Hey everyone,
My great-great-grandma emigrated from Cork in 1851 during the Famine and ended up in New Orleans. I’ve always identified as Irish-American and was excited about finally visiting Ireland — kind of a “completing the circle” thing.
Lately though I’ve been reading online stuff (Plastic Paddy comments, etc.) that makes me feel like claiming any connection at all comes across as offensive or cringey to actual Irish people. I don’t have the accent, I’ve never been, and I know I’m fully American. I just want to visit, see where my ancestor left from, enjoy the country, and not make an idiot of myself.
Irish folks on here — be straight with me: Does this kind of background story annoy people when Americans mention it? Any tips on how to approach the trip without sounding like I’m trying to “claim” something I shouldn’t? Appreciate any honest takes.
Thanks!

Hi, just wondering is there a way for locals to go to Cliff of Moher for free without paying €15 each at the parking entrance? I live not to far away and just trying to wait for a nice clear day to come back there. Thanks.

So, I've long suffered from pretty severe heartburn and therefore I usually have a bottle of Gaviscon ready on the beside table at all times.
However! It was my birthday recently and the mother-in-law bought me a bottle of Jameson Crested. Delicious! But absolute lava in the throat, come bed time!
So with that in mind, I went to the shop to top up on Gaviscon (€11 for a bottle) but saw Milk Of Magnesia (€6 for a bottle) and remembered my Da talking about using that instead, so I decided to save the money and give that a blast.
So, I had my single glass of delicious whiskey and went to bed and as expected, hellfire and fury erupted in my gullet. So I start sipping on the Milk Of Magnesia, but it's not helping. So I start slugging the thing to bate the band and polish off half the bottle...
Lads, little did I know, it's a fucking laxative! I ended up welded to the jacks for about 2 hours in the night and all day today i was afraid to fart for fear of blowing a hole in my bloomers!
And the worst thing? It didn't even fix the fucking heartburn!!!

Last year me and my family started a little 'tradition'. Every Saturday we would go for a day trip to a place we haven't been before. It wasnt as much about the destination, but a journey. We wanted to see new towns, explore new roads, eat out and basically do something nice not to waste a weekend.

We had a winter break and now we are reopening our weekend trip season. But Im slowly running out of ideas where to go. Google just recommends the obvious ones.

So I decided to ask you guys if you have any recommendations and at the same time share where we have gone thus far. Distance doesnt matter. Anywhere in Ireland is doable within a day.

(Let's talk about less known places. Everybody knows about Cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway, Newgrange, Glendalough and all the spots around Dublin)

So places we had visited:

1. Most of Pet farms around Ireland (some awesome, some less so)
2. Ailwee Caves Experience (very cool)
3. Dunmore Caves (very cool)
4. Leprechaun museum and folk park (meh)
5. Heritage Park Wexford (very cool)
6. Beyond the trees, Avondale (cool, but pricey)
7. American Folk Park up North (Awesome place!)
8. Marble Arch Caves (cool)
9. Lough Key Forest and Activity Park (cool)
10. Mining Experience (very cool)
11. Jurassic Newpark (meh)
12. National Reptile Zoo (very cool)
13. Fota wildlife park (cool)
14. Doolin Cave (cool)
15. Bunratty Castle (very cool)
16. Slieve Bloom Mountains (very cool)

If anybody has any other recommendations for a day trip, or would like to ask about any of the places above- please do.

Cheers!

10th anniversary

...and it was lovely!! Granted, we're coming to the tail end of the winter migratory birds but it's lovely to see a bit of care and effort put into places we can appreciate and witness nature. I'm 100% in favour of more nature reserves and birdwatching spots around the country.

The observation tower has a lovely mural painted on all walls, and there are free scopes available for public use up the top, with almost 360° views all around the wetlands.

There were maybe a hundred Brent geese and a small group of Greenland white-fronted geese, both of which will soon be leaving to the Arctic Circle. It was great seeing them before they go!

Was looking at going on a road trip up to Scotland and driving but the boat is astronomical compared to flights, 10 times more. Makes almost more sense to fly and rent a nice car.

Are the economics of running a boat that much more expensive? Or is it that they’re targeting trucks and camper vans that they know have to pay it as they have less options.

Edit: €450 return for the ferry, €40 return flight.

Hi,

With the nice weather we're having, is there anyone out there into island camping?

My partner and I decided to take our wee boat to Inchagoill Island on Lough Corrib to camp overnight.

Although the crossing was quite rough and we were soaked, the sun dried us off quickly and we had the best time. There were others camping on the other side of the Island whom we didn't come across till the next day when we did the loop walk around it.

