Irelands hidden treasure

Advantages: Stunning scenery, good craic, not touristy
Disadvantages: Slightly inaccessible

...When you think of holidays in Ireland, what do you think of? The beautiful green farmlands of Tipperary, the dramatic peaks and lake-pools of the Ring of Kerry, angling in the River Shannon, or enjoying the craic in the vibrant capital city Dublin? All of these are undoubtedly staples of an Irish holiday, but if you?re looking for something a bit more different ? why not try County Donegal? In my opinion, County Donegal has the most spectacular scenery in the whole of Ireland: hundreds of miles of coastline with the highest sea-cliffs in Europe, beautiful beaches, and inland there are rivers, glens and bogland hills, not to mention the more barren ?moonlike? stretches of Connemara. The Rough Guide to Ireland raves about the country?s second largest county saying: ?the demonically daunting peninsulas of the northern reaches are...

Maia 14.06.2003 · Read review
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Review of Donegal (Ireland)

The REAL Ireland

Advantages: Leprechauns, guinness, arse, feck, drink, girls
Disadvantages: Crime, violence, poverty, racism, sectarianism

...Top of the morning to ya! As an Irishman I know all that's worth knowing about the emerald isle and all the shenanigans that goes on there. I know there have been plenty of reviews by foreigners about my good country, but they can only give you a tourists view. The real Ireland lies beneath the shiny gloss and corporate lies. I'm here to unravel it for you. *What follows is called satire. If you have no sense of humour or just want real information on Ireland you shouldn't bother to read this. This disclaimer is a pre-emptitive strike against people who read the whole thing before commenting "I was expecting a nice review on Dublin."* 1. Myths and legends According to the Irish Tourist Board and Hollywood, Ireland is full of happy-go-lucky-leprechauns (see Darby O'Gill And The Little People). The idea of a mythological Ireland is...

kfingleton 18.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Dublin (Ireland)

Bank of ireland

Advantages: Friendly staff
Disadvantages: Long Cues

...Bank of Ireland I have been a customer of bank of Ireland for some time now, and I have to admit I have never had any problems with the service. I have a basic saving account and a credit card with this bank - and I have been a loyal customer every since. I opened an account when I was 17, and they were very helpful as I had no ID, so they worked hard with me to get a way of opening an account for me, which I appreciated very much. This account is not a card account, just a savings account - meaning I had to physically go into a bank branch to withdraw or deposit money. I didn't mind as they had 3 branches in my area, which is very handy. I then became a student and was offered a student credit card with all these brilliant deals, so in fell into the trap unfortunately, and now I owe them 800 quid . That's one thing...

lesleyanne18 17.10.2007 (08.04.2008) · Read review
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Review of Bank of Ireland

The Beautiful Burren, County Clare, Ireland

Advantages: Very peaceful, gorgeous scenary, unspoilt landscape.
Disadvantages: Can be very cold/windy, not much in the line of 'shopping' except gift shops

...Being from Clare myself, it is an absolute pleasure to be able to tell you all about this wild, harsh but absolutly beautiful place in the North of the 'Banner County', in South West Ireland. The Burren comes from the Irish/Gaelic word Boireann, which means stony place, and is a massive area of hugh limestone pavements covering a vast plain of land, said to be about 300 sq. kilometres. It stretches for miles and miles, through valleys, up mountains and hills, and alongside rivers and streams. It features some of the rarest flora and fauna in the whole country, a spray of colour against the harsh, grey landscape. It offers absolute peace, a type of spiritual tranquility that you just want more of. You can stand in the middle of this land, and breath in all the fresh air you can take, and you may not see a single person for miles...

Evil_Irish_Twin 20.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of The Burren (Ireland)

Great Golf Links of Ireland

Advantages: Magnificent Links Golf Courses
Disadvantages: Bring your waterproofs

...-wide appeal fund was launched, resulting in thousands of pounds being raised. Sea ‘gabion? wire baskets were laid, layered with stones, to defuse the in-rushing Atlantic breakers. However, the problem is not solved. It is still on going. Ballybunion is rated at number nine in the list of the worlds? best courses. ROYAL PORTRUSH GOLF CLUB The Royal Portrush Golf Club was the first true links course in Ireland, opening for play in 1888. It is situated no more than a drive and a pitch from the town on the north County Antrim coastline, alongside the famous ‘Giant?s Causeway?. Similar in design and layout to the Old Course at Saint Andrews, Scotland, it boasts large, undulating putting greens, and fairways carved from the natural humps and hollows of the ever-present sand dunes. Precise accuracy is at a premium...

