Conference tallis::celt

    As regards flying into Shannon, its a good five or six hour (at
    least drive to Donegal. You'd be much better off to fly from Luton
    to Knock, which is only a few hours from Donegal. You could even
    try Derry. Bed and Breakfast costs approx eight to ten pounds per
    night. As regards the buses, you'd be lucky to get one on a weekday,
    not to mind a Sunday. Seriously, Rural buses are few and far between
    on Sundays. I wouldn't depend on the public transport there if I
    were you. At the moment they are on strike.
    
    Regards,
    
    Gerry. 

    
    Glad to hear you are coming to Donegal. As regards transport it
    depends on what area of Donegal you are going to. If you are heading
    to Donegal Town from Shannon the best thing to do is go to Limerick
    from Shannon(approx 10 miles) from there get a bus to Galway. In
    Galway you can get a bus to Donegal taking in Bundoran,Ballyshannon,
    Donegal Town. This bus is a private service (as distinct from CIE
    which is a public one) and you can book your seat by phoning the
    booking office at (091) 61656 (drop the 091 if you are in Galway).The
    bus will have the name FEDA O'DONNELL on it. I will check if there
    is a Sunday morning service. If you want any more info on Donegal
    mail me at GAOV11::MMCMULLIN.
    
    	Regards
    		Maurice McMullin
    		(Native of Donegal Town living in Galway)
    

    
    
    
    	There's never been a "Miracle", like the Airport up in Knock !!
                                      
    	 (chorus)
     	You better donate ...
    	You better donate ...
    	You better donate the dough...
    

    Re .0: Holly, I don't know what genealogical records you want to
    have a look to and where they are kept, but if they are county records
    and not city records, you'll probably find them in the county head-city
    which is NOT Donegal Town but Letterkenny, a few tens of miles farther
    North, in which case the nearest airport is definitely Derry, not
    even Knock.
    			Denis.

    Leaprechauns know where the wind blows the hardest & coldest.
    
    Holly you departure from U.K. (Sat night) is not the best time.
    You see Sunday is a quiet day (except in the pubs and at the games).
    THat means public transport is not plentiful. The Feda O Donnell
    busses come into Galway on Sunday night, and return to Donegal 
    afterwards (8 p.m.). THey arrive back in DOnegal at best midnight,
    and then everything is closed up. I think that were you to depart
    the U.K. in the early afternoon on Friday, and make it to Galway
    on Fri. night (C.I.E. bus from Shannon to Ennis and a connecting
    bus to Galway. - no they are not on strike, its over.) You might
    be able to catch the Feda O'Donnell busses leaving Galway on Friday
    evening and be in Donegal on Friday night (very tired). You would
    have to check with the phone no., you got earlier, regarding times
    etc. The on Sat. you would have the public transport to get you
    about DOnegal (but its wild beauty spots are remote) and one day
    is nothing in that very large county. As for genealogical research
    you will have to let us know more about whom exactly you are trying
    to trace.
        And then there's getting back to Shannon again.
    
    Snake thinks you are taking on a very big task.
     

    Holly. I just returned from home... I did Galway to Kerry in 2 1/2
    hours, kerry to Wexford in 3 hours, Wexford to Dublin to Galway
    in one day. Notice the N6 is no longer there, it was rolled up behind
    my car.  Stick to the West of Ireland, It's far more lovely.  Bus
    strike still on, Dublin is on feet and their knees.
    C.J.

    
    
    	Galway to Kerry in 2.5 hours? Shyte... I did Galway to Cork
    	in EXACTLY (to the minute) 2.5 hours.. And I was hung over and
    	sick with a cold!! (Christ, after that night with the Shnake 
    	who wouldn't be!)
    
    						me_haul

    RE:261.7  and you're full of it... a night with the snake and you
    could have made London in that time.. I had to wait for the accident
    in Ennis that claimed the life of that female singer... to get cleaned
    up. wake the feck up man.

    
    
    	There's no way in shit that a Fiesta 1.1 could make it to London
    	from Galway in 2.5 feckin hours. I'm feckin well awake havin
    	just got back from Boston after running around lookin for
    	Doormat O'Cellophane, To-feckin-paz, and that king of the 
    	fuckers, Burnsie. The bastards couldn't wait ten bloody minutes.
	AND they didn't go to The Claddagh
        
    	I'm not full of it. I left Paul Greenaway's house (the thatched
    	roof cottage out on the Weir) at 6:30am on the button, made
    	one stop for petrol outside of Limerick, and pulled up at
    	my Aunt Rita's in Douglas (just outside of Cork City) at 9:00am
    	on the feckin' button..
    
