manchester holidays reviews
Tuesday, 2nd January 2007
Ireland: A fantastic dream
Dean Kirby  VIBRANT: The Claddagh by nightThen you can head back to the heart of Galway City for a night of music, laughter and Guinness - or a plate of oysters, if you dare. This historic "city of the tribes" and the surrounding county is definitely the place to take your tribe for a break. And with cheap flights with Aer Arann, there is no better time to give it a try. Galway City, at the mouth of Galway Bay, is both a picturesque and vibrant destination for a break. It is a surprisingly compact place, which makes it easy to explore on foot, and there is nothing better than wandering down its narrow, winding streets. Attractions include the Old Quays and the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas, Galway's finest medieval building.
Pleasant Other sights include the pleasant park in Eyre Square, and the Spanish Arch, where traders from Spain once unloaded their ships. Beyond the arch lies the Claddagh, a fiercely independent fishing community from medieval times, and Galway's seaside resort, Salthill, is not far up the road. Young lovers can search the shops in the Latin Quarter for a Claddagh betrothal ring, while other specialties include pottery, knitwear, glass and woodwork. At night the traditional pubs in the Latin Quarter come alive with the sounds of friendly chatter and some splendid live Irish music. We stayed at the excellent G Hotel, a place that captures the exuberant nature of the city. To make the most of your visit, and to see the best that the west of Ireland has to offer, it is well worth hiring a car from the airport. The rugged Atlantic coastline has been occupied for more than 5,000 years and is shrouded in exotic swathes of history, myth and legend.  GALWAY: Rare delightsHead south and you will discover the limestone pavements of the Burren, followed by the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher. The Aran Islands, a bastion of traditional Irish culture and famed for their unspoiled beauty as much as their knitwear, are also worth a visit if you have the time. But cars are not allowed, so you may need to swap four wheels for two and hire a bike. Our own journey took us north along the winding coast road to the picturesque village of Roundstone, where we stretched our legs and had an ample lunch. Later we collected shells at the beautiful Mannin Bay and visited Clifden, before travelling the Sky Road, which offers unforgettable panoramas of the Galway coastline.
Paradise Then it was on to mountains of the Connemara national park, which is a paradise for walkers and nature lovers alike. We managed to head all the way up to Westport in County Mayo, but were soon back in Galway City. The next day we heading south around Galway Bay to see The Burren. The word comes from "boireann", which means "rocky land" in Gaelic. It is the perfect name for this vast limestone plateau in neighbouring County Clare. It is a desolate and austere environment that was created when ice-age glaciers scraped away the soil thousands of years ago. But rare alpine plants grow in the crevices between the limestone pavements and it is teeming with wildlife - including butterflies, birds and Irish hares. The Cliffs of Moher are often shrouded in mist or washed by Atlantic drizzle. They rise to a height of 650ft and extend along the cost for five miles. If you have more time you might be able to head down towards Limerick with a stop at Bunratty Castle, one of Ireland's major tourist attractions. Another nice trip would take you to Mountshannon on the banks of Lough Derg, or to the Craggaunowen Bronze Age and Celtic culture project, not far from Ennis. We stopped in Ennis for a stroll before heading back up to Galway City for a few pints of Guinness. Then suddenly, after another comfortable night at our hotel, it was morning again and back to the airport and home. It was just a short return flight across the Irish Sea, but landing back in England felt like waking up from a fantastic dream. Related stories
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