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Best of Ireland 2018 changes
Am I reading the 2018 itinerary correctly?
New counter-clockwise route, starting and ending in Dublin, that's fine, but no Blarney Castle, no Ashford Castle, and no stop at the Waterford Crystal factory?!?!?!
Yes, Blarney is a bit touristic and a bit of a cliche, kissing the stone and all, but it really is a beautiful ruin and the grounds are beautiful, too. And of course, what does everyone ask when you get home- "Did you kiss the Blarney Stone?' From the private boat trip on Lough Corrib and the spectacular approach by water, to the welcome with piper and staff, Ashford Castle is just incredible.
New counter-clockwise route, starting and ending in Dublin, that's fine, but no Blarney Castle, no Ashford Castle, and no stop at the Waterford Crystal factory?!?!?!
Yes, Blarney is a bit touristic and a bit of a cliche, kissing the stone and all, but it really is a beautiful ruin and the grounds are beautiful, too. And of course, what does everyone ask when you get home- "Did you kiss the Blarney Stone?' From the private boat trip on Lough Corrib and the spectacular approach by water, to the welcome with piper and staff, Ashford Castle is just incredible.
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Comments
Nancy
Of course much of Europe has become very touristy (or touristic as one of our TD's used say), but that is one reasons we go. If it was just to see the emerald green grass and drink Guinness, we could rent a farm house for a week or two. But places like Ashford Castle, Waterford, Blarney are all a part of what makes Ireland, Ireland. I just think a "best of" tour should include places like that. Check out Glenlo Abbey Hotel which replaced Ashford! : (
At least they kept Mount Juliet Hotel in the standard size tour.
As to Waterford, the factory tour was interesting, even for a guy, heck I even enjoyed the stop and tour of the Belleek factory. But if you read the wiki, you'll find they have had financial problems over the last two decades and are lucky to be around at all. It doesn't matter to me that the recent incarnation WWH (Waterford, Wedgwood Holdings) was just about gone until Fiskars, a Finnish company, purchased the whole shooting match which includes- Waterford and Rogaška (crystal) and Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and Royal Albert (china) in 2015 or that most Waterford crystal is now produced outside Ireland in countries such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany.
One final note totally unrelated to this discussion for anyone taking this or similar tour- eat a light breakfast and plan on a light dinner, on Day 4- the lunch (a feast!) at Bushmills Inn is to die for- 6- 8 types of meats carved as you wait, other great stuff, and fantastic desserts including sticky toffee pudding!
Yeah, I know! I've been dieting so I can gain it all back over the next two weeks- we fly out on Thursday for "Romantic Germany."
How can they leave out Blarney castle?? We did not kiss the stone but the grounds are beautiful and it's amazing to see the castle. PLUS the biggest shop in all of Ireland is there and we had some time to shop before we had lunch on our own there. That was one of my favorite days of the tour. I also loved seeing how Waterford crystal is made. I know its NOT really Waterford anymore, it's owned by someone else BUT the town is ancient, why not tour it?!. Go to a distillery? WHY???? I'd much rather see an ancient castle and glass.
BUT they do pass by Blarney and Waterford on the new itinerary on day 12, as Blarney is right near Midleton where they do the Jameson Experience and they have to pass Waterford to go from Midleton to Thomastown. SO WHY THE CHANGE?!
I realize starting and ending in Dublin makes more sense and is easier for flights BUT essentially the itinerary goes to the same areas but in a new order so I think it's a shame that they are leaving out something as iconic as Blarney.