Goodreads Ireland discussion

This is a folder for those readers who wish to discuss their memories of Ireland,or would just like some ideas for their own trip. So, Share your memories and help a fellow Goodreader enjoy their future holiday in Ireland, or you might even help a fellow native, like me, find a hidden gem. Don't be afraid to post pics.

Declan. :)

Here is a link to a page full of travel articles re: Ireland, and quoting below one of those articles (written by me) re: the neolithic sites/sights! All the articles are good and provide info on unusual trips rather than the Guinness--Blarney--Ring of Kerry circuit that is crowded with tourists.

Also anyone interested in gardens can contact me through the GR page, though for this year that season is winding down until next spring.

"For something off the beaten path that may lead to a lifelong hobby, consider exploring Ireland’s Neolithic past. The equipment is simple: sturdy walking shoes and a rain slicker layered over a sweater and your favorite camera. Why would anyone track the Neolithic in Ireland? Lots of reasons! First, the great Boyne mound assembly is famous, it is a UN World Heritage site holding the majority of Europe’s prehistoric rock art. Second, most passage mounds have a high location with spectacular views and require only a moderate hill climb to access. These ancient sites are in the countryside where you are likely to interact with locals. You can arrange to stay in lovely and unique country house hotels with a welcoming hearth and fresh cuisine. After dinner, enjoy the craic and trad music down the lane at the pub.… " (May 14, 2011, Travelhoppers -- Ireland )

LINK: http://www.travelhoppers.com/category...

I started visiting Ireland over twenty years ago, doing a bed & breakfast tour with another couple. We travelled the west coast in a red Ford Sierra, clashing door mirrors with oncoming traffic on country roads, peering out of steamed up windows at the beautiful scenery and gaping at local yokels in the quaint towns that caused traffic bottlenecks every few tens of miles. Pubs offered a pint of Guinness, a ham sandwich which consisted of a thin slice of processed ham and a limp lettuce leaf, and a guaranteed secondary smoking experience. Crisps were cheese and onion or cheese and onion.
The bed & breakfast establishments were plentiful and welcoming. We were force-fed full Irish breakfast every morning by fast-talking landladies who managed to extract details of Irish heritage from every guest.
Things have changed now - except for the crisps and the landladies. There are new motorways and ring-roads around most of the old bottlenecks. No smoking, kilometres instead of miles, focaccia and macchiato at gourmet cafés. What does remain is the challenge of making that beautiful scenery accessible. You can't eat scenery, but you can hug it. If I was doing another tour of Ireland (which, although I live here, isn't likely as the family want away) I'd focus on getting access to the scenery, getting a land hug, and keep the itinerary gentle and relaxed, because that's the way life is here.
If you're into hill-walking then http://mountainviews.ie/ is a great resource.

I love the phrase "land hug." Those land hugs really fill an emotional place in my heart.

I was able to visit Ireland in September. I loved everything about my visit. I got hooked on Taytos potato chips and Galaxy bars.Majority of my stay was in Dublin, Dalkey, and another suburb of Dublin where my boyfriend lives. I also got to visit Ring of Kerry and see the Cliffs of Moher. I plan on visiting Ireland again in 2012...:)

Deb wrote: "I was able to visit Ireland in September. I loved everything about my visit. I got hooked on Taytos potato chips and Galaxy bars.Majority of my stay was in Dublin, Dalkey, and another suburb of Du..."

I'm from Dublin. I love it but It's a city of contrasts. That being said, I love Dalkey. It's such a beautiful place. Especially if you walk down by the coast. I love Kerry. It really is beautiful. Having said that The Cliffs of Moher beat all comers. They rival any natural wonder in the world.

Ahh, Declan, sunset on the Blackstairs will beat the foggy Cliffs of Moher ! *smiles*

Of all the countries I've visited, It's still the most beautiful and dramatic scene I've witnessed. I recommend it to every foreign guest and they're never disappointed.

I must confess, though, that the last time I had guests we went from Wicklow to Kilkenny and didn't make the detour to the Blackstairs when we passed through Carlow. I'll have to correct that next time. (For Shame!)

I have to agree that the Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking although I don't think I have ever been wetter in my life after being caught in the wind and rain --and I live in the Seattle area. Next time I will have to catch Blackstairs.

