A Little Place to Call Your Own: Accommodation in Dingle

With people visiting Dingle expressing such widely varying preferences for entertainment and accommodation, it should come as no wonder to learn that the types of accommodation offered vary just as widely. When you visit you can stay anywhere from a four star luxury centrally-located hotel to a modest little guest house tucked away in the Peninsula hills, and can choose between remote areas and those of greater population.

One of the increasingly popular residency options, particularly for people who have already visited Dingle a few times and know their way around, are self-catering cottages. These vary in the degrees of service offered, but all of them do provide the traveler with a greater degree of autonomy than would a hotel room, a bed and breakfast, guest house or any other form of accommodation where the resident is under closer scrutiny. If you prefer peace, quiet and privacy and the chance to set your own schedule, perhaps set up housekeeping and feel a greater degree of control over your own space, then self-catering accommodation is quite possibly a wise choice.

Dingle offers visitors a generous variety in self-catering accommodation, usually in the form of small cottages that can be rented by the week or the months. Many of these are centrally located, such as the Single Marina Cottages, which are found right in Dingle own. With their lovely harbour view Dingle Marina Cottages are a popular choice with guests, and in addition to their view of Dingle Harbour they also offer comfortable, well-appointed sleeping and living quarters, including a fully fitted kitchen (crockery and cutlery included) with all necessary linens and towels provided for your greater convenience. If you happen to visit during a chilly spell, the electric heating will keep you warm and cosy, and you can look out over your harbour view in comfort.

Of course, if you fancied living it up a bit you could also check into Heatons Guest House which is located just outside of Dingle.

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Discover the Golfing Treasures of Ireland’s West

No matter what time of year you visit, the golf courses of the west of Ireland offer excellent choice and value. Ireland’s temperate climate means that its golf courses are open and can be enjoyed all year around. While the peak golfing season is from April to September, the courses are perfectly playable in the winter months as well.

If you are planning a golfing trip to Ireland in the summer months, you should book well ahead whether you want to book the tee times yourself or use a golf tour operator.

With 34 excellent golf courses in the region you have no shortage of choice to suit your price range. If you are looking for a challenge check out the Eddie Hackett designed Connemara Championship Links. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, you will be doing well if you can achieve even par on this often testing course.

Also in Galway is the challenging Bearna Golf and Country Club. Do not let the beauty of the surrounding landscape here distract you or you will soon be dropping shots.

Further north you will find Gort Golf Club which was designed by the famous Christy O’Connor Junior. This parkland course borders the beautiful Burren and provides a challenging but fun golf experience.

Touring Ireland’s west while taking in a few rounds of golf can be a dream holiday for any golfing enthusiast. Whether you are landing in Dublin, Cork or Shannon you can find plenty of car rental options for your holiday.

Thrifty Car Rentals, which has offices in all three locations, offers a good range of vehicles at economical prices. However, if you are arriving in peak season it is a good idea to book ahead at Thrifty Car Rental Ireland.

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Active Pursuits in Ennis

If you are staying in Ennis and looking to stretch your legs or work your muscles, don’t worry, there is plenty available to interest you! Ennis is a wonderful family town and it offers numerous active pursuits for people of all ages and inclinations, so check out what is available before you arrive, and you will be delighted at the assortment of amusements and activities that Ennis has to offer.

Ireland is famous for the quality of horses it produces; do you fancy the chance to try one of them? Do you have a daughter who is mad on horses? Or is your family simply up for an adventure? If so, come try the Clare Equestrian Centre, and be matched with one of their well-trained animals. The Centre prides itself on catering to “all ages and levels of experience” so it doesn’t matter if you’ve never been on a horse before; there are fun lessons available to boost your confidence level, or if you are the braver sort, just saddle up and hit the trail with your experienced guide in the lead!

If four-legged and furry is not quite your cup of tea, what about the chance to test your swimming skills? There are a few well-appointed leisure centres in the Ennis area, each featuring a family friendly swimming facility. The Ennis Leisure Complex is a swimming poor that is run by the Ennis Town Council that offers public swimming from Monday through Friday. West County Heath and Leisure Club boasts three different pools —a twenty metre pool, a children’s pool and a leisure pool— as well as such luxuries as a gymnasium, aerobics opportunities, tanning bed, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Or you may choose to try the Woodstock Hotel Leisure Centre, which offers two swimming pools (one for children) a Jacuzzi, steam room and a whole host of fitness and aerobics classes.

No matter what activities you find amusing, Ennis won’t disappoint. When it comes time to refill your stomach after your days activities, there is no better place in Ennis than Knox’s Bar & Bistro.