    	When one has a bad cold, a hangover, and a case of Guinness Shytes one
    	drives as fast as he feckin well can.

							foley

RE: .0

	Small world.  I'll be spending 6 days in Ireland in October
of this year with the wife (as of 10.10.87)

				JoeF

    I appreciate all the travel advice -- I ended up changing my travel
    plans based on your feedback.
    
    Here's the latest itinerary and a few questions--
    
    I'll be in Reading from Sept. 25-Oct. 3.
    
    Saturday night I am taking the train and ferry from London to Dun
    Leoghaire, arriving in Dublin on Sunday morning.
                                           
    Has anyone done the overnight train/ferry?  How uncomfortable is
    it--is it possible to sleep?  
    
    On Sunday I am picking up a rental car (managed to get one with unlimited
    mileage!) and driving to Galway.  I was going to try to get up to
    Bundoran and then back to Galway in one day, but was advised not
    to try it since the road from Bundoran to Galway is supposed to
    be long and difficult.  I hope to stay at Gerry Larkin's mother's
    bed and breakfast place in Galway after finding a few singing pubs!
    
    Any recommendations on pubs?  I heard the Crane was good for
    traditional music.                                                    
    
    On Monday I hope to drive back to Dublin, visit Dublin castle to
    look up a few family names, and then meet an ALL-IN-1 instructor
    whom I have been corresponding with to do a few Dublin pubs!  She
    has kindly asked me to stay with them.  (I feel like I could go
    all over Europe and stay with the Digital "family"!)
    
    What should I try to see along the way from Dublin to Galway and
    back?
    
    Early Tuesday morning I will repeat the bus/ferry/train trip in
    reverse.  Does the train go through scenic parts of Wales?  I booked
    a day trip in the hopes that it would.
    
    Then I head back to Reading to stay with friends from the Folk Music
    Conference for 2 nights before finally heading back.
                      
    I am trying to fit a lot in to just a few days, and am very excited.
    I am still open to advice and suggestions, though!
    
    Thanks.  Holly

    Holly,
    
    The Liverpool-Dublin was better because it was a shorter train trip
    and a longer boat trip (equal elapsed time) and thereby you could
    get a cabin but it is a few years since I did the trip. However
    beware the soccer specials on Sat night if you dont have a cabin
    - dont expect much sleep.
    
    If you have a 'proper' night in Galway, you should try and see the
    road on the way back to Dublin (how is it you put the smile in notes
    ?)
    
    - Have a good time 
    
      jOe (preparing for his return home)

    Re .11: Holly,
    If you're interested in these, on the Dublin-Galway road, you should
    definitely stop to see Clonmacnoise, on the Shannon's left bank,
    a few miles (I'd say about 5) south of the road.
    As far as singing pubs in Galway are concerned, the Crane is the
    main one. It's possible there is some music at the Quays too, but
    I wouldn't swear it. Another good place is about 20km West of Galway,
    in Spiddal, Hughes' pub, held by Snake's cousin. If you're lucky
    enough to be there on a night where some musicians come there, you
    can get some of the best music in Ireland. In August, when I entered
    the pub on the Sunday night, there were Alec Finn, Mary Bergin,
    Joe and Antoinette McKenna playing together with a few other musicians.
    We had a few other sessions there during the following week and
    it was indeed one of the best time I ever had in Spiddal. Hughes'
    is not on the main road, but in the small street on the right in
    the middle of the village when you come from Galway. There's a big
    Heineken sign hanging out, but the Guinness is as good as anywhere
    else.
    		Denis.

    
    Re: .12
    
    > ... However beware the soccer specials on Sat night if you dont have
    > a cabin - dont expect much sleep. 
      
    It's been over 10 years but I can still remember the night I took the
    ferry from Dublin to Liverpool with the soccer fans, this in spite of
    the fact I cannot remember being drunker in my life. We had very rough
    weather which only made things more rowdy. I fell in with some decent
    folks who explained what was going on & then took me under their
    collective wing. Hell, who needs sleep when you're ready to draw blood
    & become brothers at 4 a.m. while the remaining passengers moan in a
    half-sleep or try to keep their dinner down. Discovered I had sea-legs,
    a good stomach, & no fear! Enjoy your trip.
    
    
    

    Um, is this safe for a woman to do alone?  
    
