Conference tallis::celt

    IF they are foodies they should not miss KINSALE,co. Cork,a town
    FULL of restaurants.
    For shopping they can try Galway city recently refurbished dramatically
    with lots of shops (crystal,knitwear,crafts etc.).
    Dublin is good this time of year ,the Stephens Green shopping centre
    features a lot of specialist fashion shops (one for ties another
    for (ahem...) lingerie etc..) which is new to Ireland.All the bigname
    stores well represented and also pedestrianised.
    Shopping in Ireland should be O.K moneywise as a rebate scheme for
    tax now operates.
    Seafood is the accent in Clarinbridge ,10 miles south of Galway city
    Paddy Burkes and Morans of the Weir are to recommended in Sept.
    

    Browne,
    
    	In Dublin, the main shoppng vein is Grafton St.  This is a bricked
    pedestrian way with loads of shops and eats and a few pubs off of it.
    Powerscourt off of Grafton ST. shouldn't be missed a nicely done up
    area with possible entertainment from a center stage.  Lots of hanging 
    plants from the 2nd and 3rd floor railings.
    Brown and Thompson is a great old store with character.
    For coffee and a light snack or lunch go to Bewley's (don't even
    think of going into McDonalds!!  Be adventurous.).  Great coffee 
    and atmosphere, real busy.
    For a pub break there's Neary's at the top of Grafton St and many more
    all around.  Toners pub up near ST Stephens green is nice and usually
    has a music session at night.
    A stroll down Baggot ST from ST Stephen's Green will take you to the 
    canal and of course you'll pass a couple of nice pubs on the way.
    For a nice classy, but reasonable full lunch/dinner, go to the National
    Gallery.  I think it's in Marian Sq off of the top of St Stephen's
    Green.  They have a great selection of dishes, cafe style, with great
    desserts and wine.  A grand piano in the middle of the room is 
    usually being played.  Oh ya, the art in the Gallery is exceptional as
    well.
    
    There is a new shopping mall right off of St Stephen's Green which
    should be completed by now.
    
    The other main shopping area is on Henry St off of O'Connell St near
    the GPO (General Post Office).  Alot of local shopping goes on there.
    
    Trinity College is at the bottom of Grafton ST.  Worth a visit and
    don't forget the Book of Kells.
    
    Other attractions, First Christ Church, St Patrick's, Dublin Castle
    House, Kilmanum Jail, Viking exhibition around 1st Christ Church with
    film "fire on the hill".
    
    He's a challenge for your wife and daughter...
    	1. find Rice's Pub!!! (hint: Boston's Scully's Sq)
	2. location of the 1st Irish redition of Handel's "Messiah"
           (hint: near 1st Christ Church.)

    Thanks!! They have a day all planned in Dublin...wish I was going,but
    I got my wife to agree that I could also take a vacation by myself,and
    I'll make it over there....yes,my grandfather's family was from
    Galway by way of Liverpool...
    
      By the way,speaking of Liverpool..even though I've never seen
    it mentioned before,Lennon and McCartney are Irish names,also..right?
                                        
    Richard

If your wife and daughter want to end up in YUPPY places by all means go to 
Kinsale or Galway. They will find themselves in the company of so many 
Americans that they might as well be at home.

On the other hand:

In Dublin on a Thursday night visit the Brazen Head (Or any other night for 
that matter). There is usually Set dancing on the street outside. It is like
a street carnival. The Brazen Head is the oldest pub in Dublin and it looks 
it.

If interested in Archiology, a visit to Newgrange is a must. Older that the 
Pyramids, the underground passage tomb is an exact Calendar. While there a 
quick trip to Mellifont Abbey is also recommended.

Glendalough in Wicklow is also worth a trip. This is where keVins namesake 
built a monastry about 600 A.D. A trip across the Wicklow Gap (Or in fact a 
wander through the Wicklow Mountains) is also highly recommended. Both of 
these places are withis an hours drive of Dublin.