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Places to Eat in Ennis

If you have come to Ennis to spend the night, then lovely! The warmth and welcome of an Irish host and/or hostess will not soon be forgotten, as Ireland, the “land of a thousand welcomes” is well known for the ability of its people to make visitors feel right at home. Yet even if you have chosen not to make a night of it, but are instead simply passing through town and hoped to stop off and see a few of the sights before you continued on your way, odds are that you will be after a bite to eat!

And of course, if you are staying longer than one day in Ennis, you will most assuredly be after something to stick to your ribs before long. Fortunately Ennis is a wonderful town that offers not only plenty of traditional Irish food and hearty pub fare, but also a delightful assortment of more exotic, less local dishes, too.

Of course if this is your first visit to Ireland, you’ll want to sample to the local fare. There is no better place to try real, traditional Irish food than in a traditional Irish pub such as Knox’s Pub in Ennis. Where not only do they feed you well, but you can also sample the house draft or perhaps a pint of Guinness, and enjoy the rousing, friendly atmosphere of Irish pub life. Ennis offers numerous pub restaurants to choose from; but Knox’s Bar and Restaurant and the Barge Rooms cover only a few of the many such that Ennis has to offer.

There are also slightly classier venues at your disposal, locations where you can select from a fine wine list and not feel silly for showing up in something a bit dressier than your walking clothes! For such an evening, pay a call at Juliano’s in the Ashford Court Hotel, the Long Dock or even the Oyster Restaurant. Pubs, fine dining— even Asian food! It’s all here, in the pubs and restaurants of Ennis!

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Versatile and Pleasant Accommodation in Dingle

When you choose to stay in Dingle you will be pleased to find that there are many diverting activities for all ages and interest groups. And when booking Dingle accommodation you will be relieved to learn that the choice of accommodation in Dingle is as varied as the activities. If you want to get away from the bustle of the outside world and forget about the pace of modern life, then there is accommodation in Dingle to suit you. Or, if you want to be a bit more centrally located, perhaps in a town with a lovely view of the water, Dingle will have something to appeal.

If you are accustomed to traveling to and staying in larger cities, particularly in North America, chances are your first thought when you consider accommodation will be a hotel or possibly a resort. However, when you come to Ireland you will be delightfully surprised to find that there are a number of other types of accommodation that are the norm, and when you come to the Dingle peninsula you may was to try out a new experience, and stay in guesthouse accommodation.

Guesthouse accommodation is popular in Dingle, as well as all over Ireland. Guesthouses are family-owned dwellings with certain rooms set aside for the use of visitors. In a Dingle guesthouse you will have the chance to stay with an Irish family as you explore the countryside. Guesthouses are located in a number of different areas, and offer visitors great selection in their choice of amenities. Some guesthouses offer guests great views of both the mountains and the harbour, and many are located handy to one or both of Dingle Peninsula’s walking trails that cover most of the area, providing easy and safe foot access to many popular historic sites. No matter where you choose to stay, you will find that in and around Dingle accommodation is everything you could hope for.

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Fun Activities in Cork

When you visit Cork, you will be delighted to find there is no shortage of things to do in the area. From the moment you land in the Cork Airport and make the short trip north to Cork city, you will be flooded with options of delightful activities to pursue.

Cork is a particularly fun place for those interested in having some fun in the water, since maritime activities are so essential to the lives of many locals. You will find that County Cork offers a wealth of maritime activities. These include deep sea fishing, with the chance to catch yourself a shark, scuba diving and snorkeling, and of course, cruises and yacht charters for those who simply want to relax out on the water. In addition you will find many local venues for canoeing, sailing excursions and even windsurfing.

If you prefer to confine your enjoyment of water to the shore, there are several beaches along the shore as well as lovely coves and pleasant inlets that provide additional privacy for sunbathers, swimmers and snorkeling enthusiasts. Or you can choose a patrolled beach and enjoy surfing and body-boarding on for size!

If you would prefer to avoid the water altogether, why not try bird watching? Cork offers a wealth of avian life. You can hope to spot terns, gannet, cormorant and many other sea birds; there are sanctuary cliffs to be observed, or you might combine the water and your bird watching and take a boat up the Brandon river to observe sandpipers, curlew, herons and more.

Ireland is, of course, a popular golfing venue as well, and you will find a wealth of golfing opportunities in Cork, or you might want to try your hand at pony trekking, hiking, cycling, and much more. When it comes to activities in Cork, you won’t be disappointed!

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Dublin Airport Terminal 2

For some time Dublin Airport has struggled to cope with the ever increasing numbers of passengers traveling through the airport annually. The need for significant additional facilities is unquestioned. For a number of years it has been a question of when significant upgrades would be added to the infrastructure at Dublin Airport, and not if it would happen.