    Any advice?  Is there a soccer trip every Saturday night?
    
    Holly

    Holly,
    
    If you want a nights sleep, probably go first class and get a cabin
    if you go via Liverpool.
    I dont know if the soccer specials go via Holyhead as it is a long
    train run to the favourite soccer grounds.
    Perhaps someone nearer home would have info on this
    
    -jOe 

    
    Holly, 
    	I have travelled alone by train from London-Fishguard-Rosslare-
    Limerick, and back.  I had no problems.  I stashed my luggage where
    the baggage is kept and hunted for a place to sit down.  It wasn't
    easy to find but finding one seat is much easier than if you were
    travelling with someone.  It must have been a bad crossing cause
    it was quite a zoo, but bearable.  The worst was getting back on
    the train and it being totally overbooked.  People were sitting
    on their baggage in the hallways.  So I recommend having reserved
    seats on the train.
    	You may also run into the same situation on CIE trains, especially
    on Friday and Sunday nights.  Young people who work or go to school
    in the city travel home for the weekend.  Or if there is a good
    match on the trains are also crowded.  But sometimes they are almost
    empty so don't worry.  One thing about Train service is you better
    allow for it arriving at least 1 hour late.  But as you will have
    a car it shouldn't affect you.
    	Mostly I travel by bus and ferry.  Your luggage stays on the
    bus so its one less thing to carry.  Also the coach goes right
    through were I lived in West Limerick ( not CIE run). This last
    time I went via Dublin-Holyhead and the Welsh countryside was truely
    spectacular by coach.
    	Almost every trip I have met someone to chat to and go to meals
    with.  The only thing I don't like is the time it takes out of my
    holiday.  To get from Limerick to London is about 16 hours and so
    I lose almost 2 days out of my trip.
    	This November I am definitely thinking of flying.  I would have
    last time but it was a last minute decision and all the flights
    were booked the august weekend.
    	You should have a great time. I've done a bit of travelling
    on my own and never had any problems.  Its the only place I would
    ever hitch-hike.  You will see alot of people thumbing as the bus
    service is sometimes few and far between.
    	Gud Luck,
    		Debra
    

    
    
    	Holly,
    
    		I shouldn't worry about safety on the ferry. I've used
    	
    	both the Liverpool and Holyhead overnight ferries with my wife
    
    	and friends, on many occasions. Ive always found fellow travellers
    
    	friendly and 'brothers in adversity'. You'll enjoy every bit
    
    	of it.
    		
    		good luck
    
    			John B
    

    I have a ticket for London - Holyhead - Dun Loreigh.  Does that
    mean I have a seat on the train?
    
    Thanks for all the advice.
    
    Another question.  I need both English and Irish  money for this
    trip.  I will get 100 English pounds here before I leave.  Should
    I get Irish money here or in England to get the best rate of exchange?
    
    Thanks!
    
    Holly 

    Leaprechauns swim...!
    
    Re -1
    Changing your money shouldn't be a big deal, but I suggest doing
    it on Saturday in G.B. as you arrive on Sunday in Ireland.
    Dun Laoighre (pronounced: Done Leary), is a ferry-port and may well
    have money-changing services but I don't know.
    
    Denis Maillard gave you a good place to visit (clonmacnoise). It
    would mean a left turn on your way to Galway, BEFORE you reach 
    Athlone in the center of the country.
         THe Irish midlands are not as interesting as the west coast.
    However you earlier said that the road from Bundoran to Galway was
    referred to you as poor, and some of it is, but the road from Dublin
    to Bundoran might be the worst part.
          WHen you are travelling west out of Dublin, you will come
    to a small town called Kinnegad (about 38 miles). Watch the road
    signs here as the Galway road involves a left turn in the middle
    of the town. If you keep on straight you'll finish up in Mullingar.
    The back room of the "King's Head" in Galway's main street is another
    trad. music location, but not as purist as upstairs at the "Crane".
    ANother thing, the pubs shut at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights and 11:30
    on the other nights of the week. Discos (salthill - part of Galway)
    go on till 1.00 a.m., and some pubs might be kind of flexible as
    well.                                           
    
    Snake is a conisseur of the black magic - porter.
    
    
    

    I had a good trip.  I appreciate the help everyone in this file
    gave me.
    