the_mad_cabbie 06.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of General: Ireland

Ireland - Historic and Ledgendary

Advantages: Beautiful Scenery, full of information, stacks of history
Disadvantages: capital too crowded

...I am writing this review on my latest and greatest holiday, I say abroad which is kind of true but actually I am going to the republic of Ireland, as I am writing this review I'm on holiday and writing it on my pocket PC. This is not such a 'review' it is more about what I did, a diary. I am going to Ireland with all my family except my dad because he couldn't get the time off work but we went with my Nan as part of a birthday present. -*-*- Setting off -*-*- We had to set off really early on the Friday morning about 6am but we had to get to the boat for am (in case you hadn't gathered we are sailing to Dublin) we got to the boat at about half 7 which gave us time to sit in the passenger lounge which was not too bad as it had toys for the children to play with, a TV, a few chairs and a coffee machine. We waited in there for about...

ste231191 24.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of General: Ireland

Round Ireland with a fridge - Book review.

Advantages: Hilarious
Disadvantages: Non

...I chose to read this book solely because of the title, but was pleasantly surprised to discover the hilarious and well written memoirs of an English comedian called Tony Hawks (not the skate boarder) So what is the book about, well the clue is in the title. Tony likes to drink, so I could relate to him straight away. He also likes to make ridiculous bets once he is drunk. He wakes up one morning with the vague recollection of making a silly bet with a friend the previous evening, and is horrified to discover that he had agreed to travel the circumference of Ireland with a fridge in tow. What follows is a very funny account of his journey and the interesting people he meets along the way. As you can guess Ireland is full of colourful people and Tony seems to attract a good number of them. I think the fridge would help strike...

fitch1983 15.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Round Ireland with a Fridge - Tony Hawks

Irelands Costa Del Sol Region

Advantages: Beautiful historic old city. Generally good weather
Disadvantages: Not a lot.

...Introduction ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Waterford, a small city with a present day population of around 50,000, is one of the principal cities and seaports of the south east of Ireland. This area is Ireland’s very own “Costa Del Sol” region, so nick-named because it invariably gets more sunshine (that is not of the “liquid” variety) than anywhere else in the Republic. History ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It is a historic city, with a colourful history stretching back over a thousand years. It is believed the city originated around the middle of the 9th century, when either the Norse or the Danes established a settlement here known as “Vadrefjord”. There was much trouble and fighting between this settlement and the indigenous Irish over the next three centuries, until the town was eventually captured by...

the_mad_cabbie 21.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Waterford City (Ireland)

Ancient Monuments in Ireland's Boyne Valley

Advantages: Awe-inspiring monuments from the Neolithic Era
Disadvantages: Guided tours are too structured and too limiting

...~~~~~~~~~~~ Background ~~~~~~~~~~~ Among the host of images suggested by the mere mention of Ireland is that of ancient peoples worshiping amid megalithic stones. Few places are more evocative in this regard than the Brú na Bóinne, roughly translated from the Gaelic as the "Palace of the Boyne." Now, imagine yourself and your psyche transplanted in time to the Ireland of 4000 years ago. You are poling a small boat up the Boyne River, and high on a hill in the near distance you see the sunlight dancing off the white quartz and granite façade of what is already an ancient and mysterious monument--the huge passage tomb of Newgrange. One could not approach this holy site without being moved by the power and discipline its creation required. The sight of it, gleaming from its high place above the river, must have struck awe in...

BawBaw 24.08.2003 · Read review
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Review of General: Ireland

Ireland, Lisbon treaty vote

Advantages: Got a choice, made the right choice
Disadvantages: will probably have no impact

...all national governments and once again increase the power of the EU parliament. I am personally very happy that Ireland voted against the Lisbon treaty, from what I can understand the treaty was unnecessary and would just boost the power of the European big wigs and take it away from all the national governments (Westminster). There is no doubt that Ireland has gained a lot from being part of the European Union. It has gained especially from trade, as EU members now have to pay no tariffs. Free trade is the main positive of being one of the EU members and it is very important in the current economic climate. Ireland did have the right to decide whether they wanted to be part of the Lisbon treaty or not. They did make their decision and it probably was the correct one. There is no doubt that some of the other 26 member states that...

petery36 04.07.2008 (15.07.2008) · Read review
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Review of What are your thoughts on Ireland saying 'No' to the Lisbon Treaty?