The first time we were in Ireland we got lost on our way to Kilkenny on one of the many small windy roads. A kind man saw our confusion, probably thinking "not another American looking for their roots", and stopped and had us follow his car all the way there. This is the kind of thing I remember about Ireland in addition to incredible beauty.

Come back soon, Laura. If you've been watching the news, you'll know that we need the tourism revenue. If things keep going the way they are you'll be able to buy the Blackstairs when you're here, next time.

Hi all! I'm glad this topic was posted. I'm from the USA and I have always wanted to go to Ireland. I'm part Irish and part Scott and in 2007 I got my wish.

I can't wait to go again. I could easily live there for the rest of my life. The place is gorgeous and enchanting and as soon as I step on Irish soil, even though I had never been there before it felt like I was coming home.

The people were the friendliest I ever met. Some people say the sea is the same everywhere you go but they're wrong. The sea in Ireland was one of the most beutiful I've ever seen. We opted to stay in Bed and Breakfasts instead of hotel and we couldn't have made a better choice. We stayed at a farmhouse B&B and a castle. The Cliffs of Moher were majestic and all I can remember saying everywhere we went was "Oh my God."

My only problem with the trip was it wasn't near long enough for me to get my fill. I long to go back there again.

I'm glad that you had such a great time, Sheila. I don't know why I never recommended it before, but If you loved the Cliffs of Moher you'd love the north-west coast. Particularly around Donegal.

Yes I heard about that. I wanted to go there but just didn't have the time. We saw the ring of kerry and it was also very beutiful. There was so much I didn't get to see. I would love to go over there and stay for a long time. There's so much I wanted to do. I'll do them next time. BTW,I like your name.

...Should have named this

the Homesick Thread...

Deb wrote: "I was able to visit Ireland in September. I loved everything about my visit. I got hooked on Taytos potato chips and Galaxy bars.Majority of my stay was in Dublin, Dalkey, and another suburb of Du..."
Taytos..... cant beat em!!! did you bring some home? when i was in america i was obsessed with milk duds!!!!

Lads, even though im from North Cork The Wineport Lodge in Glassan, Westmeath is the most fab place in Ireland ive ever stayed. If ye are ever lookin for a break away to actually do nothing for a bit go there.
from my Homeplace area - The Vee [near Mount Melleray] and Inchydoney Island are a must visit and Kinsale. I'm currently studying for a diploma in Travel writing so i promise when i have it all properly arranged ill post here again.

@Sheila.
Thanks, Sheila. It hasn't gone unnoticed that you have a good, strong traditional Irish name. BTW, if you return, be sure to announce it here and try to hook-up with GI members, or at least seek travel advice.

@Deb.
I have to admit that I've sorely neglected Westmeath. The only times I've gone were to drop my dogs off at a long-stay kennel. The drive was amazing, though. The lakes are amazing and there are dozens of smaller ones that don't show up on national maps. Also, I've never strayed too far from Kent Station or Patrick St whenever I've visited Cork. Apart from a trip to Fota Wildlife Park when I was a child.

@J.S.
The Feeling-Guitly-About-Your-Lack-of-Interest-in-Your-Own-Country thread is also starting to seem apt.

I'll do that Declan, thanks. Wow! hooking up with GI memebers would be like meeting my family over there!

I'll be back. Another place I want to visit that I didn't get to do last time was Kilkenny. I listen to alot of celtic music and there's a sad song about Kilkenny that makes me cry everytime I hear it. I love it.

I was there recently. It was all a bit of a rush and I didn't get the chance to show it off as much as I would have liked. The medieval streets really are a pleasure to walk.

Medievil streets! Wow. I know I have to go back then. Declan do you or anybody on the site have any recommendations of who to contact to book another trip? I live in the USA and I'm graduating paralegal school in 2013. I want a trip to Ireland to be my graduation present. I'd like to stay 3 weeks. Any ideas?

I need to start planning now because it will take me that long to pay off the trip. LOl!

Anyone ever in Kilkenny do let me know as I live and work there. Just off for my medieval lunch now.

Ruby wrote: "Anyone ever in Kilkenny do let me know as I live and work there. Just off for my medieval lunch now."

So would you be having lunch somewhere in the Butterslip [ medieval passage ] then?