    I took the train and ferry to Dublin from London on Saturday night.
    I wish I had known that an extra 4 pounds (British pounds are preferred
    on the ferry) would have bought me a comfortable reclining seat
    in the Pullman lounge on the ferry!  (I found out on the way back.)
    The pullman lounge fee also provides free coffee, tea and biscuits.
    For a woman travelling alone, the company is a tad more genteel,
    too.  It's also the only place on the ferry which has a non-smoking
    section.                                                             
    
    There are no sleeping cabins available on the train on the route going
    through Hollyhead and Dun Leoreigh (sp..).  It wasn't bad, though. I
    got more sleep than I do on a plane! 
            
    Some fellows who had indulged a bit too much got a little friendly
    on the way over.  One introduced himself and shook my hand and wouldn't
    let go, he just kept shaking my hand and grinning at me.  He told
    me he was one of the travelling people--I didn't even find out until
    later that that was another way of saying "gypsy" or "tinker". 
    I finally wrenched my hand away, and things were fine after that.
    
    For anyone else driving in Ireland for the first time I would say
    that it's important to buy a good map, and to know more than the
    route number!  You always need to know the names of the towns along
    the route, especially the next one you expect to come to, if you
    are not on an "N" road.  Once I caught on to that, the 4 way signs
    at the intersections of most roads became meaningful and even helpful.
    Don't expect to see reassuring signs telling you which road you
    are actually on along the way!  They appear only randomly if at
    all!  I would not recommend doing the back roads at night for a
    first timer.
    
    I found it hard to get from the airport to Dublin and then onto
    the road to Galway.  The person at the car rental place told me
    to go to Dublin and pick up the road to Galway, and that it was
    well marked!  I spent an hour driving around Dublin on a Sunday
    morning without ever finding the road.  I finally decided to follow
    the river west until I came to a main "N" road.  That worked.
    
    I also found that Irish pubs didn't seem to have food nearly as
    often as English pubs.  I had trouble finding a place to have coffee
    and lunch on a late Sunday morning on the N4.  Knowing that, I would
    have brought a picnic lunch with me from Dublin, or something from
    a convenience store.  I finally found a grocery store which sold
    cold meats and cheese by the pound.
    
    The highlight of the trip was the Ballinasloe horse fair traffic.
    I never got to the fair, but I did get to spend 2 hours crawling
    2 miles through Ballinasloe.  I think everyone in Ireland who had
    a car was converging on Ballinasloe from every direction.  Cars
    were parked along both sides of every road, sometimes 2 deep!  The
    traffic to Galway had to detour along the farm roads.  With cars
    parked on both sides, there wasn't even room for 2 cars to pass.
    In some cases I had to pass a car, pull over, wait, pass a car,
    pull over, wait.  At other times I was clearing the cars on the
    sides of the road by less than 1 inch.  If that had been my first
    experience driving on the left, I would have been extremely upset.
                                                                      
    I finally got to Galway, and I loved it.  It was much easier to
    find my way around than Dublin (and much smaller!).  I took a drive
    out past Galway along the coast, and the scenery was beautiful.
    Next time I hope to have enough time to spend a day out there.
    I did a little shopping, and then went to Jerry Larkin's family's
    bed and breakfast.  It was very clean and welcoming and comfortable,
    and an easy walk to town.  I recommend it for anyone travelling
    in Galway.  It's in a safe suburban neighborhood with plenty of
    parking.  Mr. and Mrs. Larkin are extremly helpful, and gave me
    a great deal of advice about pubs with traditional music
    as well as about getting back to Dublin without going through
    Ballinasloe!
    
    I ended up going to the Crane, and was somewhat disappointed.  When
    I first got there around 9:15 there were only the musicians and
    a few patrons.  I sat behind the stair railing in the middle of
    the room and enjoyed it immensely at first.  As the room filled
    up, however, it became blue with smoke.  Most of the people were
    talking, and I was hardly able to hear the music above the voices
    when the room filled up.  The crowd was mostly college students
    I thought (or college age students).  I left early since I could
    not hear or breathe too well.   It didn't seem like people were
    there to listen to the music at all.
    
    The next day I took a series of roads back which ran north of the
    N4 and reconnected with it in Athlone.  I saw beautiful old ruins
    along that road, and enjoyed the drive much more than I had the
    N4.  It took more time, but there was much more to see.  I think
    one of the towns it went through was Mt Bellows bridge, but I'm
    not sure.
    
    I met my friend at the Dublin DEC office and we went shopping on
    Grafton Street.  Highly recommended!  I found lots of inexpensive
    gifts there which I was pleased with.  There was one special townhouse
    there with 3 floors of shops which I especially liked.
    
