Friday, October 28, 2011

Guinness, and the Guinness Storehouse

A trip to Ireland wouldn't be complete without a visit to the home of one of the most famous drink brands in the world - Guinness.

I'm not going to write a ton about the Guinness Storehouse because it's pretty clear to me that the best place to find out everything you'll need to know about visiting the brewery and storehouse is on the official website.
But I would like to share with you some of the information I learned, and give you a few tips on what you'll be able to enjoy there based on my own experience.

The Guinness Storehouse, Ireland's number one tourist attraction, at St. James' gate is just a short walk from Dublin's city centre and is a must-see for any tourist coming to Ireland.  It's very easy to get there as it's so central to the city.  Walking, driving or taking the tram system (Luas) are probably the best way you'll find yourself on Arthur's doorstep.

On your visit there you'll be able to learn about the history of Guinness, the story of its founder Arthur Guinness and you'll be able to enjoy a pint or 2 of the delicious drink that has famously been brewed at this location since 1759!

Here's a sample of some of the many things you'll be able to enjoy on your visit to the Guinness site:
  • Learn the story of Arthur Guinness, the man who started it all.  Born in 1725 in Celbridge, County Kildare Arthur, at the age of 34, signed a 9000 (yes! thousand) year lease in 1759 to brew his recipe at St. James' Gate.
  • You'll have the opportunity to pull your own pint which you can then enjoy.
  • Enjoy a drink and a Guinness Stew in Arthur's bar on the 5th floor.
  • Browse the merchandise and souvenirs in the retail store.  If you're looking for a gift for someone, then you've come to the right place :)
  • Take in the amazing 360 degree view of Dublin city from the Gravity bar.
  • Learn from the master brewer about the ingredients and brewing process.
  • Discover how highly skilled Coopers made the wooden barrels which transported Guinness all over the world.
  • ...and much more.
I highly recommend a visit to the Guinness Storehouse website, which will give you all the information you need regarding how to get here, opening times, admission prices etc.
One of my favorite pages on that site is the Memoirs of Guinness page where they provide video links to clips made for the 250th anniversary.  Local people describe their memories of life at Guinness, from working there to having it be such a large part of their community.  It is well worth checking out the clips.

You could easily spend many hours enjoying all that the Storehouse has to offer, but if you're staying in the area or have time before or after your visit, then here is a list of some of the other nearby attractions:
  • Irish Museum of Modern Art
  • The Phoenix Park (home to quite a few points of interest e.g. Dublin Zoo, Aras an Uachtarain (The resident of the Irish President)
  • St. Stephen's Green
  • National War Memorial Park

Monday, October 17, 2011

The Cliffs of Moher

Have you been to the Cliffs of Moher?  If not, then when you're planning your trip to Ireland then put this on your "must-do" list.  This is one of those places in the world that takes your breath away.  I've been to some amazing places, Machu Picchu, Grand Canyon and a couple of other similar attractions, and I'd put this up there with those for the WOW! factor.

When you get to the cliffs, you'll park nearby and have a short walk to the cliffs, first passing by the Visitor Center which is a pretty cool little place set inside a grassy hill.  You can stop here to get something to eat or drink, and maybe even a little souvenir of your trip to the west coast of Ireland.

Coming out of the Visitor Center, you'll turn to the right and walk up a small hill towards the cliffs.  Head right from there and you will find yourself at O'Brien's Tower which is one of the best points to take in the scenery both to the north and south. If you had turned left before going towards O'Brien's Tower, then you will find yourself walking out along a very scenic pathway along the edge of the cliffs.  Private land owners have signs regarding trespassing rules etc, but any time I've been there it seems few people take little notice of them, but decide for yourself.  If you do decide to walk anywhere near the cliffs edge, then be sure to take extra care.  One slip is one too many, because there are no protective barriers to stop you going on a very rapid free-fall.

A sign at the cliffs - Don't be this person!
On a clear day, you can really enjoy the expanse of the cliffs and the magnificent views up there.  The cliffs reach a height of 702 feet (214m) and stretch along the west coast of Ireland for approx 5 miles (8km).  Looking westward you will have a view of the Aran Islands and you'll also be able to enjoy views of some of the beautiful Co. Clare and Co. Galway mountains.  Looking out from the top of the cliffs is one of those memorable breathtaking experiences that is hard to describe in words.  It feels like your at the edge of the world.

If you are brave enough to get close to the edge, the view down to the waves, crashing off the cliff face, is spectacular.  And if you are a bird enthusiast there is a very active seabird colony who nest on the cliff face.  If you have binoculars then I suggest you bring them, because this is one of those sights where their use will definitely enhance your experience.



The View to the south
Everything you'll need to know about how to get to the cliffs, prices, the facilities there etc, can be found here, at the official Cliffs of Moher website.  They also have virtual tours on their site, but to really appreciate the cliffs fully, you should try to make a trip there.

So how do you get there?  Well of course you can drive yourself and get directions as you normally might.  But to make it easy for you so you can sit back and enjoy the ride, there are plenty of tour operators that have buses that go to the cliffs.  You can find that info on the official website.  You can also take public transportation to get to the cliffs. This may include a train and/or bus ride.  Again, you can find that info on the website.

O'Brien's Tower and the sea stack below
One other way you can get to the cliffs is by taking a cruise on Aran Ferries.  This is something I have not yet done, but I am seriously considering it for my next trip.  I can only imagine how spectacular the view looking up at the cliffs from below must be.  Take a look at their website for info on how to book their tour, and there you will also see some pictures and a YouTube clip of the tour.


