lushd
Donald
Well the French one got me going:
Weather: Ireland is legendary for rainfall and deserves to be. What you don't always get told is that the rain is often short lived, with scudding clouds and brief periods of intense sunshine in between (or it can rain for 24 hours at a stretch too!). This gives fabulous colour and interesting skies so go prepared with your favourite colour film or a yellow filter for B+W to get the drama. You also get lots of contrasty light in these conditions. On the dull wet days, have fast film. Temperatures are very moderate - it doesn't freeze much and it never gets very hot. There is a lot of wind and on windy winters days, the windchill can do you. Take good clothes, gloves and hats, all waterproof.
Ireland is a very young country - most of the population is under 35 and consequently Irish life is pretty energetic. If you like sport try and watch some rugby, irish football, hurling - fast and dangerous all of them. There is also a lot of soccer played and horse-based sports are hugely popular. All very visual!
Dublin: Dublin is a beautiful and wealthy city with lots of fine buildings (many Georgian). The centre is small and you can walk about easily. There are excellent buses, trams and a suburban railway with astounding views of the sea and Dublin Bay - worth taking a ride south to Bray or Greystones for. Must see; O'Connell Street is the widest street in Europe and the heart of the City. Close by - the river Liffey, Grafton Street (posh shops), St Stephens Green (park and superb for people watching), Merrion Square (elegant Georgian Square), Temple Bar (trendy!). The pubs are a legend and great for people watching. Also go to the National Gallery and the Natural History Museum - free and outstanding collections as well as lovely buildings. Take a walk out to the docks for some urban grit.
Dublin has changed a lot in the last few years with lots of incomers from Europe and elsewhere. Dubliners remain very friendly and are often willing to act up for a camera - they usually don't mind being snapped and you will get some witty but caustic remark aimed at you. You need to keep your money etc safe in an inside zipped pocket but Dublin is not at all dangerous. You just need to be sensible.
It is outstandingly expensive - you can eat and drink incredibly well but you will pay for it. There's loads of entertainment and Dubliners love to go out. If you want some good street photography, try club closing time (2 a.m.). You will meet lots of drunks who will become your best friends but Dubliners take their drink well and you won't get thumped. You will have a great laugh!
Rest of the country: the Irish landscape is heartbreakingly beautiful around the coast and a bit dull in the middle (sorry Athlone, but you know it's true). My favourite spots are out west (try around Clifden in County Galway or Leenane - it has Ireland's only proper fjord!) or the Wicklow mountains (20 miles south of Dublin). There are many fantastic golden sandy beaches all around the coast and great rivers, mountains and natural forests with a huge variety of wildlife. If you can, climb Croagh Patrick near Westport, County Mayo. It's a half day walk, but worth it. Afterwards visit the national famine monument close by - very photogenic. There is very little atmospheric pollution so clear days give great light and long views. Because of the latitude, summer days are long with daylight continuing almost up to 11 pm in June/July (if it isn't raining).
Weather in the rest of the country is mostly twice as wet as Dublin. Irish country life is still a bit special - strong sense of community, slow and contented pace of life, surreal things happen but are taken as entirely normal, very friendly. Take the time to chat to people- you'll learn a lot and people will be very interested in you. If you are a man you may be asked if you are married - don't be taken aback, it's a normal question and isn't (always) a proposal. If you want to talk to someone just remark on the weather and you'll be off!
Have fun and don't forget to post your pictures here.
Weather: Ireland is legendary for rainfall and deserves to be. What you don't always get told is that the rain is often short lived, with scudding clouds and brief periods of intense sunshine in between (or it can rain for 24 hours at a stretch too!). This gives fabulous colour and interesting skies so go prepared with your favourite colour film or a yellow filter for B+W to get the drama. You also get lots of contrasty light in these conditions. On the dull wet days, have fast film. Temperatures are very moderate - it doesn't freeze much and it never gets very hot. There is a lot of wind and on windy winters days, the windchill can do you. Take good clothes, gloves and hats, all waterproof.
Ireland is a very young country - most of the population is under 35 and consequently Irish life is pretty energetic. If you like sport try and watch some rugby, irish football, hurling - fast and dangerous all of them. There is also a lot of soccer played and horse-based sports are hugely popular. All very visual!
Dublin: Dublin is a beautiful and wealthy city with lots of fine buildings (many Georgian). The centre is small and you can walk about easily. There are excellent buses, trams and a suburban railway with astounding views of the sea and Dublin Bay - worth taking a ride south to Bray or Greystones for. Must see; O'Connell Street is the widest street in Europe and the heart of the City. Close by - the river Liffey, Grafton Street (posh shops), St Stephens Green (park and superb for people watching), Merrion Square (elegant Georgian Square), Temple Bar (trendy!). The pubs are a legend and great for people watching. Also go to the National Gallery and the Natural History Museum - free and outstanding collections as well as lovely buildings. Take a walk out to the docks for some urban grit.
Dublin has changed a lot in the last few years with lots of incomers from Europe and elsewhere. Dubliners remain very friendly and are often willing to act up for a camera - they usually don't mind being snapped and you will get some witty but caustic remark aimed at you. You need to keep your money etc safe in an inside zipped pocket but Dublin is not at all dangerous. You just need to be sensible.
It is outstandingly expensive - you can eat and drink incredibly well but you will pay for it. There's loads of entertainment and Dubliners love to go out. If you want some good street photography, try club closing time (2 a.m.). You will meet lots of drunks who will become your best friends but Dubliners take their drink well and you won't get thumped. You will have a great laugh!
Rest of the country: the Irish landscape is heartbreakingly beautiful around the coast and a bit dull in the middle (sorry Athlone, but you know it's true). My favourite spots are out west (try around Clifden in County Galway or Leenane - it has Ireland's only proper fjord!) or the Wicklow mountains (20 miles south of Dublin). There are many fantastic golden sandy beaches all around the coast and great rivers, mountains and natural forests with a huge variety of wildlife. If you can, climb Croagh Patrick near Westport, County Mayo. It's a half day walk, but worth it. Afterwards visit the national famine monument close by - very photogenic. There is very little atmospheric pollution so clear days give great light and long views. Because of the latitude, summer days are long with daylight continuing almost up to 11 pm in June/July (if it isn't raining).
Weather in the rest of the country is mostly twice as wet as Dublin. Irish country life is still a bit special - strong sense of community, slow and contented pace of life, surreal things happen but are taken as entirely normal, very friendly. Take the time to chat to people- you'll learn a lot and people will be very interested in you. If you are a man you may be asked if you are married - don't be taken aback, it's a normal question and isn't (always) a proposal. If you want to talk to someone just remark on the weather and you'll be off!
Have fun and don't forget to post your pictures here.
Last edited:
peter_n
Mentor
Lived in Dublin for the best 8 years of my life. If you are interested in visiting Ireland, may I recommend the Lets Go guide to Ireland 2006, senior editor Rachel Nolan. A relation of course!! 