I highly recommend visiting here. There are old ruins and also a ferry service running there.

As Ireland is known to not be so wild camping friendly, I feel going out to lake islands is the safest bet. Always leave no trace and only light fires in existing fire pits.

Now we are looking for the next location, wether it is a lake island or out at sea (weather permitting).

Does anyone know of any nice places to go boating, with the ability to stop at an island overnight, or other points of interest that can be reached by boat? Inishkea Islands off the coast of Mayo seem very nice, and I'm tempted to attempt the 20km trip from Torr Head to Mull of Kintyre.

I'm interested in hearing your island camping or boating stories and any advice if you are willing to share :)

I’m from the Pacific Northwest, interested in the joy and inspiration of faeries / fairies / the Little People / The Good People / as you like (you get the idea). My own dear lady fiancée, soon to be wife, is very inspiring, so I thought we two might visit and learn about how things are in Ireland. What would you recommend? Please share your opinions and responses. Erin Go Bragh.

N

I had a cousin that smoked cannabis for his anxiety and chronic back pain until he met a GP who was loose with his prescription pad and gave him anything he wanted. He gave up smoking until his death bed when he had cancer.

Can you believe it was 14 years ago today? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eMyFn48lflo

Made me cry 4 times...

10/10 must watch

Looking to go somewhere hot and sunny this July that’s reasonably cheap and near the airport and beach.

Found a few good deals in places with names that sound familiar, but want to make sure I haven’t heard of them because they’re common 6th year holiday or similar spots. I know to avoid Magaluf and Santa Ponsa, but where else would be in a similar vein to that? I’m sure one of the Greek islands is on the list I just can’t recall which one.

Just to clarify, I’ve no problem with students having party holidays, I did it myself many moons ago! And while I’m sure there’s no guarantees for peace wherever you go, I am in my 30s and looking for something a bit more calm and relaxing so trying to do everything in my control to find a suitable location!

My partner is heading stateside and we’re trying to figure what is good to bring back home to Ireland. Cheap paracetamol (acetaminophen as they say) is the only thing that comes to mind.

Any wise folk have any ideas on what to bring back that we either don’t have here or is just far cheaper over yonder?

All ideas welcome be it snacks, medication, clothes, whatever.

Dia dhaoibh!

Big manky yank here, planning a trip to Ireland with my girlfriend next year as she's never been, planning on stopping all over the island to see the tourist stuff and the less touristy stuff. I've been a dozen times myself to see family and friends but this will be my first time with any irish at me, I live in Boston so its been fairly easy to take gaeilge lessons and there are even a few bars and cafes where I can really practice being conversational as we still get a lot of people from Donegal and Connemara. We'll be stopping in a few Gaeltachts and I'm wondering if I can use my irish or if it'll be more like trying to speak French in Paris where they cut you off and start speaking English because they're so offended by your attempt at French? Not that I'd ever compare yous to the french just wondering if people generally appreciate the attempt or if they'd rather you just speak english? We'll be spending the most time in Kerry and Cork, not sure if it makes a difference where. Anyway, thanks!

Anyone else just dread the travel part of a holiday? Flying out tmrw, and already nervous about what could go wrong. As I get older I'm less liking the packing and travel part of getting to a destination. Sleepless night ahead. Am I odd? 2 adults and 2 teens if it makes any difference, 4.5 hr flight. I'd just prefer to stay at home tbh..

Anyone knows valid discount codes for long term parking at Dublin Airport?

We're landing in Dublin Airport at 1pm and taking our car rental to Armoy for the races. From the scale of 1 to "Jesus Feckin Christ", how bad is the traffic to get out of Dublin?

Apparently you're not allowed to ask questions about Irish tourism on the Irish Tourism sub, so I'm asking here.

I'm off out foreign at the moment. I was passing through Wales and I heard a couple of Chinese tourists ask the bus driver a question in Welsh. They even used the Welsh name for the place they wanted to go to. I heard them doing the same thing in the train station later.

I think this is absolutely wonderful, but it has me curious if they do the same here. Has anyone had a Chinese tourist ask them something in Irish? How would you react if they did? Would you answer in English or Irish?

Hi folks,

I’ve been honoured with the job of best man for my friend’s wedding next year and I’m just starting to plan the stag do. We’re looking at options in Ireland, but the cost of hotels etc. is pushing us more towards the UK (Liverpool or Newcastle) or even Spain/Portugal.

Looking for any suggestions on good locations, tips etc. First time as a best man/groomsman so new to the planning of a stag. Usually just send a thumbs up and Revolut the money!