First impressions of Ireland

[JockandRita]

Ingwe, we are coming to the end of our time in Ireland, having crossed from Cairnryan on 1st July, and visited friends at Ballyclare in the north, then to Galway in the west. via Sligo. We then made our way down to Doolin on the WAW. From there we headed for Limerick, then Killaloe and Ballina on the Shannon. Heading back to the WAW, saw us at Portmagee, then Sneem.
Bypassing Cork, we visited Ardore, then Dungarvin, before heading north to Dublin. All of these overnight stops can be found by joining the Total Motorhome Ireland Facebook Group, which then gives you access to their fantastic POIs map. Yes, we stayed with friends wich did have the advantage of getting services and laundry done, but we never stayed on a site once, but used recognised MH stopovers with some charging no more than €10.00pupn, including basic services.
Like you, we have found the Irish to be nothing other than friendly and helpful.

Golden opportunity missed should have picked them up and hid them in the hedge.

"Chucked" would have been the operative word in my case.

As I have a wide track chassis FIAT van, I found that the drivers side rear wheel on most minor roads was always on the cats eyes. So it was a case of getting as close to crumbling drystone walls with uncut vegetation as I dared and trundling on the eyes. I ended up with a small light scratch on one side on a transfer, I consider that lucky considering what I was up against.

With our A Class, I was constantly having to ride the cats eyes, as sometimes the vegitation hid the broken yellow verge line. I have since been advised, that there is a right way, and a wrong way to do the Ring Of Kerry, ie, all the tour coaches do it clockwise, whereas I was doing it anti-clockwise and fortunately the MH came away unscathed, albeit filthy

The Guinness is simply divine;creamier than I've ever had in the U.K.

I totally agree, and was drinking it all the time. I don't drink Guinness in the UK, as I don't find it as palatable.

There is a moho Ireland facebook group, which might be useful.

As mentioned above. https://www.facebook.com/groups/totalmotorhomeireland/

Enjoy,

Jock (& Rita).

 

[Ingwe]

We had a very peaceful night on a €5 honesty box pitch right next to a big car park ( with height barriers and no overnighting signs) on the front at Dongle. Went out for fish and chips and a pint of Guinness at John Benny's pub. (I think that's the name). Both were very nice but the promised live music hadn't appeared before we went back to the van as we were very tired.

After a night of the van being constantly buffered by the wind, we set off along the Slea Head loop. We paid €7:00 to see Dunbeg Castle and were disappointed, after watching the video, that you can only see one part of the site, the remainder being fenced off. Then on to the Beehive houses (also €3.50 per head) which we declined and finally an iron age fort (another €7.00). We feel that, for what you see, €3.50 per head is poor value and we stopped looking at any of the sites for the remainder. A suggestion might be to charge €10 for a pass that allows access to all the sites on the loop. I appreciate that the sites may all be owned by different private owners so this may not be possible. However, we did feel not a little ripped off.

Which brings me neatly to Sammi's place (now called Inch Beach campsite). I know there are many of you who won't pay for a pitch or sneer at those of us who do and I'm also aware that there are lots of nice wild (free) spots available. But we did need to get water and to charge up our batteries ( it's been overcast most of our time here and the solar hasn't fully charged both batteries).

So, finding Sammi's place on Park for Night coming in at €12 per night with hook up and water available, we turned in. There was no one there other than one caravaner, who told us to set up as Sammi would be around at 7pm. We did this and Sammi duly came round at 5:00. Very chatty but wanted not €12 but €20 and showers are €1 for 2 minutes extra. And no black water. As for any other facilities, there are none. Had we not hooked up, put the van on ramps (and had a drink) I'd have packed up and moved on. I feel that we were being charged whatever he felt like. In future, if the tariff isn't displayed, I'm not staying. It's not that €20 is an inordinate sum (bearing in mind how ripped off we are in the UK, generally) it's the idea that they make it up as they go along. The poster who had the price at €12 per night was only June 2019 not ages ago.

Anyway, we'll move on tomorrow and hopefully continue enjoying this lovely island.

 

[PhilMary]

Mikey RV which beaches please?

Lahinch, I believe but I'm a Galway man so any West facing beach in Connamara.
Phil

 

[MR. FUSION]

We had a very peaceful night on a €5 honesty box pitch right next to a big car park ( with height barriers and no overnighting signs) on the front at Dongle. Went out for fish and chips and a pint of Guinness at John Benny's pub. (I think that's the name). Both were very nice but the promised live music hadn't appeared before we went back to the van as we were very tired.

After a night of the van being constantly buffered by the wind, we set off along the Slea Head loop. We paid €7:00 to see Dunbeg Castle and were disappointed, after watching the video, that you can only see one part of the site, the remainder being fenced off. Then on to the Beehive houses (also €3.50 per head) which we declined and finally an iron age fort (another €7.00). We feel that, for what you see, €3.50 per head is poor value and we stopped looking at any of the sites for the remainder. A suggestion might be to charge €10 for a pass that allows access to all the sites on the loop. I appreciate that the sites may all be owned by different private owners so this may not be possible. However, we did feel not a little ripped off.