The planning for Terminal 2 began in 2005 when the Irish Government directed the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) to build a new terminal at Dublin Airport as part of its Aviation Action Plan which also included the sale of the majority share holding in Aer Lingus. Specialist airport architects and project managers were appointed in early 2006 to oversee the construction of the new Terminal.

Plans for Terminal 2 were unveiled during August 2006 which details the DAA’s plans to construct a 75,000 sq meter terminal capable of catering for 15million passengers annually. The construction costs for the new Terminal are estimated at just under €400m with the entire project including additional infrastructure upgrades estimated over €600m. Plans were also unveiled for Pier E which is currently operational and caters mainly for low cost airlines were also unveiled.

Despite a number of objections to the construction of Terminal 2, planning permission for the project was granted on 29 August 2007 with 43. There were three main parties objecting to the construction of the new terminal, but Ryanair and UPROAR (United Portmarnock Residents Opposing Another Runway) were the two most prominent objectors. Ryanair had lobbied for Terminal 2 to be a low cost carrier friendly terminal and wanted it to be run by a competing operator rather than the DAA. Ryanair had even offered to build and operate such a Terminal, however the Irish Government decided the DAA should take charge of the operation and building of Terminal 2. The objections by Uproar were more in line with environmental impacts to the surrounding areas and the over development of the airport.

On 1 October 2007, the construction of Terminal 2 was started. It is expected that the new Terminal will commence operation during early 2010. The new Terminal will have 58 check in desks and ample room to cater for self check in facilities. There will be 9,000 square meters of retail and catering outlets and a comfortable departures lounge.

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The Art of Shopping as a Tourist in Ireland

If you have devoted any length of study to the amenities an attractions that await you in Ireland, you should by now be aware that Ireland is a first-rate shopping destination, surpassing many other locations around the world with its eclectic mix of modern and cutting-edge and the truly delightful products of the old cottage industries, such as fine Irish linens and Waterford crystal. Rent a car with as much storage space as is offered, if you plan to do a great deal of shopping in Ireland!

However, what you may not have learned yet is that shopping in Ireland can offer certain difficulties if you are not used to some of the differences, and before you set out to make any serious purchases in Ireland —most specifically clothing purchases!— you will need to be aware of some of these discrepancies.

I suppose the most important advice to tourists is to be aware that sizes are measured differently; ladies, don’t panic if you are told you are a size sixteen! Measurements in Ireland are different from those in North America and, in many cases, from those in Europe, too. Shoe sizes are different than what you are used to —a gentleman who is a size ten in North American will find he is a size nine in Ireland— as are those of men’s shirts, although men’s suit sizes in the UK and Ireland are on par with those in North America. Ladies, you will find your dress size increases, and it won’t be because of all the scrumptious Irish food! A North American size six is a size eight in Ireland, and in case you are curious, your children will also have mysteriously “grown,” as the North American child’s size six is an Irish 24/26.

As long as you familiarise yourself with your pertinent conversions before shopping, you should have no trouble in finding something to fit!

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Cape Clear Island

The island of Cape Clear is situated off the south coast of Ireland and to the south west of Cork City. The island is roughly 3 miles long and 1 mile wide and lies roughly 8 miles off the coast of Ireland. The ferry to Cape Clear Island takes 45 minutes from Baltimore or Schull in West Cork. The Cape Clear Island Ferry Service is owned and operated by islanders.

The island is an Irish speaking Gealtacht area and today is home to over 100 people. The island is a heaven for wildlife, both in terms of sea life and bird life. The main feltival held on the island annually is the Storytelling Festival which has been running since 1994 and attracts story tellers from all over the world.

There are ample accommodations and attractions on Cape Clear to make it a point of interest to anybody touring Ireland.

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Industry Press Releases Week 1

In a similar vein to the weekly blog posts I started yesterday, I am going to try and highlight some relevant press releases and articles on a weekly basis.

1. U Drive it Ireland

Slightly Out of date, but interesting Press Release about udriveitireland.com who planed to open car rental locations at the various airports throughout Ireland.

“We see tremendous opportunity here and our move into the car rental market in Ireland is the next logical step for us. We are already servicing the commercial hire market with our fleeet of vans and we are confident that we can also build a substantial business in car hire.”

2. Thrifty Car Rental Ireland Continues ‘Green’ Push

Another slightly out of date press release which details Thrifty Car Rental’s attempt to reduce their impact on the environment.

“Thrifty understand their responsibility to the environment and continuously strive to reduce their impact on it. Currently we recycle paper and cardboard, glass, water (used to wash the vehicles), energy (through the use of wind energy) and office equipment. No part of the business is safe from our goal to become carbon neutral. We know this is a long and difficult road and like everything else we do in Thrifty we look forward to meeting this challenge head on.”

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