I'm heading to Ireland soon does any one no of any Mini Cooper must sees or any thing MC I sould pick up when there?

 

Can't think of anything. Have fun...where on the island are you planning to go??

 

Dublin up North then down to Shannon.
Thanks!

 

You gonna rent a MINI while there?

 

if you have a MINI while there... take a ride down the Kilarney and Cork. that where the "fingers" are. If you look at the southwest corner of the Island. this is were you see alot of the scenic ireland photos. ... Well even if you don't have a Mini it's worth a look.

Also, since you are in the area... check out the Blarney stone at Blarney castle.

Don't forget to check out the pubs.... Ireland has some of the best soups I've ever had... scratch that.. the best soups I have ever had.

Have fun! and drink a Pint or two.. or three for your NAM buddies.

 

Good God! Don't drive! They're crazy!
I spent several weeks on the west coast, Galway and south.
I loved the Arran Islands, the Connemara and the Dingle Peninsula. I was there long enough to establish a favorite pub in Galway and it's The Crane. Great times except for the driving, I tense up just thinking about it. I spent a small bit of time in Dublin and it never got above 55 (in June, 2007)and it rained HARD the whole time.

Mark

 

I'll be driving a Peugeot 307 I've heard a lot of good things about Dingle.
Thanks for all the help.

 

+1 on the Dingle peninsula. The Ring of Kerry is also beautiful, but it can get a lot of traffic, especially on the weekends. And all those tour buses!

I'll be in Dublin in a month, for about a month. I'm gonna miss my Clubbie! I did price MINI rentals in Ireland, and they are prohibitive. Mark, I was there in June 2007 as well, and it was miserable -- 23 days straight of rain. But last year was lovely.

Have fun, redhand!

 

I was hanging out with my fellow musicos in Dingle and they referred to the ring of Kerry as the ring of Americans.
On a Coach I hear that it's not great (unless you enjoy watching the *** end of another coach). I'm told in a private car you can time it well and actually see something.

Mark

 

I laid over in Shanon on the way to and from Iraq last year Wish I could have stayed longer. Drink some Guinness. Get something from an Irish MINI dealership and take lots and lots of pictures. Have fun!

 

I love Ireland! Driving over there isn't too bad; just watch what lane you're in when you make turns & be aware on roundabouts.

Dingle is my absolute favorite part of Ireland. Slea Head drive is magnificent! Stop at Coumeenole beach...



Take lots of pictures!

 

I loved Ireland!!! We literally careened all over southern Ireland - I drove since I'm ambidexterous and *ahem* slightly more mechanically multi-talented than the hubby. Driving is DEFINITELY an adventure there, but it's not that hard. Just remember which side of the road you're supposed to be on when first pulling out of parking lots, etc. I didn't see any MINI-specific stuff there (have to go to England for that), but you might want to check out some of the British-NAM-equivalent sites to see if there are any MINI/Mini adventures during your stay, especially celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Mini...

STAY AWAY FROM THE CARS WITH BIG RED "L" in the window!! Ireland is the only country I've been in (and I've been in a LOT of them) where you can drive yourself to take the drivers' test, FAIL IT, and drive yourself home again...for the next 20 yrs. NO KIDDING. And on the back roads - if there's a bend in the road and you can't see around it, SLOW DOWN. The lorries (trucks) don't, and are normally in your lane/all over the road. Poor hubby was permanently stuck under the dash in fear of his life. I just thought it was fun.

Also, always be cautious. I lived in Germany and traveled Europe, so I didn't think obeying the lines on the road/traffic info was a big deal. Evidently I was wrong. Pulling out of the Dublin airport into a "roundabout," I was attempting to move left towards Sword, Ireland in the next to left lane...beside a Jag who wanted to go straight through the roundabout BUT WHOSE LANE MARKINGS DID NOT. The Guarda (police) said the accident was MY fault because (and I quote) "We don't pay attention to the lane markings here in Ireland, but the traffic flow." Luckily, the Jag was retired Irish Army and took pity on us poor American military tourists; he didn't charge my insurance for bashing his marker light. But the rental car agency did... And make sure you understand the speed limit signs. Again, as I lived in Europe, I thought I understood them...but when we went in 2004, Ireland was "in transition" between MPH and KM PH - the round white sign with red edge and black numbers weren't KMPH like on the Continent; they were MPH!!! But all the distance signs were in KM and the car's speedometer was in KM only....I couldn't figure out why I was going so slow compared to everybody else! But I figured that one out pretty quick.

Have a really really great time!!!! And do the pub thing like the other posters said.

 

Wow, thank you I love all the feedback.