    We had a Chinese meal which was good  but very different from the
    Szechuan food I'm used to here.  We ended up at "M. Hughes" pub
    in Dublin (Snake does get around!).  That more than made up for
    the disappointing pub in Galway.  We sat right next to the musicians
    and were able to watch the set dancers until the pub closed at 11
    pm.  It was wonderful!  They were so enthusiastic and everyone appeared
    to be having a fine time.  It wasn't as smoky as the other pub,
    either, which was easier for me to handle.  I managed to account
    for a fair amount of Guinness...probably explains the 10 pounds
    I gained in 10 days!                               
    
    I took the ferry back the next morning.  It's very important not
    to miss the bus in Dublin.  My tickets had the wrong bus time on
    them and I made a frantic dash for the ferry by way of the DART
    train which was full of schoolchildren and made 10 stops before
    the ferry stop.  I ran for the ferry and just barely made it as
    they were pulling up the gangway.  The ferry trip was wonderful.
    It was warm and the sea was calm, and I sat in the sun and actually
    got a sunburn.  (I understand that's the exception!)  I knew enough
    to book the Pullman lounge, and made good on lots of free cups of
    coffee, and had my baggage watched while I sat in the sun, as well.
    
    The train through Wales is pretty for the first hour, but then it
    gets dreadfully dull for the next 4 hours.  I decided to switch
    to first class on the train, but no one could tell me the extra
    fare.  I thought it might be 5 pounds or so.  When I was nearly
    to London I had to pay an extra 13.50 pounds, and was totally
    disgusted.  It wasn't worth it, even though it was quiet.
    
    I had a wonderful trip, and was very glad I'd gone.
    Thanks again to everyone for all your help!    
    
    Holly                                    
    

    RE: Driving on dark country roads..
    
    
    	I remember one night last year with myself (driving), my brother
    	Dennis, and my cousin Dermot were coming back from a night
    	of fishing down in Ballyandreen. We were having a good fast
    	ride home (60+mph) when all of a fecking sudden a wall popped
    	up out of nowhere. Now the Fiesta 1.1 I was driving had tires
    	on it that were no bigger than my..well...you know.. and I pumped
    	them brakes for all my might.. Then it happened.
    
    	We missed the wall by 1 inch. (And I wouldn't be shittin' ya
    	on that one..)
    
    	It was a mighty crack!
    
    								mike

    re: .21
    
    Holly,
    
    This is too late to be of help to you, but it may help some other
    intrepid traveller.  In my experience the pubs mainly do food at
    lunchtime Mondays to Fridays.  It is unusual, unless the pub has
    a restaurant attached, to get food at other times.  Saturday and
    Sunday are not good days for pub food.  This is mainly because of
    volume of trade from workers during the week and serious drinkers
    at the weekends.  (BTW, you've heard the one about the three types
    of drinkers?  If you haven't... There are the before dinner drinkers,
    the after dinner drinkers and the "who the hell wants to eat" types!)
    
    You may also have difficulty getting food in pubs outside the towns
    and cities (if they don't advertise it outside the pub they probably
    only have sandwiches if that).
    
    To make sure that you do not fall down famished on the side of the
    road, I would recommend that you have a look at the local Hotels.
    Don't be put off by their grandiose size; most of them carry very
    good quality lunch menues at reasonable prices.  Unless I've been
    given a recommendation I usually pick them ahead of the restaurants
    (and of course they have a bar license).
    
    Tog e bog e
    
    _Dermot

    Holly,
    
    I wish I had read this note before you went on your trip!
    
    I went to Galway a year ago at this time and loved every minute
    of it!  I stayed with Ray Mooney (GAOV08::RMOONEY - sorry Ray!)
    and Liam Hynes (on same node).  I had never met either one of them,
    but they were kind enough to let me stay at their place.
    
    Ray took me to the Crane one night and I loved it.  Did you go
    upstairs?  The night we went a few of Ray's friends were there and
    they were playing music and singing some lovely tunes.  I felt so
    relaxed and I will never forget the great time I had.  In fact the
    Crane was one of the better pubs that I went to.  Maybe you hit
    it on a bad night??
    
    I can barely remember any of the other names of pubs...except for
    the Oasis, which is a disco...That was fun!  In total I counted
    over 30 different pubs that I visited within my ten days in Galway.
    
    Ray, help me out here!  What other pubs did we go to?  

    Is there still a Liverpool<->Dublin ferry, or is Holyhead<->Dun
    Loghaire the only one close?
    
