Slainte.
Have a good time. Last time I was there was 1999, I’m sure things have changed a lot since then.
I was there last year and fell in love with it. It’s one of the only EU countries that isn’t PCd beyond all recognition.
Pics to follow.
My wife and I spent 2 weeks in Dublin and then a day trip to Belfast in spring 2005. It was fantastic.
One of the few places I’d like to go that I haven’t been to. Subscribed for pictures.
Sweet! Standing by for pics.
Where exactly are you going?
Cool! Have fun.
C4
Everywhere, actually. Renting a car and visiting some friends in Holywood, then up to Derry, back south through Armagh and down to Galway in the Republic. Then across to Dublin and home.
By the way: The weapons laws in the Republic? G A Y. You can’t even carry a damn non-lockblade pocketknife without risking a year in the pokey. And ‘dynamic shooting’ (their words, not mine) meaning training or even just shooting on the move at a range is ILLEGAL.
In the North, you can get a CCW.
I’m debating going to the Aran Islands next year. Always wanted to see Ireland. Enjoy your trip and take lots of pics!
Don’t go to Ireland just for the Arans…you can see those in a day or two. Also, all the natives there speak Gaelic so they can make fun of the yanks coming over and spending money…
There’s a Bronze Age hill fort on Innish Moor that’s pretty cool to check out, built right up against the cliffs. I have a bunch of pictures that I need to scan.
I studied Irish History and Archaeology at the National University at Galway, down in the Republic, back in '99.
If you like archaeology and history, be sure to head over to the Boyne Valley, where Dublin is, and check out the burial mounds of Newgrange. Also, head over to Scotland, up to the Orkney Islands…I personally really enjoyed them more than the western Irish islands.
That’s awesome! I’m a huge history buff so I’ll have to check out the places you mentioned. 
Sunset on the Kenmare River.
“This was the ancient watchtower of Amon Sul.”
View of the interior, looking out to the Atlantic.
These are of Staigue Fort in Co Kerry. It’s a very evocative site.
This is why I love the West and Southwest…
It’s still wide open.
Apologies for the threadjack, but I love Ireland. Post pics when you can and have a great trip.
Spent the better part of a month in Ireland last April, a week of that in Belfast. Oddly enough doing pyro for a show. It was definitely an experience and I can’t wait to go back. Enjoy your trip!
Back - went all over that place. First some Belfast pics:
On the way…
Getting closer:
The shipyard where Titanic was built.
Anyone recognize this?
Belfast city hall:
First stop: Shankill Road (Loyalist) housing projects:
to be continued…
Loyalist area continued:
The hate and tension are heavy in the air. There’s a truce of sorts, but the trouble is JUST below the surface.
‘Peace Walls’. Barriers between Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods that are closed at dusk. All it would take is one drunken kidnapping (on either side) and the lid will come off again.
Nothing says, “Stay the fuck out” like 6" rotating spikes on pipe.
Anyone who tells you this shit is over is either delusional or doing some desperately wishful thinking. The hate is strong, and multi-generational.
Next: Falls Road (Republican/Nationalist neighborhood)…
Entering the Falls Road, we stop at an IRA memorial:
This is the side of the Sinn Fein headquarters building. We were being followed by a British Army armored car at this point. I guess a couple of guys walking down the Falls Road snapping pictures looks a little funny to them:D. They pulled up and asked us what we were doing, and after a little conversation they bid us good day and rumbled off.
When you turn left at the Sinn Fein building and walk past the Falls Road Library, you get to see some interesting graffiti. Of particular note are the grenade screens on the library windows.
This one caused a WTF moment for me.
PSNI (Police) station. More grenade screens:
Some random stuff:
The Europa - the most bombed establishment in Europe:
Inside - I had to get a look before its next high-order remodel:
The Crown, across the street:
I haven’t processed any of my Republic pictures yet. Enjoy…