Re: Tours of Ireland Jenny Tue Apr 6 12:09:24 1999 Hi ShadowHawk,*p*What parts of Ireland are you planning on seeing? If you've only got a week, doing the whole country is probably out. You can (just barely) make the circuit, but you wind up exhausted and have little time to spend at sights.*p*In general, I'd say the following were some of the highlights of my three trips to Ireland:*p*1) The National Museum, in Dublin. Virtually every important Irish artifact has wound up here (leaving mere replicas in the local museums). It's a stunning collection, a real "don't miss" attraction.*p*2) The Rock of Cashel. An early Christian settlement with a stunning location on top of a hill.*p*3) Slieve na Cailligh (The Witch's Mountain). Somewhere north west of Dublin, I believe (sorry, my tour books are all on loan to a friend). Collection of chambered tombs on a windy, barren hillside.*p*4) The Dingle Peninsula. Scores of "bee-hive huts", the retreats of early Celtic monks. Lots of hill forts, plus some of the most breath-taking (and terrifying! <g>) scenary in Ireland. People will try to talk you into doing the "Ring of Kerry" instead. Don't. The scenary isn't as good as Dingle's, plus there are a thousand times more tourists. (And the only thing more terrifying than those preciptuous cliff-top roads is... those roads and an on-coming tour bus...). If you have time, both are worthwhile. If you don't (and I don't think you do), do Dingle.*p*5) The Twelve Bens. Beautiful clump of mountains in Connemara. Challenging hiking, splendid views.*p*6) The Burren. (Near Corofin) Weird, lunar landscape of carved limestone, with lakes that can appear and disappear almost overnight. Has Polnabrun (SP?) Dolmen, one of the best examples around. And the Cliffs of Moher are nearby, and a well holy to St. Brigit.*p*7) The Grianan of Ailech. Reconstructed hill-fort near Derry.*p*8) The Giant's Causeway. "Bridge" of basalt columns that extends out into the sea. Weird and mind-blowing. I didn't enjoy Northern Ireland that much (though I have to say that two of my visits occurred when the Troubles were much worse). However the Giant's Causeway is definitely worth a pop over the border.*p*9) Newgrange, Dowth, and Knowth (north of Dublin). Newgrange is completely restored, Dowth and/or Knowth were under excavation and closed on my trips.*p*10) Tara -- if you have time. I found it rather disappointing, a grassy field of shallow bumps and ridges, with the Lia Fail stuck up in the middle of it alongside a glaringly ugly statue of St. Patrick. You have to have a STRONG imagination to see it the way it used to be...*p*If you're interested in holy wells, let me know! They're my passion, and I'd be happy to pass on a list of my favorites.*p*Jenny*br* Tours of Ireland ShadowHawk 407 Sun Apr 4 09:00:42 1999