266237 Sat Jun 11 08:57:37 -0700 2005 7 26 International 0 1404566 I will be travelling in Ireland. We expect the stay in the west and southwest. Any tips would be appreciated. Also, any links to sites that might have good information would also be very nice. Thanks. Sat Jun 11 08:57:37 -0700 2005 0 Jerry Bank 1 1404603 Jerry, I spent 10 days in Ireland a couple of summers ago. I highly recommend the Dingle Pennisula for a few days of walking. It's a bit more remote than Kerry and less touristy. People still speak Irish in the bars. As for food though--I didn't have much luck. I used to live in Boston and thought I'd had my share of irish food, but the food I actually ate in Ireland was not great--generally uninspired, neither local nor international. Look for places that sell local foods--chesses, etc. End the end, I managed on Guiness! Let me know if you find something I didn't. Mon Jun 13 06:52:51 -0700 2005 1404566 0 Karin 2 1405257 Last visit to Killarney we found a great restaurant called Bricin. Shop on ground floor, restaurant upstairs. Had lunch and dinner there - everything was raved over, and they had my favorite Irish dessert, Banoffee Pie! In Dublin we enjoyed dinner at Frazers Pub. About 1 1/2 blocks North of the Gresham Hotel. Say hello to Jim!! Mon Jul 04 00:16:02 -0700 2005 1404603 0 Ruth 1 1404606 I was there last May - it was wonderful! Kinsale: Fishy Fishy Cafe, only open for lunch. Fresh Seafood - our favorite meal. Dingle: Chart House - higher end fare - very good and excellent service. Ashe's - good old pub food. Have heard good buzz on Blue Zone(?) - however, it was closed when we were there. We stayed at Greenmount House, which is really more of a small inn, rather than B & B - wonderful breakfasts - best of the trip - ask for a room with a view of the bay. Fantastic - Dingle is gorgeous! Galway: McDonagh's(sp?) - good and greasy fish and chips. Clarinbridge (outside Galway) - Moran's Oyster Cottage - I think it's something like 200 years old and still turning out delicious fresh seafood. I've taken two trips to Ireland - the first was a culinary disaster. We did a lot of research for our second trip and didn't have a truly bad meal the entire trip. Good luck - also try irelandexpert.com and ricksteves.com - they both cater to a less "touristy" crowd. And please report back - the Ireland postings are few and far between. Mon Jun 13 09:25:08 -0700 2005 1404566 0 Mushroom 1 1404608 I thought the food we got in Ireland about 4 years ago was very good and better than anticipated. Unfortunately, our favorite place in Galway City seems to have shut, but the Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney seems to be thriving and has two good restaurants plus a lovely pub. If you're in that area, it's worth a try. Mon Jun 13 09:29:24 -0700 2005 1404566 0 zuriga 1 1404614 I visited Ireland in 2002, and stayed in Kilkenny, near the center of the south. We ate at a restaurant called Breathnachs twice, and it was wonderful, honest food -- sizzling steaks covered in mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, incredibly delicious desserts! Mon Jun 13 12:54:57 -0700 2005 1404566 0 Green Dragon 1 1404631 Most of my reply I have copied from a posting I made about a month ago. In addition to the below I second the recommendation for McDonagh's in Galway however we had salmon, not fish and chips. The salmon was wonderful. The side dishes (a la carte) were awful. Another recommendation is in Dooley. There are several pubs in town and one of them (sorry I can't remember the name) is famous for fish chowder and the fame is legitimate. The chowder is loaded with a good variety and the base is creamy and marvelous. On to the mostly copied part. just returned from Ireland where, due to the low dollar value and my unemployed status, budget was a major consideration. Two places were particularly nice finds given for those on a budget. In Ennis we frequently ate at the Barge Rooms located almost across the street from the Courts building. An enormous omelet with bacon, cheese and mushrooms was delicious and cost about 5 Euros. A huge bowl of excellent oatmeal was 2.5 Euros. For suppers we had salmon, fish and chips and bacon and cabbage. All were delicious, the portions were large and cost was 7 to 9 Euros. I had one desert called Fruit of the Forest tart that was concoction of sweet and tart berries with custard, whipped cream and a very light crust. Just marvelous! The atmosphere is very comfortable and friendly and the bar people pull a good pint. In Dublin we found the Library Bar at the Central Hotel on Exchequer Street just off Great George. The bar, located on the first floor (not to be confused with the ground floor), is the residents's bar but there were lots of walkins. The room looks like a library with comfortable stuffed chairs and low tables. The menu is limited and we sampled only sandwiches. For about 8 Euro I had the best hamburger I have ever tasted - excellent flavor for the burger, topped with Irish chedder, bacon and mushrooms. The accompanying chips were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Also terrific was the BLT which was made with lots of bacon and cost about 5 Euros. If I lived in Ireland I think I would be dead within a year because of Irish bacon! Sadly the BLT came with crisps not chips. Mon Jun 13 22:02:17 -0700 2005 1404566 0 kass 1 1404698 Try the restaurant at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel in Doolin if you are near the Burren. That, and Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, were outstanding during a trip last year. Wed Jun 15 22:30:42 -0700 2005 1404566 0 FattCatt