Which brings me neatly to Sammi's place (now called Inch Beach campsite). I know there are many of you who won't pay for a pitch or sneer at those of us who do and I'm also aware that there are lots of nice wild (free) spots available. But we did need to get water and to charge up our batteries ( it's been overcast most of our time here and the solar hasn't fully charged both batteries).

So, finding Sammi's place on Park for Night coming in at €12 per night with hook up and water available, we turned in. There was no one there other than one caravaner, who told us to set up as Sammi would be around at 7pm. We did this and Sammi duly came round at 5:00. Very chatty but wanted not €12 but €20 and showers are €1 for 2 minutes extra. And no black water. As for any other facilities, there are none. Had we not hooked up, put the van on ramps (and had a drink) I'd have packed up and moved on. I feel that we were being charged whatever he felt like. In future, if the tariff isn't displayed, I'm not staying. It's not that €20 is an inordinate sum (bearing in mind how ripped off we are in the UK, generally) it's the idea that they make it up as they go along. The poster who had the price at €12 per night was only June 2019 not ages ago.

Anyway, we'll move on tomorrow and hopefully continue enjoying this lovely island.

The law of supply and demand.....you supplied he demanded. Still cheaper than being towed off Inch beach

 

[Ingwe]

Well, we're now parked up at Portmagee and the worst of West Irish weather has arrived. It is raining so hard, even the animals are walking in pairs. And the wind is buffetting the van non-stop. We've parked on a free pitch behind the church and next to a cemetery. Ahead of us, are the hills now covered in white mist/fog. Too wet to even contemplate nipping out for a pint.
The forecast for the next week or so isn't great so I guess this is how our first Irish trip will end. But we've got a full tank of water, an empty cassette and beers and food aplenty. So not all bad.
I'll post back tomorrow when we get to wherever we end up going to.
Evening all.

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[Drifter]

Weaned on pickled onions ?
We can’t wait to tour Ireland even tho the ferry seems gold plated for the distance. Only been around Dublin before so touring will be brilliant. Maybe next year

 

[Ingwe]

Weaned on pickled onions ?
We can’t wait to tour Ireland even tho the ferry seems gold plated for the distance. Only been around Dublin before so touring will be brilliant. Maybe next year

I'm sure you'll have a good time. We have loved Ireland but this weather we're experiencing tonight, certainly limits what we'd like to do and see.
Given its geographical location, I'm not sure you can safely predict good weather here so take potluck and enjoy. The worst that can happen is that you stay in the pub drinking Guinness. Oh lack a day!

 

[Drifter]

The only place I have ever drank draught Guinness is Ireland. I look forward to more
We are good at predicting weather in Scotland, every day we get some ?

 

[Ingwe]

Wow! That was some stormy night at Port Magee. Hardly slept because of the sound of the wind and rain. Plus, the van was rocking as if it contained two overweight teenagers rutting!
The road from there to Bantry was pretty bad too. Worse road since the Po Valley, Italy. I've probably lost all my fillings.
Anyway, now parked up at Eagle something campsite. We want a bit of luxury so are paying over €30 a night. And that includes 6A leccy. Go mad! Kettle or TV.
The weather is due to improve tomorrow and stay nice until Sunday. So we'll probably stay here a couple of nights before heading east.

 

[Ingwe]

Now home again after a pretty uneventful if dull crossing from Rosslare to Fishguard. Spent ages sitting in the van waiting to disembark but don't know what the problem was. Anyway, as it was 10pm we parked up once again behind the Tesco Express across the road from the terminal and had a good night's sleep.
We set off this morning for York and decided to go the way our sat nav suggested. Aberystwyth, Welshpool, Wrexham, Chester etc.
Took just under 7 hours with a break of 30 mins.
Overall impression of Ireland? Lovely place, fantastic friendly people, some very good roads, some awful roads, lots of wild camping spots and generally expensive commercial sites. Guinness to die for. I'd go again tomorrow but skip the Ring of Kerry, which although beautiful is packed with busses, motorhomes etc. I'd like to explore the east and south coast more.
Overall, a brilliant first for us!

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[autorouter]

Interestingly, this morning, when going to the shower, the Swift had moved leaving its ramps, hook up cable, and a quaint little sign saying " this pitch belongs to xxxxxxxxx".

Pick them up, take them to Reception and say you found these items, must have been left behind accidentally, no, really sorry, I can't remember which pitch they were on.

 

[Ingwe]

Post script: as we had no time constraints we decided to return home through Wales. Although progress was quite slow, the roads were really excellent and the scenery was lovely. So much so, that we want to spend two or three weeks exploring Wales.