& @ Sheila, let us know your specific interests ( libraries/art collections, gardens (public and private tours), hiberno-romanesque churches, megaliths, crafts, trad music, golf, etc) so we can really give useful suggestions. County Kilkenny has a great variety of things to see; you could easily spend a week doing Kilkenny/Wexford. Another week doing Dublin/Meath/Kildare. Another week in Cork/Kerry, or the Galway area, or in the North.

Here's a tip: avoid the usual tourist spots like kissing the stone at Blarney Castle. Or the Guinness brewery tour unless for some reason you must see that. -- Why spend time standing in line with a bunch of Yanks? -- Heh.

Hi all, I live up in the North West..Co, Donegal, as per normal Irish weather it's cold, wet and windy but blimey the place comes alive on the odd occassion that the sun shines. I am lucky enough to live close to the coast, and often get to walk the furry family along it. Unfortunately the area is basically in the back end of no-where so the normal day to day amenties aren't always availabel but really that ia choice you make when you choose to live here

J.S. wrote: "Ruby wrote: "Anyone ever in Kilkenny do let me know as I live and work there. Just off for my medieval lunch now."

So would you be having lunch somewhere in the Butterslip [ medieval passage ] t..."

On High Street, just down from Butterslip. But no roasted mutton - I had ye olde tandoori chicken wrap and a pot of mint tea.

My new release The Baptist is set mainly in Kilkenny, but that might dissuade people from visiting!

Declan, great idea! I was only in Ireland for a few days, but loved every minute of my visit. Walking through Dublin Castle was awe-inspiring. Visiting a sheep farm, watching one of the sheepdogs work their charges, and tasting my first scone was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ring of Kerry tour, especially watching a roof being thatched. There are not enough words to describe the Cliffs of Moher, except breathtaking as several have said. Monuments to those who died during the Great Hunger tugged at my heart. So much more I wanted to see! Someday, maybe.

J.S. I can't begin to tell you all I want to see and do. I love art, mythology, gardens. I love the sea and lighthouses, I like medieval anything. A lot of the books I read have to do with Highlanders, knights, swordfights, ect.

In 2007 I only got to see the Cliffs of Moher, and the Ring of Kerry. We stayed at some very nice B&B's and even a castle but we didn't get to see much because we only had a week. I love nature, I like seeing things God created. I like legends and lore but it's hard for me to pin down just what I would like to see when I get there this time. I've contacted both ExploreIreland.com and DiscoverIreland.com to get the process rolling but I'm not sure which I'm going to go with right now. I know this time I want an agent who lives in Ireland. What better way to plan a trip than with someone who lives there. I want to see the things off the beaten path, the things in the little nooks and cranies.

Ruby when I do come, I'd like to meet you and anyone else that's on here. I may get over there this time and decided to stay.

Lyn wrote: "Declan, great idea! I was only in Ireland for a few days, but loved every minute of my visit. Walking through Dublin Castle was awe-inspiring. Visiting a sheep farm, watching one of the sheepdogs w..."

Lyn you can always come with me in 2013. LOL!

Sheila, it's so kind of you to invite me! You probably wouldn't want me slowing you down, though. I'm handicapped. Walking is difficult and there are some places I can't manage. When we visited Blarney Castle I stayed below while my husband climbed up the winding tower steps. Same at the Cliffs. He went up there with our friends while I shopped in the gift store. Still, I do appreciate your offer.

BTW if you're curious, you can learn a bit about my disability from my memoir, Six Cats In My Kitchen. It's available in digital format on Amazon. Only $1.99!
http://tinyurl.com/6v8nag2

Sheila wrote: "J.S. I can't begin to tell you all I want to see and do. I love art, mythology, gardens. I love the sea and lighthouses, I like medieval anything. A lot of the books I read have to do with Highland..."

Always happy to meet up with readers and writers! It's cosy in Ireland, someone is always having a book launch or a workshop or reading group.

I'll have to check that out Lyn. Thanks for letting me know and I'm sorry about your handicap. My husband has MS so I can relate.

Does anybody know of any good DVD's I can get about Ireland?

I would love to do a book launch!

Sheila wrote: "I would love to do a book launch!"

I don't know about informative DVDs but The Guard would give you a humorous view of Ireland. The Commitments would show you urban Dublin, albeit about twenty years ago, and In Bruges would give you the Irish psyche, although it's set mostly in Belgium. I do realise you weren't really asking about films.
Also, http://mountainviews.ie/ is great for Irish mountain scenerty.