 

You must drive Connor Pass. Highest drivable pass in Ireland, I suggest driving it south into Dingle, vs north out of Dingle. Single lane near the top, tremendous views of Dingle Pennisula, Brandon Bay, pretty much everything.

 

I drove from Galway down the coast to Dingle, then shot across to Bray where the family is from. Didn't see too many Minis, except a Red Bull one in Limerick.
The peninsulas and Skellig isles are amazing. Don't miss them. If you're gonna be up north, check the Giant's Causeway out.

 

I've been far to many times for my own liking, but the one must do is spending a night on the Arran Islands, thats just so much fun it gets so black at night. As everyone says Dingle and the west coast is great, so is the south, Kinsale is the best town to spend an eve..

I to hate driving there but it is a must, and you have to do a MT, my left arm was killing me, lol.

 

Another MINI owner going to Ireland!!! I'm trying to find someone to go with me in August/Septmeber

 

The Aran islands are amazing. We did bike rides around Inishmor. Definitely worth the trip. I love Galway but it's a been touristy. I wish I'd gone to Connemara.

 

I'd love to go back....I've visited twice and love it. But I'm planning on Minis in the Mountains in August and I'll probably be broke after that.

 

If you have time, get up to Donegal, and especially Glenveagh National park, and the road to Slieve League from Teelin. Slieve League is a 2,000 foot cliff that descends to the Atlantic, and it's simply spectacular, and the drive up the narrow winding road to the cliff overlook is not to be missed.

 

Here are a selection of Irish/Northern Irish Mini/MINI sites.

You may find them of use

Make sure you bring a coat or umbrella, we are great at rain




Mini Club Ireland:
http://miniclub.ie/modules.php?name=Forums

Northern Ireland Minis
http://www.ni-minis.co.uk/index.php

Mini Lovers Northern Ireland
http://www.mlni.co.uk/forums/index.php

TotalMINI:

Ireland & Uk Planning
http://www.totalmini.com/forum/86-discussion-event-planning/

Ireland & Uk Confirmed
http://www.totalmini.com/forum/85-confirmed-events/


There are a number of Mini/MINI shows on during the year, the ones I can think of at the momet are:

17th May in Lisburn Northern Ireland

7th June Clarinbridge, Galway, Ireland

Last Sunday in July, Cookstown, Northern Ireland

Last Saturday & Sunday in August, Portrush, Northern Ireland
(this one attrached 400+ Mini/MINIs)

 

+1 on Kinsale - my favorite town during a two-week, driving tour of the lower half of Ireland. Heartily recommend staying at The Old Presbytery (www.oldpres.com) in Kinsale.

Driving's not bad, just exercise caution, always remember you don't know those two-lane "highways" as well as the locals, and buy as much rental insurance as you can get. Go with someone else, who's willing to take a turn driving, or plan time for plenty of stops so you can take your eyes off the road and take in some scenery.

Favorite countryside was County Galway, with Connemara and the Twelve Bens, and the best (and longest) day's drive was from there down the west coast through the Burren, a stop in Doolin for picnic supplies, a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, the ferry across the Shannon, to Cork and on into Kinsale. Whew!

Have a great time!!

 

My wife and I spend two weeks there. I drove all over the country, Ring of Kerry, Tralee, Dingle, Galway, Dublin, Round Stone, Cork, it was pretty amazing actually. Loved the people, liked the food, the drink was excellent and the scenery was spectacular. The driving made me pretty nuts, actually, but I have a real respect for the guys who drive the buses and big trucks on those nutty roads. My wife handled the rental car negotiations and we got a little Ford 4-door which was trashed when we picked it up, but there weren't any other automatic cars available at the airport in Killarney where we had to get the rental and we had to wait over an hour for that one.

I saw many, many MINIs and Minis, but almost no S types and absolutely no Works cars. Lots of ONEs, however. I was a bit surprised, but considering the costs of driving and fuel over there, it's understandable. We were paying about $6.20 per gallon for unleaded, only one grade available. No high octane at any of the stations we stopped at and the diesel pumps are black while the unleaded pumps are green. I did a double take every time I filled up. The rental car contract specifically disallowed using the wrong fuel from the insurance coverage and I understand why, now.

 

I'm in County Sligo right now, sitting in the lobby of a hotel on the Atlantic. Today we did a circuit of Lough Gill, beautiful scenery and lots of hairpin turns. If only I'd had my MINI, and not riding in a coach! Don't forget the north, including Donegal.

 

Get a handwoven wool cable knit fisherman's sweater-one that still smells of lanolin (sheep oil). I've had one for over thirty years. It stopped smelling, but still keeps me warm.