Ireland, A Bit Hit And Miss (1 Viewer)

Jul 4, 2010
1,194
804
Essex / central France
Funster No
12,437
MH
Hymer Star Line 680
Exp
9 years
Sorry to put this into the Scandinavian section, but Eire/Ireland certainly isn't UK.

Spent 12 days in Ireland, in the main to visit 3 sets of relatives who live just south of the Ireland/N Ireland border then to travel to the south and S East. Here's a very brief view of what we found and our opinions.

This was our first visit to Ireland and at first, second and third glance was how we imagined it to be. We travelled in our 1992 classic Hymer S670 and although not speedy fitted into possible speeds on Irish roads quite well.

Our family were splendid and although all from Essex appeared to have taken the very best of traditional Irish characteristics, cheerful, thoughtful, polite, pleasant, smiling and could never do enough for us, a wonderful experience.
Through our family we met quite a few Irish people too, if only the whole world could be populated with their good nature.

Ireland is all green, that's everywhere you look without exception. At our holiday home in France it is all green too in the foothills of the Massif Central, but Ireland goes for the full Monty of green everywhere you go, no exceptions.

Ireland has motorways but away from this be prepared to breath in many times on a journey as you pass a vehicle coming towards you, and hope you have a RH door mirror in your spares kit. We avoided motorways as we wanted to see Ireland close up, and sometimes very close up indeed. With either large bushes, trees or earth banks on both sides of most non motorway roads and road widths that too often didn't allow to vans to pass it all became hard work, and again because of the bushes, trees and earth banks there was often no vista to see even though like most MH's we sit high up, like driving through a green tunnel.

We ended up in Cobh the port of Cork City. This was a great experience with people from all around the world parked in the 20 bay free aire on the Quay. We had a close up experience of all the port going about it's daily business with the Cobh Heritage and Titanic museum just a few hundred meters away, and all for free for 48 hours. The museum we found really interesting as much of it is devoted to the where's and why's of immigration away from Ireland, a current problem in reverse for Europe and other continents. We could highly recommend the museum. The old town is a short 10 minute's stroll away too, as is the ferry and harbour tour point plus rail station to take you into Cork City.
Cobh is one of the most memorable places we have ever visited.

The weather in Ireland while we were there was highs of 18 - 22 oC with showers, sun and cloud and drizzle. We were told the weather was good and quite warm. Humidity was quite high so that although the temperatures weren't low the damp made it feel chilly.

We deliberately didn't visit the west coast as we had heard it was quite busy, we tend to avoid tourist sites if we can.

Not such a brief description of a short visit to Ireland in a MH, as the title said hit and miss for us.

We have a few photos if anyone is interested, just let me know.
 

MattR

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 18, 2013
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Sounds like a good trip. I would like to explore the North and West sometime. It is a shame that it costs so much to take a mh to Ireland; it would be a lot more popular if is was cheaper.
 
OP
OP
V
Jul 4, 2010
1,194
804
Essex / central France
Funster No
12,437
MH
Hymer Star Line 680
Exp
9 years
We spoke with a few other motorhomers while waiting for the ferry at Rosslare and that was one of the bug bears, the other was the RH door mirror.

One French couple had spent 4 weeks mainly on the west coast and loved it, they wild camped the whole time and had had no problems at all. The found the lack of camp sites and in particular emptying points a trial but they were experienced campers and used public toilets to empty waste and cemeteries for water. They also had a damaged RH door mirror.

Our family live in the Lakeland region of the north of Ireland (south) and one cousin has a view from their back door I have never seen the better of, incredibly beautiful. If you like boating or fishing this region is a paradise.

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