One of my erstwhile tutors has another booklaunch in Kilkenny in two weeks. So looking forward to it because it'll be party-time1

Sheila, there are tons of books about Ireland, if that would help. I have two bookshelves full of them. Many were found among the bargain books at Barnes & Noble. I love bargains! And if a book title contains the word "Ireland" it's like a magnet pulling me in.

A DVD re: the early settlement of Ireland after the last Ice Age is Blood Of The Irish ( blood refers to deep genetics ). You can locate it by the title, on Facebook or -- Amazon.

Check my profile for a novel of prehistoric Ireland, based partly on myth fragments from the earliest myths and in part on new ideas advanced since 2001 by eminent academics at Oxford, UC-Cork, and etc. See: Cunliffe and Koch, editors: Celtic from the West.

Cahill's title for the current group read is an excellent philosphical treatment of a portion of Irish history. How the Irish Saved Civilization

For some UNsanitized history, read some memoirs from the early 1900s: Dan Breen,My Fight For Ireland's Freedom ( may be hard to get in the US); Kathleen Clarke Revolutionary Woman: My Fight for Ireland's Freedom; and the elegaic On Another Man's Wound. In fact if you don't read anything else, read some unsanitized history.

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely check those out.

I have one book o bought in Ireland about Myths and Legends. I love it!

Michelle wrote: "Deb wrote: "I was able to visit Ireland in September. I loved everything about my visit. I got hooked on Taytos potato chips and Galaxy bars.Majority of my stay was in Dublin, Dalkey, and another ..."
Wow, I looked up the Winsport Lodge Web site. It's breathtaking. Of course, if I go all the way to Ireland, I don't want a couple of days to do nothing. I can do that at home.

Queen Maeve and the Turf Bog,
or the Revenge of the Warlock

A little bit about me first, because it's relevant. I was born upside down with a caul over my face. In my family, that's an auspicious event, exactly why I was never told. My grandmother McLaughlin was born that way, too, and took mine away. As a boy, I had a white flash in my brown hair, above my left eye. She told me that was because I was touched by the family banshee at birth, and I could never drown because it was watching me, maybe protecting me, but likely not. She knew more of the old stories, the old characters and myths, than the Sidhe dancing around a tree. Devoutly Catholic, an Irish speaker, she just as devoutly held many of the old beliefs.

One St. Patrick's Day gathering when I was about ten she made her usual carrot cake with the tiny green Éirinn go Brách flags stuck in it. Some non-Irish lout who had a drink taken made an offhand remark about the Leprechaun, meaning to be funny. My grandmother quickly blessed herself and looked at the floor. That night. when we were alone, I asked why she did that. She looked around warily and whispered. "Seamus, in North America they think the little people are nice, happy. They aren't. When I was a girl on the farm, at night we put out milk and bread for them so they wouldn't kill the sheep."

Years later, when I was ransacking Irish mythology, as per usual, I came across the description of a warlock. Let's see, born upside down with a caul. Check. Family banshee. Check. White flash in hair. Check. Never considered myself a warlock, sure never felt like one, whatever they feel. But maybe I didn't have a choice.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a religious man. Ethical, yes. I'm not superstitious, either. Congenitally sceptical is more like it. I have read widely in Irish mythology, from Yeats backward to The Book of the Dun Cow, Irish history, poetry and literature. Let's just agree I know the stories and characters of mythological Ireland pretty well, but I'm not a believer, never had a paranormal moment in my life. Never, that is, until I went up to the turf bog on Angseley Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula. First and last.

The handouts call it Cúchulainn Country, and it is. I was staying at Beaufort House, a fine B&B in Carlingford, as a base for my historical research. The owner, Michael, was a wit, an urbane, sophisticated lad, a fine story teller, yachtsman and fond of the craic. Also, he was curious as hell about why a lone North American, Irish background or not, would be snooping around on his part of the Táin Trail for weeks, but he was too polite to press.

One morning I was the sole guest at breakfast, so Michael sat down to have a cup of tea with me, chatting up a storm. "So, where are ye off to today?" says he. "I want to find the turf bog around here that figures in the Cattle Raid of Cooley," says I, "but I can't seem to find it on any of the maps." His head snapped up, and he gave me a keen look. "Do ye now? Sure, are ye?" His look turned doubtful. I laughed and said, "Of course, why not. I'm just curious." He pointed out the window, up the lough to the northwest, and said, "It's up there, do ye see?" He left the table abruptly, then came back with a piece of paper and a pen. Quickly, he drew a map. "This last bit, here, is a bit tricky, not much of a road. You'll come to what looks like a farm gate with a cattle grate, but it isn't. Just go on through. You'll know it when you get there. Good luck." He stood at the door and watched me drive away, that same dubious look on his face.

