Touring Ireland

[CDNPilotDave]

I am beginning the planning for a trip to Ireland in September 07 with my finace. Does anyone have any suggestions for a trip or experiences that might help me in my planning? Neither one of us has been to Ireland before. Thanks in advance.

[SNC1923]

Buy Joyce's Dubliners and read it while in Dublin.

And welcome to the forum!

[You'll get more helpful responses shortly. . . .]

[lamble]

Joyce is a miserable drunk and it shows in his writing.

Read Around Ireland with a Fridge, a comedian saw an Irish chap hitchhiking with a fridge, so Tony Hawkes (for it was he) decided to navigate around the whole of Eire by hitching with a fridge. You'll get a much better feel for the place from Hawkes, than through the bottom of a maudling filled glass of Joyce's despair.

Take waterproofs.

There's a semi famous Irish quote.
When a traveller asked a local the way to Dublin, the local said," We'll if I were you, I wouldn't be starting from here".

[lamble]

www.ukgsers.co.uk

There's an Ireland forum and some great folk there will help you put a plan together.

[lamble]

Hunt down (PM) Irishkev he lived there and is Irish right down to the soul. He is currently on his way to Argentina via West Bend.

Here are great touring sites.

Http://www.foundmark.com/Ireland/pages/tours.html ( click on the towns the map had server error ).

Http://www.ireland.ie

Irishkev fencing for Ireland.

That doesn't look fair. There's the red tip coming from below 7o' clock and the guy from the left rear. Surely Kev ended up as a kebab?

[johnporter]

My wife and I backpacked around Ireland a couple of years ago and it was great. We didn't make any plans, we just wandered around for 12 days with a couple of backpacks. We started in Dublin, then went to Killarney, to Cork then back to Dublin. We camped some, but mostly stayed in hostels, one B and B, and a hotel. I contacted a member of anonymous in Dublin and he said, given enough time in advance, he could have set me up with a loaner bike. If I go back, that is probably the way I would go. The "Ring of Kerry" looks like an awesome bike ride and there are many places to camp along the way. I heard that Mannix point was a great campsite along the way. If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer.

John

[IrishKev]

Simple parry riposte, i actually got that hit! . . The UkGser site is great as previously mentioned, most of the BMW riders in Ireland are on the Irish forum, (you will see it off the main one), Where to go depends on how long you intend to stay and what kind of roads you want to experience, there are some good runs in Wicklow, a number of bikers meet at Lynahams pub in Laragh on Sundays, for the Glendalough area, then down south West Cork and Kerry have some beautiful runs, as does the west around Connaught. Or perhaps you may fancy the rugged coastline of north Antrim and the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Much of the centre of the country is flat bog land and not very interesting riding, so stick to the coast areas and you wont go far wrong. As for accomodation try www.hiddenireland.ie (for a collection of country homes) very nice for a few days to relax in luxury.
When i think of a bit more will post here for you.

[lamble]

Simple parry riposte, i actually got that hit! . . The UkGser site is great as previously mentioned, most of the BMW riders in Ireland are on the Irish forum, (you will see it off the main one), Where to go depends on how long you intend to stay and what kind of roads you want to experience, there are some good runs in Wicklow, a number of bikers meet at Lynahams pub in Laragh on Sundays, for the Glendalough area, then down south West Cork and Kerry have some beautiful runs, as does the west around Connaught. Or perhaps you may fancy the rugged coastline of north Antrim and the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Much of the centre of the country is flat bog land and not very interesting riding, so stick to the coast areas and you wont go far wrong. As for accomodation try www.hiddenireland.ie (for a collection of country homes) very nice for a few days to relax in luxury.
When i think of a bit more will post here for you.

Isn't it compulsory to take a fridge with you?

[IrishKev]

Aye i hear it is a modern custom that has now come compulsory.. doesnt your GS come equiped with one??? i thought those marvelous guys in Bavaria had thought of everything :D

[lamble]

There's a Touratech GS fridge with built in GPS to help you find a beer.

[lamble]

White Rose Tours are another bike company that cover escorted or guides for riding in Eire.

For 9 months of the year it's cold enough in Ireland to not need refridgerated cans.

[CDNPilotDave]

I'm grateful for the responses. Thanks. Coastal rides were my inclination. We're looking at 10 days total.

[jeremell]

I highly recommend Donegal and nearby Slieve League which are the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Also, the Bushmills Hotel and Distillery are very cool and the Giant's Causeway is nearby.

[lamble]

www.hairybikers.com

Two large northern English guys ride the world and cook and eat and eat and ride and eat. They visited Ireland recently. Their route and places to eat (strange that) are on their website.