For those of you with a few extra dollars/Euros in your pocket then another option for enjoying the breathtaking views and splendor of the Cliffs of Moher is to take a helicopter tour with Galway Helicopters.  They'll take you from the shores of Galway bay south towards the cliffs, while taking in the Burren and Aran Islands along the way.

My personal tip before you go:  If your schedule allows, then try to be flexible in going there on a day when the weather is expected to be good.  You will thank yourself for it :)

I would like to add a word about conservation.  The following section is taken from cliffsofmoher.ie.  It is something they encourage, and I do too.
We encourage visitors to the Cliffs of Moher to abide by the 7 principles of Leave No Trace which are 




  • Plan ahead & Prepare
  • Be Considerate of Others
  • Respect Farm Animals & Wildlife
  • Travel & Camp on Durable Ground
  • Leave What You Find
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Minimise the Effects of Fire


  • Thanks for reading.  I hope you've enjoyed the information I've provided, and I hope you feel encouraged to visit our beautiful Cliffs of Moher.
    ---
    Follow Us on Twitter
    My Photoblog: Scenic Ireland
    Irish T-Shirts and Gifts

    92RVZ9AUD7HS

    Monday, October 10, 2011

    The Annual Cork Jazz Festival

    Just in time for one of the biggest and longest running music festivals in Ireland, I’d like to give you some information on the Cork Jazz Festival.
    The Cork Jazz festival, hosted by Guinness, is an annual October bank holiday weekend event held in Cork, celebrating Jazz Music.  The festival has been drawing hundreds of musicians and thousands of music enthusiasts to the city since 1978.  I daresay that the Guinness has played its part in attracting a fair share of the crowd too :)
    The Jazz festival started off as a relatively small event, but is now a world famous one which can attract some of the most famous names in Jazz.  Some of the past performers include Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Oscar Peterson.
    The city centre of Cork is the best place to be during the festival.  This is where you’ll need to be to catch some of the top names.  This year venues such as the Savoy Theatre and The Everyman Palace will have artists such as Pee Wee Ellis and Bill Evans for you to enjoy.

    The city centre may be the hub of the activity but if you’re looking for something a little bit more low key, then you’ll be quite pleased to know that most pubs on the outskirts of the city, the suburbs and in the more rural areas of Cork will be providing live music too.  I’d suggest making a quick call to a few pubs that you know of, to find out what they have lined up.  You’re not going to get the top names in Jazz that you would in the city, but you’ll still have a good night out (or 4) and you’ll be able to save a bit of money on lower entry fees.
    The Jazz festival has expanded outside of the music in more recent years.  This year you can find a Jazz Photography Exhibition at the Triskel Arts Centre, Jazz Improv sessions around town, Jazz camp, street music and much much more.
    Please see the official Cork Jazz website for all the information you may need to have a very enjoyable long weekend in Cork.
    Dates: Oct 28 – 31 2011
    ---
    Reminder: Please expand the Blog Archive on the right hand side menu to see older posts.
    Follow Us on Twitter


    Saturday, October 8, 2011

    Blarney Castle


    Irish points of interest - where do I begin :) I say that happily because Ireland is an amazing place and so full of so many wonderful points of interest. So much to see, so much to do! That's good for you! You just got to have plenty of time.

    You'll look at Ireland on a map and say “no problem, I’ll get around that in a few days, and have enough time for mainland Europe”. Well my advice is spend as much time as you can in Ireland. You will not regret it J

    The magnificent Blarney Castle



    I will 'label' these types of posts with "points of interest". That’ll make it easy for you to find them in my blog. Please come back often, or follow us on Twitter (@visitingIreland) to get updates of when I have a new post for you to read.

    I’m going to start with Blarney Castle! Everyone loves Blarney.

    Blarney is a small town on the outskirts of Cork City in the southern end or Ireland. It takes maybe 15-20 minutes by car to get to Blarney from the city, and it is more than worth the trip.

    Blarney is famous for its castle, and its world renowned Blarney Stone. Kissing the Blarney Stone will give you what is locally and affectionately known as the “gift of the gab”. In other words you’ll be able to talk and tell stories like an Irishman after kissing it. Well, so the story goes J
    Kissing the Stone

    The Blarney Stone sits at the very top of Blarney castle and to kiss it you have to lie back, lean over the edge of the castle (there’s a barrier these days so you don’t fall) and pucker up! A wonderful experience for anybody trying to connect with their Irish roots.
    There are many stories and myths surrounding the origins of the Blarney Stone. One is that the stone was a gift from Robert the Bruce (seen Braveheart?) to the Munster King and builder of Blarney Castle, Cormac McCarthy, in 1314 as a token of appreciation for his help in the Battle of Bannockburn.
    Blarney is not all about the Stone. The grounds of Blarney are exceptionally maintained, and the world famous Blarney Woolen Mills reside just near there. This is a major shopping destination for most tourists visiting the southern areas of Ireland. It is a bustling place, a hive of activity and a great place to have a pint or a cup of tea (oh Irish tea!).
    Within the grounds of Blarney castle, or just outside in the nearby park you can sit and relax and have a picnic. There’s plenty of local pubs on the main street just outside the Woolen mills. There you can enjoy a pint of Guinness, or sample the famous Cork stouts, Murphy’s and Beamish. Maybe you can even take in a local GAA game while in Blarney.
    View through the trees

    Give yourself at least 5 or 6 hours to enjoy Blarney.
    Have fun, and I'd love to hear from you regarding your time there.

    $2.95 web hosting

    Next blog: The annual Cork Jazz Festival

    Friday, October 7, 2011

    Feckin Irish Whiskey

    Came across this bottle today, and thought it was worth posting :) You'll know what it means if you're Irish or you've been to Ireland.