"Not much of a road," was much, much more than an understatement. The tin box of Hyundai I rented at Dublin Airport was in first gear and gravel at the verge sheeted down about a three hundred metres into nowhere. Hairpin turn after hairpin turn. If anybody was coming the other way, I was done. The higher I got, the mistier it became. "Just a wee mist," doesn't cut it with me anymore. At the summit, the ceiling was less than ten metres over my head, dense, gray, still. Came over a rise, and there it was in a hollow. Neat piles of turf, spades glistening with beaded water leaning on them. When I got out of the car, it was silent as the grave. No one, anywhere. Not a tree, a bush, not even gorse. The very air was quicksilver.

I walked down to where the digging was done. Very suddenly, I felt a presence behind me, not friendly, either. Very large, powerful. Believe me, I'm not making this up. Something that felt like iron tongs grabbed me by the neck. I fell to my knees. The spot on my forehead where the white flash used to be when I was a child felt hot, like molten lead. The pressure on my neck released. I was very, very certain I'd been warned to leave, now. In the splittest of seconds, I decided to stand up and turn around to face it. There was a rushing sound in the still mist, like a heavy door closing, and it was gone. I didn't know this, properly speaking, I felt it leave, like a great weight off my chest. Guess warlocks have their own ways of knowing, their own passports in a way.

I sat in the car, motor running, radio on to make some noise. Took a while to control my breathing.

Picked up Michael's map. He had suggested driving down the other side of Angseley Mountain to "see the sights" as he put it, then loop back around to Carlingford. About a quarter of the way down, I stopped, got out and looked back up. The shroud of mist was still there. The grazing fields on the mountainside were empty. A little further on and the winding, steep gravel track became bounded by dry stack on either side, just a bit of clearance for the mirrors on the car. Here, the road was straight as a die, at least, but the grade was dizzying. Down below, I could just make out a car and what looked like a human standing by it. The road follows to the very end of the lough and runs parallel with the border. As I got closer, I could see it was a Gardai vehicle, with a man in uniform leaning on a post regarding me. This was the time of the Foot and Mouth scare from the north, and there was a wet mat in the road for cars to cross coming south. The Garda was by himself. He kept on staring till I reached the intersection with the road to Newry, where he was parked.

I stopped and rolled down the window. A man of about fifty, he casually strolled over, and I saw he quickly marked the D on the car's plate. Just as casually, he propped his elbow on the windowsill. Smiling, he looked at me and said, "Been up above, have ye now?" It crossed my mind to say no, but I thought better of it. I mean, really, where the hell else could I have been. That's daft. Just said, "Yes, sure have. Some drive that." You could see him relax at a North American accent. "You didn't see anything odd, like, up there, did ye?" "Nope, too misty, so I didn't see much of anything. It's a very strange place, though." He got my heavy emphasis on "see" and looked at me sharply. "Well, have a care, I wouldn't go up there again or at night or in the winter. Not safe."

I must have looked pretty shaken when I got back to Beaufort House. Michael drove me to the Carlingford Arms for a pint of black, and I told him the story. "Maybe it was all just the power of suggestion, do you think?" I said, rather weakly. He shook his head: "You aren't the only one, believe me. I was going to tell you that, but we've talked enough I know you've got the Strabane hard head and wouldn't have listened." When the second pint hit the bar, I watched the fall for a bit, then asked him: "What about the peat cutters up there? Are they okay?" "Well," he said, "it seems they're related, so I suppose it's all in the family."

A peat bog on top of a forlorn mountain is certainly not on my list of the most beautiful places in Ireland. The Arran Islands, the cliffs of Moher, Rathlin Island, the Antrim coast, Kildare Street, Trinity, Newgrange, Ben Bulben, all are much more scenic in their own ways. Dublin Castle, Joyce's Martello, Beal na Blath, Glasnevin, and the Kilmainham all have their own special aura for me. Queen Maeve's misty haunt in that lonely turf bog, though, has to be my most memorable.

