im sure they will enjoy themselves pray for abit of good weather also or else a raincoat is yr caring friend. 8)

Can imagine your gonna be having a ball of time with your friends 😆

[Fabienne]

At the end what did you do with your friends from sunny South Africa?

Fabienne

[chewieodie]

Oh, a busy time was had by all I can assure you!

Drogheda, and Oliver Plunkett, Newgrange, Dublin, and the hop off tour, Ardgillan, and they spent a day doing the Wicklow tour which had Glendalough, Dalkey etc…..
They absolutely had a ball….
And I was exhausted!…. 😆 but it was superb to have them….

Thanks guys!

[Author]

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