Journey Woman - Woman's Travel Tales - Her Favourite Irish B & B's

Her Favourite Irish B & B's

Beggin' yer pardon, miss...

The Irish accent is beautiful and lilting. You could listen to it forever. But what on earth are these good folks saying? Yes, it's English, all right. But Ireland has its own unique vocabulary. To test your I.L.Q. (Irish Lingo Quotient), translate the following:
For dinner, she tried the kedgeree, followed by chocolate afters and hot cha. After getting a new bazzer, off she went to check out the local talent in a pub renowned for its crac. By midnight, after dancing up a storm, she was completely knackered, and returned sensibly to her B&B to get a good night's sleep.
Need some help? Here's a mini-dictionary of Irish terms.
Afters: dessert Bazzer: haircut Cha: tea Crac: atmosphere Kedgeree: a dish of flaked fish, boiled rice, and eggs Melted/shattered/knackered: tired Talent: the opposite sex

Her Irish walkabout...

One of the best ways to explore the towns and cities of Ireland is to meander on foot. Want to really enjoy it? Just make sure you take a few precautions:
		Always wear comfortable walking shoes-blisters can take the fun out of any trip.
		Bring bottled water so you don't get dehydrated.
		Carry a good map-you can get one in city tourist offices and in most book stores.
		Always have a 10 pence coin for public toilets.
		Although it rains a lot in Ireland, there is also a lot of sunshine. Bring along sun screen and a hat-you can never be too careful, ladies!
		Pack sweater and umbrella. The average high (Farenheit) in Dublin in the summer is mid-60's, the low about 50 degrees.
		Carry the card of your B&B or hotel in case you get lost-it will have their telephone number and maybe even a little map to guide you.
		P.S. Wear something green just to put you in the mood.

Literary Pub Crawl...

Looking for something fun and cultural to do in Dublin? Have we got a treat for you!

The world-famous Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, a tour of some of the city's most famous drinking establishments, starts at 7:30 p.m. every evening from April to November (from November to April, it's on from Thursday to Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.). 10 years running, this tour combines books, beer, and live entertainment. Two actors lead each group from pub to pub, following in the footsteps of James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, Paddy Kavanagh, and other great Irish scribes. Dublin's always had a superb reputation for producing world-class writers-and for having some of the world's best pubs. This tour puts the two together in an evening you'll never forget. What a way to see the city at night-especially if you're a solo traveller.

The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl starts every evening at the Duke Pub in Duke Street. You can pay at the door or book through the Dublin Tourism office in Suffolk Street. For more information, e-mail info@dublinpubcrawl.com

Bartender

Seeking advice about Ireland...

Journeywoman, Roxanne B. writes...

I'm considering moving to Ireland to work for a year (I'm an architect presently living in Halifax, Canada). I'm very interested in hearing from other women who have lived in Ireland--especially Canadians and other professionals, worldwide. I know I'll love it, and I probably won't want to leave at the end of my visa! But I'd like to get as much insider information as possible before I go. I'm aiming for Dublin, but I've had some interest from a firm in Roscommon (small town in the center of the country) as well. Please send your advice to: rox_button@hotmail.com

Leprechaun

Check out more on Ireland's B&B's in the Journeywoman archives.