If interested in gardening a visit to the Botanical Gardens in Dublin is also 
recommended. Also a visit to the Japanese Gardens in Kildare. Kildare is again 
less than an hour from Dublin and is on the main bus and train routes. While 
in Kildare they could visit the National Stud if interested in horses.

All over Ireland, A trip to a horse race is also to be recommended. They will 
probably lose their shirt but it would be worth it.

A trip to Cashel in Tipp. and back to Kilkenny town is also worth while. Both 
of these places can easily be fitted into an afternoon's journey by car. On 
the way stop at Morrissey's pub in Abbeyleix. This is a magical place. While 
in Abbeyleix visit the DeVesci gardens. While in Kilkenny visit the castle, 
Kytlers Inn and other sites. Also the Kilkenny Design Workshops. However my 
favourite place in this town in Langtons pub. This pub has won the "Pub of the 
Year" competion for the last 3 years. It has real class. If they are unlucky 
they could run into me there.


That should be enough to keep them going for a few days. 

		MBr

    Yeah...they'll never forgive us for *upstaging* them with our Arts
    Festival and the Druid...thanks ever so much Ollie Jennings...and
    Oh BTW you can tell that taxi-driver who insulted my mother back
    in 1971,by asking the question 'have ye got the electric down there
    yet'?,that she now has it...but still she can't figure out all that
    hype over the Aluminium!!!
    
    - Dave K.

    I will also be visiting Ireland during September and hope you can help
    me with a couple of questions.  Actually now that I think about
    it, I have a lot of questions!
    
    Dublin
    
    On my "free" day (yes, I'm on a tour - let THEM drive me all over
    the country ;^) ) in Dublin I wanted to go out to Newgrange and am
    wondering if there is transportation out to the site or if I'll
    have to rent a car?
    
    Is the Zoo worth a visit?
    
    Recommendations for clubs with live bands (R & R).
    
    Jury's Hotel - a critique?
    
    Can I get out to Moran's by bus from Galway or will I have to rent
    a car?  I'll be staying at the Ardilaun House Hotel.  A nice hotel
    I hope?
    
    Is the Galway Crystal Factory still in operation?  On my last visit
    I started to collect a pattern but recently have had trouble finding
    it here in the States.  Someone told me they were out of business.
     Is that true?  Does anyone know of anywhere in Ireland I can find
    it?
    
    Lastly, I'll be spending 2 weeks there and will hit Dublin, Waterford,
    Blarney, Killarney, Gort, Galway, Spiddal, Castlebar, Bundoran,
    Killybegs, Carrick-on-Shannon, Tarbert and Kilkenny, so if anyone
    would like to make recommendations on restaurants, pubs, and places
    to buy crystal, pottery, tweed, sweaters, and jewelry, I'd really
    appreciate it.
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Terry
    
    P.S.  I second the recommendation to see Glendalough.  I think it's
    one of the prettiest places I've ever seen.            
                                                         
    
    

    When travelling to Bundoran, my advice to you is to pass on through.
    The town is very commercialized and gives a bad impression of Donegal.
    Things are usually a bit more expensive in this town. Travel onto
    Ballyshannon, take a walk around there are some nice pubs here.
    You said you were interested in pottery, well its only 5 miles to
    that famous one in Belleek from Ballyshannon. Visitors are welcome
    in the pottery but give them a buzz just to check if you want to
    look around.
    When up in Killybegs, why not travel a bit further north to the
    Gweedore area. An excellent pub is Hudai Beags in Bunbeg, if you
    enjoy singing late into the night.        
    
    	Enjoy your trip,
    
    	-Ray.
    

>    I wanted to go out to Newgrange and am
>    wondering if there is transportation out to the site or if I'll
>    have to rent a car?
   
	A car is the easiest way. It is possible to use the scheduled bus 
	services. I do not have times for them however.
   
>    Is the Zoo worth a visit?
	Yes. I sometimes have lunch there.    

    
>    Jury's Hotel - a critique?
	Good hotel. However I prefer the Ardilaun. That is an EXCELLENT one.
    