    What's the going rate for a Bed & Breakfast these days?
    
    What's the price of petrol?
    

    How about the Cork<->Swansea ferry?  Is that still in operation?  
    

    re .27
    
    The Swansea<->Cork ferry still sails during the summer months only (I
    think). Don't know anything about prices, but the crossing takes about
    8hrs.
    
    re .28
    
    You mean the current petrol prices are with price control! Gawd help me
    when they remove price controls then. Have you any idea what they
    reckon the new price of petrol will be after removal of controls?
    
    From now on, I guess I'll have to screw my eyes up REAL tight when
    filling up. :-)
    
    Clive 

    RE: .29
    
    >The Swansea<->Cork ferry still sails during the summer months only ...
    
    Are the first two weeks of June considered "Summer" in Ireland?
    

    Re .30
    
    Sorry, I was a bit vague in .29. I'm pretty sure that the Swansea<->Cork
    ferry sails during the period May - October inclusive. I think the
    ferry company is B&I. 

Rather than use the Cork Swansea route why not use the Rosslaire Fishguard
crossing. It is much shorter.

Mbr

    
    
    	Dennis: Look at the bright side , if the weather's bad you will be
                forced to spend more time in the Pubs .....   :-)
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
      

    RE: .31
    
    >I'm pretty sure that the Swansea<->Cork ferry sails during the period
    >May - October inclusive. I think the ferry company is B&I. 
    
    Yes, B&I runs the Swansea<->Cork ferry, and the Pembroke<->Rosslare as
    well.  Their phone number is 071/491/8682.  Could somebody over there
    call them for me and find out whether there are daily sailings on each
    run each way and what the fare is?  
    
    I've already checked out the fare for London->Holyhead->Dun Laoghaire
    and it's $93 for the train and ferry combined.  I think, seeing as I
    get into Heathrow at 06:25 and the train leaves [Euston?] at 09:45,
    I'll just sleep off the jet lag on the train and wake up on the ferry. 
    Coming back I'll mosey through Wales and Devon before heading home.
    
    

    
    I've a question regarding customs in Ireland.
    
    Although I lived in Ireland for 14 months, I never flew in from the
    States.  I'm traveling Boston to Dublin next month. (YEAH!!) Does that 
    mean I have to disembark at Shannon Airport and get my baggage and go 
    through customs there?  And then what?  Reboard the same plane?
    If so , it will definitely make me re-think what I bring!
    
    I've always come via England, so I've no clue what to be prepared for. 
    
    Thanks,
    
    -Lorelei

    
    RE: .35
    
    Here's one I actually know about!  I flew from Boston to Dublin via 
    Shannon in '87.  The plane landed in Shannon and lots of folks
    disembarked and others got on (not many though...the plane was very
    empty on the hop to Dublin.
    
    Anyway, if you don't need to change planes, you're all set.  They leave 
    your luggage on the plane.  It goes through customs only once in
    Dublin.
    
    If you have a layover, they let you get off the plane....just remember
    to bring your ticket and passport...or they might not let you get back
    on.....
    
    Enjoy   :*)
    
    /Jen
    

    If you are heading to the "country",from Dublin don't forget to get
    DETAILED instructions and an up-to-date map from someone local.
    The government have nearly completed a ring-road around Dublin and it 
    can be confusing.
    As a rough guide,national routes are numbered from North to south in
    a counter-clockwise direction.ie:- N1 Belfast,N4/N6 Sligo/Galway,
    N7 The south-west etc..
    These are signposted as numbers as is the U.S practice.
    All other roads,although they have Numbers are not signposted as good
    as the National routes and you may have to look up towns along the
    route to get to your final destination.

    One caveat to .37, I once got lost heading up the N2. I asked a passing 
    Gardai where the N2 was. He didn't know but radioed the station. It
    turned out he was standing on it !!
    
    Moral - people often know the Belfast/Wexford road, but rarely
    know the N1/N11 by name.
    
    Have a good trip.

    I seen the same thing happen in the States,with route 9 in Worcester,
    Mass.
    Once national routes go through towns things can get very tricky indeed
    

    "Anyone else for the last few compasses....50p each, 3 for #1"

    
    
    	Murphy: In your case, I'd guess the compasses are "unused" ..  :-)
    
    
    
    
    	keVin
    

    
    And the answer to how to get from one side of Dublin to the other
    without passing a pub....?
    
    
    ...on yer hands and knees.   8-)