21 replies to this topic

[Alexey Rogachev]

I'm going to spend a week in Dublin soon and so dare start this off topic thread. Searching for old threads of the same subject gave me a link to the one started by dmj, asking about Dublin's motor sport related places (http://forums.autosp...showtopic=93247). This is not exactly what I need: I'm inquiring neither about usual sightseeings for tourists, pointed out on any map and described in any guidebook, nor about only motor sport related places – but everything that may be of interest to a newcomer to Ireland and may tell him more about the city and its peculiarity. In brief: less known sights which are worth visiting nevertheless.

Thanks in advance and happy New Year!

[Bloggsworth]

If you're going to Dublin it shouldn't be for MotorSport, go for the people, the pubs, the music and the seafood...

[LittleChris]

If you're going to Dublin it shouldn't be for MotorSport, go for the people, the pubs, the music and the seafood...

Agree but also visit Dunboyne which is just a few miles outside the city

[Sharman]

It's no use asking me, I have only ever been there on Easter Rugby Tours so consequently have few memories.

[bill p]

Agree but also visit Dunboyne which is just a few miles outside the city

Also, check out the scene of the Irish GP at Phoenix Park in Dublin and Mondello Park some 25 miles away with its Racing Car Museum

[Phil Rainford]

Yep the museum is worth a visit at Mondello Park........but I would ring first and check it is open before you make the journey


PAR

[malcolm6]

Take a look at www.beaulieu.ie - located half an hour north of airport

[Alexey Rogachev]

Thank you for the replies and the advice - my trip schedule seems to enrich noticeably However, there are still two questions concerning the above-mentioned places:

1. What is so special about Dunboyne?

2. Is there any way to get to Mondello Park by public transport? Its web site gives only a car route there but I hardly would rent a car in Ireland - living in right-hand-traffic country, I'm afraid a bit of your left-hand driving

[Bloggsworth]

Thank you for the replies and the advice - my trip schedule seems to enrich noticeably However, there are still two questions concerning the above-mentioned places:

1. What is so special about Dunboyne?

2. Is there any way to get to Mondello Park by public transport? Its web site gives only a car route there but I hardly would rent a car in Ireland - living in right-hand-traffic country, I'm afraid a bit of your left-hand driving

If you use a RH drive car in Ireland or UK or indeed Japan it is less of a problem than you think. Whether LH or RH drive the driver sits in the middle of the road, so it feels quite natural after about 5 minutes.

[Vitesse2]

2. Is there any way to get to Mondello Park by public transport? Its web site gives only a car route there but I hardly would rent a car in Ireland - living in right-hand-traffic country, I'm afraid a bit of your left-hand driving

Train from Dublin Heuston to Sallins or number 126 bus from Connolly (LUAS) to Naas will both get you to within about 3 miles, but there doesn't seem to be a service passing the circuit, so presumably taxi is the only option for the last bit.

http://www.irishrail.ie/home/

http://www.buseireann.ie/

[Alexey Rogachev]

Well, I think it's really time to put my driving licence into the pocket...

[Vitesse2]

You should be aware that signals seem to be an optional extra on many Irish cars (brake lights too, last time I was there!) and that some drivers in the 60+ age range never took a driving test

[LittleChris]

Thank you for the replies and the advice - my trip schedule seems to enrich noticeably However, there are still two questions concerning the above-mentioned places:

1. What is so special about Dunboyne?

Bit of info here Alexey.

http://www.meathchro...er-race-circuit

http://www.dunboynemotorclub.com/

Last Leinster Trophy held at Dunboyne was won by John Watson.

Enjoy your trip

Edited by LittleChris, 04 January 2011 - 22:46.

[arttidesco]

Have fun in Dublin Alexey

If you do make it to Mondello Park, particularly anywhere near the corner leading on to the main straight, could you see if any bits of my luminous green 2CV grill are still lying around ?

One of my co-drivers had a little contact with a grey & red vehicle sponsored by 'Autosport' in 1990 IIRC

Edited by arttidesco, 04 January 2011 - 23:55.

[Vitesse2]

O/T: that's one hell of a collection of bad haircuts!

[arttidesco]

O/T: that's one hell of a collection of bad haircuts!

Who ever gave a dang about hair ?

We just wanted to go fast

But your quite right, dread to think what a mess we would have looked had we got our hands on hair product !

[bill p]

You should be aware that signals seem to be an optional extra on many Irish cars (brake lights too, last time I was there!)

Usually on Volvo estates and 4X4s imported from England

[Alexey Rogachev]

Now I understand why Ireland (together with Spain) is said to be the cheapest European country to rent a car

[Cappo]

Just spotted this. Not a lot of motorsport related sites, other then what has been mentioned already.

The 1903 Gordon Bennett route is quite a drive, but you would really need a hire car.

http://www.gordonbennettroute.com/

Dunboyne is now a suburb of Dublin, but you can still drive the street track.

http://www.dunboynemotorclub.com/

Check with the Mondello people and any other museums as in the winter season a lot of stuff is closed.

http://www.mondello....lo_park_museum/

National Transport museum opens for business in May

http://www.nationalt...portmuseum.org/

The Wicklow circuit used in the 1950s is a beautiful drive through the mountains and you can also experience some of the classic rally stages of the Circuit of Ireland. Some of the coach tours cover some of the routh.

You could get a train and walk the old Dun Laoghaire street circuit, which was a one off race in the 70s, only 30 minutes from the city centre.

The Phoenix Park is reputed to be Europe’s biggest enclosed park and has a rich motoring history.

The park can be reached by the LUAS tramway from the city centre (about 15 minutes) and you can hire bikes in the park.

http://www.phoenixpa...ly-history.html

http://en.wikipedia....rk#Motor_racing

There are also some motor cycling circuits near the Dublin area.

If you would like to meet for a pint and a chat, PM me!

[bill p]

Yep the museum is worth a visit at Mondello Park

Some photos at the Mondello Park Museum







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[Obster]

Just returned from a great trip to Dublin and Cork.
I, too, had concerns about driving, but gave it a try and it went very well. It helped to have a navigator to read the signs and maps and to gently point out when you had reverted to the incorrect side of the road! By the end of the second day I needed no further reminders. Just in case, buy all the insurances offered.
Be sure to visit the Guiness Storehouse for a great tour and the best view of Dublin from the rooftop Gravity bar. It's the best.
www.guinness-storehouse.com
I envy you.

[Alexey Rogachev]

Thanks to everyone in this thread for the advice! Our trip was very successful, even in spite of the fact that we failed to get to Mondello Park. However, the National Transport Museum at Howth turned out to be a really great place. (As the exhibits stand very closely, it's almost impossible to take any good pictures of them.) During the eight days we spent in Ireland we walked all over the centre of Dublin and some of its suburbs, visited twice the western coast and still are full of impressions of its peculiar beauty. At my girlfriend's insistence, we visited the Guinness Storehouse - I'm not a devotee of beer, so looking at the city from the Gravity bar indeed was the most interesting thing about this. (BTW, it seems to be the highest Dublin's view point accessible to visitors.) In revenge for this, the next day I dragged her for searching for George Bernard Shaw's (who is my favourite playwright) birthplace far to the southern part of Dublin In general, Ireland has appeared to be much more interesting country than we believed, so we intend to go there (at least) one more time - perhaps next year

Edited by Alexey Rogachev, 20 January 2011 - 10:12.