>    Can I get out to Moran's by bus from Galway or will I have to rent
>    a car?  
	
    	A car or a friendly DEC Galway person. You may need someone to help 
	you drink.
 
>    Is the Galway Crystal Factory still in operation? 

	YES. Visit the factory shop. Its open 9 to 5. Also visit the Royal Tara 
	shop. Again excellent place. There are a number of other good crystal 
	places in the Galway area (Clarinbridge for one). However the best 
	crystal is obviously Waterford. The factory shop in Waterford is also 
	worth a visit.


Finally to answer the two hecklers:

The rocks (or the sun) must be affecting your brains down the West. (Come 
to think of it thats about the only unique thing that ye have in Galway.

I hear that the Druid is a theatre without a home. Surely there is a parish 
hall somewhere in Connaught -)

Dave, I am glad to see that you understand the connection between hurleys and 
women. Could you please explain which went missing however. If its the barmaid 
please give her back. We need someone to serve us drink. I keep hearing that 
Galway are afraid to play Tipp this year and are looking for an excuse to pull 
out ov the hurling championship.

Now that the Dubs and the Cork people have upstaged the Galway celebrations, I 
suppose that you will try one better. May I suggest the invasion of Ulster by 
queen Maedhb. (No come to think of it ye got a bloody nose in that encounter).

			MBr

    And ould Mr Brennan says...'Would you ever **** off' :-)
    
    - Dave K.

    Thanks for your quick replies!
    
    In reference to the Galway Crystal Factory.  On my last visit I
    went by it but because it was closed we didn't stop.  However, I
    don't remember which town it's  in.  Isn't it near a spot where
    they filmed part of one of the James Bond flicks?
    
    >>Can I get out to Moran's by bus from Galway or will I have to
    rent a car?
    
    >>>>A car or a friendly DEC Galway person.  You may need someone
    to help you drink.
    
    I don't need help to drink.  Nothing goes down as easy as a Guinness!
    (Except maybe some oysters)  If there are any nice, friendly
    fellow-DECies who want to make a Yank feel welcome and
    spend an evening at Moran's, I'd be delighted!  The first round
    is on me.
    
    Terry
    
    

    Terry,
    
    When you're in Waterford, after you go to the Waterford Crystal
    Factory, head over to Geoffs pub in downtown Waterford - that's
    where all the "younger" crowd go in the evening.
    
    In An Spiddal there's a pub called the Purple something-or-other.
    Anyhow, you can hear some good "Gaeilge" spoken there by some
    of the older folks.
    
    If you make it to Tarbert I'd recommend taking the ferry over and
    then driving up along the Clare coast towards the Cliffs of Moher.
    Some beautiful scenery and cliffs here and not too many tourists.
    
    There's loads of good pubs in Galway - although I'd recommend the
    Crane pub on Sea Road.
    
    If you want real traditional pottery - there's a great Irish pottery
    store in Roundstone in the Gaeltacht region of Galway.  It makes for
    a nice drive and there's usually a few festivals going on in the
    region.
    
    For sweaters I recommend Martin Standuin's again in Spiddal.  On their
    last trip my father counted 3500 aran sweaters there while my mother
    was shopping.  They'll even give you lunch if you buy a couple of 
    sweaters...  Now try that in Jordan Marsh...
    
    Have a great trip.
    
    George

    Re .14: Hi George, how are you these days?
    Are you sure there's a "purple something or other" in Spiddal; the only
    3 pubs I remember there are the Droighnean Don, the Cruiscin Lan (not
    sure at all of the spelling for these 2) and Hughes', off the main
    street, where the landlady is a first cousin of Snake, and which is
    definitely the best one for music or Gaelic speaking. Members of De
    Dannann and other very good musicians often meet informaly at Hughes',
    for sessions, while at the 2 other pubs, it's just groups hired by the
    house. Only, the music is rather less frequent at Hughes', it's just a
    question of being lucky to be there when the musicians come.
    			Denis.