Moon Ireland: Castles, Cliffs, and Lively Local Spots

By Camille DeAngelis

Book Overview

From its stirring legends to its stunning landscapes, Ireland is a living, breathing fairy-tale. Ignite your imagination with Moon Ireland. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries from a two-week "Best of Ireland" adventure or a weekend in Dublin to 3-day tours of southern, northern, and coastal Ireland that can be combined into a longer tripStrategic ideas for history buffs, outdoor adventurers, foodies, honeymooners, families, and moreUnique ideas and can't-miss experiences: Visit the Old Library at Trinity College for a look at Ireland's most famous illuminated manuscript or drive past picturesque castles along the Ring of Kerry. Marvel at the misty magnificence of the Cliffs of Moher, wander through a 6th-century monastery, and ferry to the enchanting Aran Islands. Soak up the bohemian spirit of Galway City, take an introspective minute at the Bogside Peace Murals, or spend a day biking the Burren in County Clare. Head to a pub to order up a pint and enjoy a traditional meal while you experience Ireland's rollicking folk music sceneHonest insight from Ireland expert Camille DeAngelisFull color photos and detailed maps throughoutThorough background on the country's history, landscape, government, and cultureHelpful tools such as common local expressions and a guide to Irish cuisine and beverages, plus tips for traveling with children, seniors, travelers with disabilities, LGBTQ+ travelers, and travelers of colorFocused coverage of Dublin and its surroundings (including Meath, Louth, Wicklow, and Kildare), the Southeast, Cork, Kerry, Clare and Limerick, Galway, the Northwest, and Northern IrelandWith Moon Ireland's practical tips and local insight, you can experience the best of the Emerald Isle.
Expanding your trip to the UK? Try Moon Edinburgh, Glasgow & the Isle of Skye or Moon London Walks.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1640499016
• ISBN13: 9781640499010
• Release Date: May 2020
• Publisher: Moon Travel
• Length: 584 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Road-tested by me summer 2007, very up-to-date!

This was published in May 2007, and I consulted it during my stay in June and July. I can vouch for its accuracy. The strength of the book lies in the fact that as far as I can tell from the acknowledgements (worth reading for their charm), the whole was written by a young American ex-pat, Camille DeAngelis, and therefore has the consistency of a single p-o-v that reflects her encyclopedic knowledge, tempered enthusiasm, and evident stamina. While the guide is markedly less comprehensive on history, sightseeing, and local lore than competing guides, it is very thorough on practicalities such as civilized accomodation, decent eats, bus routes, and ATMs. I would use this to work out the nitty-gritty of planning the details of staying once you figure out in your itinerary where you are going and how long in each locale you'd be staying. That's where the prefaced itineraries geared to particular cultural, scenic, historic, or recreational interests come in, as well as a few paragraphs at the end of each county section telling you how long would be ideal to remain in a certain location if you want to partake of its attractions-- or flee their lack of appealing destinations. The book lacks the flashy graphics of other guides, and is geared more to the independent visitor, perhaps on their own, on a budget rather than a tour bus or expense account. DeAngelis succeeds in giving travellers a realistic expectation of the costs, hassles, rewards, and drawbacks of getting about the remoter and less-obviously touristed places in Ireland. She also takes care to note prices whenever possible; although inevitably these may rise, they do, due to the book's recent publication, reflect as closely as any print work can, the considerable expense of looking after yourself and getting around and staying put in this, one of the priciest nations now in the world-- especially given the weak dollar vs. the euro. I tested my own two-week stay in such a place in Donegal, off the beaten track a bit, with her coverage. She was accurate in her descriptions, noting such details as the mattresses in a hostel, how far said hostel was from the main road, what kind of road it was, how to find the place given its remoteness, the temperament of the caretaker, and prices for what she charged vs. what you got for the money. All this in about a hundred words. She tells that the nearest ATM is 27 kilometres away. She recommends of the three choices the pub (not the quieter one I favored...but the same one all the guides like!) with the best craic. She warns of the few shops, the difficulty without a car in seeing it all, and the scattered nature of the dramatically situated settlement. While her coverage of the archaeological and cultural sites there was for my tastes far too brief, such information can be obtained easily with other references. Like the Moon Handbook I remember using on a trip five years ago to the Big Island of Hawai'i, this series concentrates on the good place to g