Dublin has a vibrant literary scene, full of bookshops, gigs, classes and sessions: Dublin is the fourth UNESCO city of literature and hosts the International Literature Festival, the Dublin Book Festival, and a range of less publicised but no less excellent events scattered throughout the … [Read more...]
Foulksrath Castle – Ireland's oldest hostel
Foulksrath Castle, near Kilkenny, IrelandFrom the travel diary: Dec 16 (some years ago) – Monday: Kilkenny, Ireland After a big breakfast I walk down to the railway station and take the train to Thomastown, named centuries ago after Anthony Fitz Thomas. I grew up in Thomastown, Victoria, Australia … [Read more...]
Dingle Peninsula – Europe's most westerly point
It’s raining, the streets look like a movie set. I've just arrived in Dingle, Ireland where I've been youth hostelling. Hurrying along to O’Sullivan’s Hostel, I meet Christopher, who had missed the bus, but managed to cadge a lift here. Inside the hostel, now out of the rain we meet brothers Rick … [Read more...]
Festivals – Galway Oyster Festival
The World's longest running oyster festival: My greatest disappointment with my two trips to Ireland is that I've never made it to the Galway International Oyster Festival, usually held in September to celebrate the start of the oyster season. I love oysters and Tony loves oysters and … [Read more...]
Ireland Travel
Ireland Travel - a Four-leaf Clover Europe Tour to be sure! Ireland travel is remarkably relaxing. Somehow, the pace of an Irish tour, no matter how crammed full of sights and activities, seems slower and more leisurely than travelling elsewhere in Europe. Ireland may have a thriving, world-class … [Read more...]