Northern Ireland A Must-see Destination

Grey

Grey

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Great news for the wee North, thought I, until I got to the final sentence of this article in the Irish Times.

'Lonely Planet' rates North as 'must-see' destination
Ruadhán MacCormaic


The coast and glens in Co AntrimNorthern Ireland has been named as one of the "must-see" travel destinations for 2007 in the latest edition of a popular guidebook. Lonely Planet's Bluelist 2007, published yesterday, features the North in its Go List of 30 places deemed to merit a visit in the coming year.

"There is no better time to see Northern Ireland than now," it states. "Freed from the spectre of the gun by ceasefires and political agreement, it's abuzz with life: the cities are pulsating, the economy is thriving and the people, the lifeblood that courses through the country, are in good spirits."

Travellers are told of the charms of Downpatrick, Co Down, the Antrim coast and Belfast, which is said to have changed radically for the better and itself merits a listing as one of the top 10 "Cities on the Rise".

Contributing author Tom Hall said the lists were "more art than science" and "more inspirational than practical" and sought to identify "places that are a little bit under the radar, but can offer a lot".

"We're really going big on the North rather than the South this year," he said, adding that the Republic had received much glowing coverage in recent guidebooks.

Because "English in Northern Ireland can sometimes sound like a different language", the guidebook offers visitors a linguistic roadmap, translating such alleged Northernisms as "Am I some pup or what?" ("I'm feeling rather pleased with myself") and "Hasn't a baldy notion" ("Lacks the required intellect or know-how to perform a particular task").

Lonely Planet co-founder Maureen Wheeler, who grew up in Belfast, extolled the city's merits. She said: "The landscape of Northern Ireland is astonishingly beautiful, the people are warm and genuine, and yet it is still relatively undiscovered, which makes it the perfect destination."

Other destinations included with Northern Ireland in the "must-see" list include Antarctica, Turkmenistan and Gabon.
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Probably true in many ways but lonely planet is the one guide I totally avoid

Largely written by anglophobic Aussies and as we have seen many times, there have been some very snide comments about much of england and the english

Of course every country has its faults but, if i recall rightly, some of the stuff was ridiculous

By far the best guides are the Time Out city guides but rough guides still ahead of lonely Planet
 
Could you give us some examples, clivex? About the worst thing they say on their website about the UK is that it is only 22 miles from France.
 
Originally posted by clivex@Nov 16 2006, 10:57 AM
Largely written by anglophobic Aussies and as we have seen many times, there have been some very snide comments about much of england and the english

By far the best guides are the Time Out city guides but rough guides still ahead of lonely Planet
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Sounds like Lonely Planet is the guide for me then.
 
Grey

Has been right across the papers on a few occasions in the past...was in one ear out the other, so dont recall the detail
 
We're really going big on the North rather than the South this year," he said, adding that the Republic had received much glowing coverage in recent guidebooks.
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Bet the south has...usual rubbish i would expect

Add my bit

Dublin is the most overrated city break i can think of. Not the worst city in the world but could never see what the fuss was about..

Wicklow mountains nice though
 
Dublin is the most overrated city break i can think of. Not the worst city in the world but could never see what the fuss was about..
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Totally agree, but of course there is more in Ireland than just Dublin and the Wicklow mountains.
 
Where did you visit in Dublni, Clive? Always wondered what the typical city-break tourist ended up seeing.
 
Usual sights, such as they are. The bars and clubs (docherty and nesbits i liked, but rest nothing special) and leopardstown (which was very tatty at the time)

Was 10 years ago mind (two visits)

im sure its better now in many ways but perhaps doesnt hold must of interest for me
 
To answer properly

Trinity College
Custom House
Grafton St
Temple bar etc etc

I suppose like London some of the best sights are perhaps well hidden, but i scoured the guides...

Loved Glendalough (is spelling right?) in the wicklow mountains
 
We had already planned to go to Northern Ireland next year in the camper van as the OH now prefers to call it. My father was born in Ballina, Co. Mayo, so a great reason to call on a few relations after we have travelled around Northern Ireland. My OH has never been to Ireland before so it willl be a first for him - and I bet he can't wait to meet some of my Dad's relatives. :D

Now, if I could arrange it to combine it with a bit of horseracing, that would be absolutely perfick! B)
 
I would rather have my testicle attached to wall with rusty nails than go to Temple Bar at night.

Kathy - be careful what you wish for. Most people from Mayo have three rows of teeth.
 
Originally posted by an capall@Nov 17 2006, 04:50 PM
I would rather have my testicle attached to wall with rusty nails than go to Temple Bar at night.

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I've heard that there are one or two Teachtaí Dála who go there for just that reason
 
Originally posted by an capall@Nov 17 2006, 04:50 PM
Kathy - be careful what you wish for. Most people from Mayo have three rows of teeth.
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You've met my Dad? :blink:
 
Tsk, tsk - with all of your vast experience, Brian, comparing turf to sand... <_<

Wandering madly off-course now, but I reunited with an old (as in both senses) chumette this week, who's descended through her father's line from Abraham Hargrave, the architect of many a fine building in Ireland, including Castlehyde. When I do eventually get my arse over there, it'll add a wee bit of enjoyment to seeing some of his work.
 
Castlehyde is now the stately home of Michael Flately - an American who made a billion for moving his arms whilst Irish dancing. Unfortunately he seems to have been struck down recently by a debilitating illness.

There is no evidence of a connection.
 
This song was commissioned by the first owner of Castlehyde. He was not satisfied with it, however, hence the doctoring of the final line. It seems appropriate that this house should once again be owned by a person who is about as popular as the original owner and has a similar ego.




1. As I roved out on a summer's morning down by the banks of Blackwater side
To view the groves and the meadows charming the pleasant gardens of Castlehyde
'Tis there I heard the thrushes warbling, the dove and partridge I now describe
The lambkins sporting on ev'ry morning, all to adorn sweet Castlehyde

2. The richest groves throughout this nation and fine plantations you will see there
The rose, the tulip, and the sweet carnation, all vying with the lily fair.
The buck, the doe, the fox, the eagle, they skip and play by the river side ;
The trout and salmon are always sporting in the clear streams of sweet Castlehyde.

3. There are fine walks in these pleasant gardens, and seats most chaming in shady bowers
The gladiators both bold and daring each night and morning to watch the flowers
There's a church for service in this fine arbour where nobles often in coaches ride
To view the groves and the meadows charming, the pleasant gardens of Castlehyde.

4. There are fine horses and stall-fed oxes, and dens for foxes to play and hide
Fine mares for breeding and foreign sheep there with snowy fleeces in Castlehyde
The grand improvements they would amuse you, the trees are drooping with fruit each kind
The bees prefuming the fields with music, wich yields more beauty to Castlehyde.

5. If noble princes from foreign nations should chance to sail to this Irish shore
'Tis in this valley they would be feasted as often heroes have been before
The wholesome air of this habitation would recreate your heart with pride
There is no valley throughout the nation in beauty equal to castlehyde.

6. I rode from Blarney to Castlebarnet, to Thomas town, and sweet Doneraile
To Kilshannick that joins Rathcormac, besides Killarney and Abbeyfeale ;
The flowing Nore and the rapid Boyne, the river Shannon and pleasant Clyde ;
In all my ranging and serenading I met no meaner than Humpy Hyde !
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:lol: Thanks, Grey! I'll have to write it all out and e-mail it to her. She's started a fair old album of Hargrave gleanings - Abraham's sons carried on the architectural traditions, too, but at some point one of them broke loose from the charms of Ireland, since she's verra Scottish!
 
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