See what the experts are saying about Thomastown. Get expert advice on how to get there, what to see and more.
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Introduction
At first glance, Ireland presents a familiar face to American visitors. The language is the same, only more lyrical, the faces are familiar, the food recognizable, and even the beer is well known. Many visitors, notably Irish-Americans, exper... Continue reading »
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Frommer's favorite experiences
Sailing Ireland's West Coast: Spectacular coastal scenery, interesting harbor towns, and an abundance of islands make the west coast a delight for cruising sailors. Horseback Riding in Donegal: The wild and woolly coast of Donegal offers t... Continue reading »
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Best dining bets
Chapter One (County Dublin; tel. 01/873-2266): Arguably the city's most atmospheric restaurant, this remarkable eatery fills the vaulted basement space of the Dublin Writers Museum. Artfully lighted and tastefully decorated, it offers a menu... Continue reading »
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The best active vacations
Sailing Ireland's West Coast: Spectacular coastal scenery, interesting harbor towns, and an abundance of islands make the west coast a delight for cruising sailors. Horseback Riding in Donegal: The wild and woolly coast of Donegal offers t... Continue reading »
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The best castles
Trim Castle (County Meath): Trim, also called King John's Castle, restored as a "preserved ruin," is a massive Anglo-Norman structure. It was all but impregnable for 4 centuries (late-12th to mid-17th). Until it was abandoned and collapsed in... Continue reading »
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The best family attractions
Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park (Dublin): Kids love this sympathetically designed zoo, with its wild creatures, animal-petting corners, and train ride. The surrounding park has room to run, picnic, and explore. Irish National Heritage Park... Continue reading »
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The best gardens
Powerscourt Gardens (County Wicklow): This grandiose Irish garden is set amid the natural splendor of the Wicklow Hills just outside of Dublin. The sprawling, manicured gardens and the wild beauty of the Powerscourt waterfall make this a grea... Continue reading »
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The best literary spots
Glasnevin Cemetery (County Dublin): Besides being the setting for part of Ulysses, this is the resting place of James Joyce's parents and other members of his family. The English-born poet Gerard Manley Hopkins is buried here, in the Jesuit p... Continue reading »
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The best luxury hotels
The Clarence (Dublin; tel. 01/407-0800; www.theclarence.ie): Owned by members of the band U2, the Clarence is a perfect mixture of sleek sophistication and coolness. Everything here is designed for subtle elegance, from the soft, neutral colo... Continue reading »
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The best mid-range hotels
Moy House (County Clare; tel. 065/708-2800; www.moyhouse.com): This unusual 19th-century tower house atop a hill overlooking the sea is beautiful inside and out. Rooms have comfortable, modern beds covered in crisp Irish linens, and are decor... Continue reading »
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The best natural attractions
The Slieve Bloom Way (County Laois): Slieve Bloom, Ireland's largest and most unspoiled blanket bog, rises gently above the peat fields. Its beauty -- gentle slopes, glens, rivers, waterfalls, and bog lands -- is subtle but persistent, and it... Continue reading »
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The best of ancient ireland
Newgrange (County Meath): Poised atop a low hill north of the River Boyne, Newgrange is the centerpiece of a megalithic cemetery dating back 5,000 years. The massive mound and passage tomb were constructed, it seems, as a communal vault to ho... Continue reading »
