Dublin’s Great Writers

For its modest size, Dublin city has produced a remarkable number of literary giants through the years. It is hard to say just what it is about Ireland’s capital that has prompted writers such as James Joyce and William Butler Yeats to produce such great works.

These are just two of the great names in writing the city has produced. Others include Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, and more recently, Roddy Doyle.

If you want to get a taste of Dublin’s literary heritage the best place to start is the Dublin Writers Museum on Parnell Square. You can see displays of the great writers’ books, letters and personal items.
It tells the story of Irish writing over the past three hundred years and gives a detailed insight into the life and times of Ireland’s great writers.

If you want to see how one of Ireland’s greatest writers, James Joyce, lived, you can visit one of his former Dublin homes with a trip to the James Joyce Museum in Sandycove. This beautiful seaside tower provides a splendid backdrop to the story of Joyce himself. His stay here clearly inspired the beginning of one of his most famous works, Ulysses. You can see many of his personal belongings and learn of the details of his life here.

And if you are in Dublin on June 16, you can experience Bloomsday which is a day of celebration of Joyce’s life held every year. On the other side of the city, you can visit the birthplace of George Bernard Shaw, another famous Irish writer.

This Victorian house has been restored to its appearance as it would have been when Shaw was born and gives an interesting insight into Dublin life of the time.

Dublin’s literary heritage is everywhere and after exploring its literary history for a day, why not enjoy a pint of Guinness at one of the pubs frequented by Dublin’s writers. Grogans on Castle Street is a good example of a pub that has been popular with Dublin writers over the years.

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Gardens and Green Spaces of Ireland

If it’s nature you seek, then Ireland is no poor man’s garden. Not for nothing is she known as the Emerald Isle; whether you want to set out on a hike across rolling green fields, or prefer your nature to be more pruned, contained and controlled in the form of a fine city botanical garden, you can be certain that Ireland will more than meet your expectations.

If it is the natural and untamed you seek, Ireland is ready to spoil you with some of the wildest and most glorious sights you will ever see. Why not take in the stunning view from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare? Not only is the view of the Atlantic Ocean breathtaking, there are some sumptuous trails along the eight kilometres of cliffs that offer the chance to stretch your legs and fill your lungs with the salt sea air.

If you prefer something a touch more mystical, you may want to travel to County Laois and walk through the Slieve Blooms. Lush, green glens, tranquil streams and wooded trails all await you, offering the traveler the chance to clear his mind and rest his soul. Or, if it’s the truly Irish you long for, you need look no further than the River Shannon, the waterway that showcases the beautiful city of Limerick. Just a short drive outside the city you can stroll through the countryside along the banks of Ireland’s longest river, taking in the view.

Of course, if you prefer something more maintained, Ireland can offer you that, too! Many of the fine country homes also have exquisitely-maintained gardens, and several cities offer rich botanical gardens as well. Wild or civilised, whatever your pleasure, if it’s nature you’re after, Ireland is the place to find it.

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Where to Stay in Ennis

If you are just passing through the town of Ennis then of course you will not find yourself in need of accommodation . . . yet there is just something so warm, so friendly, so simply, unassumingly welcoming about this quaint, picturesque little town in Country Clare . . . you are not to be blamed if you feel yourself drawn to it. If, on getting out of your car to just stretch your legs, catch a bite to eat and take a look around, you find yourself falling so in love with Ennis that you simply have top fin a place to spend at least one night, nobody will blame you; more than that, nobody will be surprised. You certainly aren’t the first to do so, and you definitely will not be the last.

Ennis offers a competitive selection of accommodation options, and visitors to the town are often pleased to learn it. There are several hotels available in Ennis, many of them enviably located near the town centre and a myriad of attractions. Many (although not all) of the hotels will offer guests ensuite baths in addition to comfortable, well thought out and well appointed guest rooms. Try a night at the Old Ground Hotel in the heart of town, or maybe stay a week at the chic Ashford Court Boutique Hotel, which also features a lovely restaurant.

Or, if bed and breakfast is more your style, Ennis can accommodate you there, too! There are a selection of bed and breakfast establishments for visitors to choose from. Try a night at Carbery House, or perhaps Newpark House, and revel in the comforts of a more intimate environment and service. Fountain Court is also popular, as is St Patrick’s Bed and Breakfast. Or, if you simply prefer self catering options, then simply bunk down in Baker’s House, and take care of your own needs— Ennis really has it all!

For nightlife in Ennis look no further than Knox’s Pub and Bistro which is centrally located. Ennis is situated north of Shannon Airport on the N21 and is very accessible from Galway, Limerick and Shannon Airport.

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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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