Shannon International Airport
Location: The airport is situated 15 miles (24km) from Limerick
city and Ennis, and 56 miles (90km) from Galway City.
Time: GMT (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and
the last Saturday in October).
Getting to the city:
Taxis operate day and night; buses and coaches operate during
the day to Limerick and other Irish cities. Care rental is also
avilable in the arrivals hall.
Car Rental:
There are numerous car rental companies represented at the
airport including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise Rent a Car and
Thrifty Car Rental.
Airport Taxis:
Cabs are available from the cab desk in the arrivals hall. The
desk is open for all arriving flights.
Fascilities:
Shannon Airport is fairly small and facilities are not
extensive, but include a bureau de change, ATMs, restaurants and
bars, a prayer room, a lounge and several shops. There are good
facilities for disabled passengers; travellers with special needs
should contact their airline in advance.
Parking
Long- and short-term parking is available. Long-term parking at
Shannon Airport costs €11 a day or €55 a week. Short-term parking
is free for the first 15 minutes, or €3 for the first 60 minutes.
The daily rate is €20. The airport offers an online booking service
called Park4Less, with prices starting at €30 per week in a
dedicated parking lot. This car park must be reserved online in
advance.
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The nightlife in Galway is renowned, offering a vast selection
of pubs, bars and nightclubs to choose from. It is a student city,
which makes every night feel like a Saturday. There is always
something going on.
There are great traditional music sessions held at the Crane Bar
on Sea Road, Taaffes and Tigh Chóilí on Shop Street, and Western
Bar near Eyre Square. The smaller country pubs just out of town are
also very popular and a great way to experience true Irish culture.
On any given night there will be wonderful folk music on offer in
Galway and as you wander down the cobbled streets you will be drawn
into the pubs and bars by the jolly live music. The legal drinking
age is 18 and most nightclubs open at 11pm, closing round 2.30am.
There is usually a cover charge at the door but free/reduced
admission stamps are often handed out on Shop Street. A few trendy
bars stay open till the early hours, including the Front Door on
the corner of High and Cross streets and the Quays (which also has
a club with live music) on Quay Street. Other good clubs are Halo,
Carbon and Karma.
Connemara
Connemara is a wild and barren patchwork of bogs, green valleys,
mountains and lakes. On the coast, visitors will find beautiful
fishing villages and some superb white beaches washed by turquoise
water. Mist and rain transform it into an eerie, magical place. The
weather is very changeable and the light fluctuates almost
constantly, bringing out the vivid colours of the various
landscapes.
The Connemara National Park encompasses the remarkable granite
peaks of the Twelve Bens and is wonderful walking country.
Travellers could easily spend a whole Irish holiday in this amazing
park. Its attractions include hiking, fishing, cycling, painting
courses, horse riding, rock climbing, sailing, shooting, and golf
at Connemara, among other things. There are also many historical
sites and more cultural forms of entertainment, with traditional
singing, music and dancing almost nightly, and some superb
restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes. There are some wonderful camping
facilities but also many upmarket guest houses, so the whole range
of accommodation is catered for. Connemara is a must for nature
lovers exploring Ireland.
Connemara
Oliver Bruchez
Aran Islands
The Aran Islands, with their magnificent wild terrain, show
years of wind and water erosion. The islands - Inishmore, Inishmaan
and Inisheer - lie about 30 miles (48km) out across the mouth of
Galway Bay and are criss-crossed by miles of stone walls. They're
also dotted with some fine Iron Age archaeological sites. Ancient
forts such as Dún Aengus on Inishmór Island, and Dún Chonchúir on
Inishmaan Island, are some of the oldest archaeological remains in
Ireland.
The islands were home to a number of ancient monasteries, and
some clocháns (dry-stone beehive huts from the early-Christian
period) can still be found. The islands' isolation allowed Irish
culture to survive when it had all but disappeared elsewhere. Irish
is still the native tongue and, until recently, people still wore
traditional Aran dress. The women still knit the famous Aran
sweaters, which are now popular souvenirs for visitors.
Historically, each family used a different pattern in order to
recognize fishermen drowned at sea. The islands are a haven for
botanists and nature lovers because of their abundance of flora,
fauna and nesting birds. Many people recognise the islands from the
popular television show Father Ted, which was filmed there.
Transport: Ferries are available from Doolin in County Clare
(Seasonal) or Rossaveal in County Galway (All Year)
Irishmore Island
Pixie from he
Cliffs of Moher
The steep and wondrous Cliffs of Moher overlook the Atlantic
Ocean in County Clare, and are one of Ireland's top visitor sights.
The majestic cliffs rise from the ocean to a height of 702ft (214m)
and extend for a distance of five miles (8km). Formed by layers of
sandstone, shale and siltstone, the cliffs have stood unchanged for
millions of years. Visitors come to marvel at their splendour, and
to enjoy views towards the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, as well as
the valleys and hills of Connemara. If at all possible, travellers
should visit the cliffs on a clear day to fully appreciate the
views and natural beauty. On misty or rainy days, it's impossible
see the ocean far below, and the wind on the cliff-tops can be
terrifyingly strong.
The award-winning visitor centre offers an ultra-modern
interpretive centre, Atlantic Edge, which includes interactive
exhibits and displays, images, an audio visual show, and a virtual
reality cliff-face adventure. Travellers can quite easily approach
the cliffs without visiting the centre, but learning a bit about
the place enriches the experience.
Transport: Direct buses are available from Galway Bus station to
the Cliffs of Moher between three and five times a day.
Opening time: Open 9am year-round. Closing times are as follows:
November to February 5pm; March and October 6pm (6.30pm on weekends
and bank holidays); April 6.30pm (7pm Weekends & Bank
Holidays); May and September 7pm (7.30pm on weekends and bank
holidays); June 7.30pm (8pm on weekends and bank holidays); July to
August 9pm.
Cliffs of Moher
Tobias Helfrich