I wrote this post up early today for the first time. To keep the record straight, it's not an excerpt from any of my published works, which really have little to do with me personally or my travels and a great deal to do with the characters. They're more interesting than I am.

Sheila wrote: "I'll have to check that out Lyn. Thanks for letting me know and I'm sorry about your handicap. My husband has MS so I can relate.

Does anybody know of any good DVD's I can get about Ireland?"


Sheila, when I'm in Cork City d next time I'll go into the Irish shop and find you a good DVD and ill collect all the info booklets i can find and post them over. i'll prob be up there for the January sales to get books for college so ill def get it then ok!!!!

Susan wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Deb wrote: "I was able to visit Ireland in September. I loved everything about my visit. I got hooked on Taytos potato chips and Galaxy bars.Majority of my stay was in Dublin, Dal..."

Its a spa- i meant that kind of nothing!!!!

Michelle wrote: "Susan wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Deb wrote: "I was able to visit Ireland in September. I loved everything about my visit. I got hooked on Taytos potato chips and Galaxy bars.Majority of my stay was ..."

Yea, spa nothing is good nothing! De-tox, read, plot next novel chapter in your head.

Hi all.
I'd like to put in a word for my adopted home county and city: Cork. The city has subtle charms, the centre being an island in the middle of the river Lee. It's main streets were once canals. The history is fascinating. I heard a Limerick woman say of Cork to a US visitor: "Oh don't go to Cork, it's not like Ireland at all."
I know what she means. But it's a compliment not a condemnation. Cork city has the feel of a French city and that's great. Good food, small scale, interesting things hiding.
Many tourists visit Blarney ( A tourist honey trap to be avoided) and then head for Killarney in Kerry and they pay no attention to what Cork county has to offer.
That's also good because it means the delights of the West Cork coast is mainly free of tourist coaches and the trappings of ginger Leprechaun cartoon Oirishness.
Any one coming this way will be very welcome to come my way and get a personal tour.
davidrory

David Rory wrote: "Hi all.
I'd like to put in a word for my adopted home county and city: Cork. The city has subtle charms, the centre being an island in the middle of the river Lee. It's main streets were once canal..."

I might be there with friends before the Summer. If so, we'll have to meet up.

I know that this thread has been inactive for quite some time, but I have unfortunately been inactive a good while myself and am only now catching myself up. I've had the pleasure of visiting Ireland twice now, and I couldn't have asked for a better guide. I've loved everything I've seen and done there, but I have to say, the places that have left the most impression upon me were the passage tombs of Knowth and Newgrange, the Cliffs of Moher, and Kilmainham Gaol. I'm fortunate to have friends in Ireland, so I've been a bit spoiled as far as being shown the best spots. Ireland has always had a special place in my heart, but each trip I've made has gripped me more and more tightly. I miss it, and I can't wait to make the next trip. I would ultimately like to move to Ireland (I'm a current resident of Tennessee in the USA), but until then, I fully intend to take as many trips over as possible! :) Maybe I'll even meet a few more of you in the process!

Annie wrote: "I know that this thread has been inactive for quite some time, but I have unfortunately been inactive a good while myself and am only now catching myself up. I've had the pleasure of visiting Irela..."

If you're in Dublin let me know. Any member who visits Ireland from overseas is entitled to a coffee, care of me.

Declan wrote: "If you're in Dublin let me know. Any member who visits Ireland from overseas is entitled to a coffee, care of me."

Declan, as one of the friends I mentioned above, you know I wouldn't make a trip over without seeing you! To anyone else on this thread who needs advice on where to go, Declan's the man to ask! He's shown me around on both trips I've managed to make so far, and he's an excellent tour guide! I'd have been lost and too overwhelmed to know where to go on my own!

Although, now that you've promised it, I WILL take you up on that coffee! ;)

But I pay for the coffee.

You just beat me to the next message by a heartbeat.

Shall we say Bewley's then? I'd like to go back. For any of you who haven't been there, I highly recommend it! The atmosphere is lovely, and it's near St. Stephen's Green, so there's a pleasant walk to be had (weather permitting, of course) after you've enjoyed your coffee!

And within walking distance of Trinity College, Dublin Castle, The Chester Beatty Library, The National Museum, Marsh's Library, The National Gallery, Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's Cathedral.

Some of which I think you've left to see.