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This is the guide for Dublin
Ireland
Hostels and Student Accomodation
An Óige hostels, those of the official
Irish Youth Hostel Association , are
run like youth hostels throughout Europe, with the hostels closed
during the daytime and evening curfews, at least officially. In
fact, you'll find many are more flexible than the rule book would
suggest, particularly in out of the way places. IYHA
membership is required at most hostels, and overnight fees for members
start at IR£5.50 in the country, IR£9.50 in Dublin and larger cities.
Full lists of An Óige places and prices
are available from their HQ at 61 Mountjoy
St, Dublin 7 (01/830 4555).
In the Republic, independent
hostels are usually more interesting places to stay, as each
reflects the character and interests of its owner, and some are
tucked away in beautiful countryside. Very often the atmosphere
is cosy and informal: you can stay in all day if you want and there
are no curfews or chores, though some hostels cram people in to
the point of discomfort. The Independent Holiday
Hostels organization (01/836 4700) will send you a comprehensive
list of their hostels. It is worth using their book-ahead system
during high season; although most won't let you book over the phone,
some may reserve you a bed up to a certain time in the early evening.
In tourist hot spots, you may be hassled at railway stations to
book a bed: there are a very small number of dangerous and disreputable
hostels around, so it's a good idea to check The
Rough Guide or Lonely Planet
or even ask around localy before booking in at a non-approved hostel.
Expect to pay around IR£5-7 for a dormitory bed (more in Galway,
Cork and Dublin),
IR£7-16 per person for private rooms where available. Independent
hostels and a network of Youth Hostel
Association places are now being set up in the North as well,
especially in the western part of the region; contact YHANI
(01232/324 7332).
Use our Hostel Booking form to book your hostel.
Places to See
The next parish west of here is America
the Aran Islands are not only geographically,
but spiritually on the edge of Europe. Landscape and life, stripped
to their bare essentials, reveal an inner beauty and serenity that
seem far removed from the twentieth century.
Try to visit County Clare in summer;
after marvelling at the wonderful limestone plateau of the Burren,
make your way to the small village of Doolin,
where you'll find live music in the bars every night of the week.
Explore the rich clustering of medieval monuments on the celebrated
Rock of Cashel, which is the place
where St Patrick picked a shamrock
to explain the doctrine of the Trinity. Early evening, wander the
lanes west of here to Hore Abbey for
superb views of the Rock across the meadows.
Visit the remote and beautiful Dingle Peninsula,
where the Gaelic language is still
alive and well, and which is home to the greatest concentration
of monastic ruins in Ireland.
Visit the secluded monastic site of Glendalough,
take the tour, and then wander on to the spectacular Upper
Lake, with its wooded cliffs and plunging waterfalls.
The Ring of Kerry may be a busy tourist
trail, but 80KM off the main road just about anywhere around the
Ring brings you to wild open countryside and fabulous seascapes,
so get out of the car or off your bike and explore.
Northern Ireland Go north; a positive
legacy of the Troubles is that some of Ireland's most beautiful
parts are hardly visited by tourists. Driving along the North
Antrim coast from Derry, stop
to take in the geologically spectacular Giants
Causeway and the impressive ruin of Dunluce
Castle.
Take a 24 km round trip to the remote and dramatic Skellig
Islands, off the Kerry coast.
Little Skellig is a bird sanctuary,
but you can get off at Skellig Michael
and climb up the tiny steps in the cliff face to the summit.
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