blonde poker forum

Going on a two day trip to Dublin with eleven girls. (well, females).
Havent been before, so if anyone knows the city and could give me any tips on whats worth seeing
during the day (We'll be there from 7:30am on friday!) or any transport tips etc I would appreciate it.

Apparently its 'Culture night', The Dublin fringe festival and Oktoberfest while we are there, and while we would probably enjoy ourselves just wandering around aimlessly, we would like to have a rough plan and absorb a little culture before we hit the pubs and start absorbing alcohol. :)
Appreciate any suggestions!

My wife is going with her mates the last weekend of the month. Just asked her what sort of stuff she will be getting upto?
She just winked and said " Never you mind" :)

Take plenty of cash. Dublin is one of the most expensive cities I've been to.

A group of my female fitness instructors went to Dublin last weekend and didn't take any money. In fact they never take money when they go out and just rinse any man in close proximity. Disgusting behaviour imo. Can confirm they had a good time but only went to bars and hotel.

Yeah. I think evilpie may have took a lady. My wife may not be as young of as fit as your instructors but having seen the outfits she will be wearing, I doubt very much if she will have to buy her own drinks.

This is all very helpful! ::)
A few of our group might blag a few free drinks but it looks like I best empty my piggybank :(

Better idea would be to get Dad to bung you a few hundred quid......

You ask first, I'll be right behind you.

Take a lot of money

Horribly expensive place, whether it be taxis, drink, food etc

Nightmare.

Yeah, but we would be behind my mam, Sadie, Bridie, and Kelly............

Thanks for that, Captain Buzzkill! ;D

He's right, I'm afraid. Temple Bar is the main pub bit and it's comically expensive. Lots of Brits desperate to get a "real Guinness" down their necks.

Fun place to visit, tho. Avoid saying how proud you are to be British.

Culture Night - It's free on the one night only from 5pm (later in some cases) to visit loads of places.  So many to choose from, it's best if you just have a search through the link below and pick what you'd like to see most, because you won't get to all of it on the night.
http://www.culturenight.ie/explore-the-night/

Butler's Chocolate Experience - For the chocolate addicts in the group.  Think you need to book in advance.
http://www.butlerschocolates.com/pages/Butlers-Chocolate-Experience/Butlers-Chocolate-Experience.htm

Guinness Factory - Tour and tasting session
http://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/Index.aspx?gclid=CIqEnN3bm7ICFYcNfAodqCoAzQ

Arthur's Day - Not sure of your dates, but this is on Sept 27th.  Music sessions in loads of pubs to celebrate Arthur Guinness (creator of Guinness).  Big names turn up unannounced to the participating pubs for singing and pints.
http://www.guinness.com/en-ie/arthursday/index.html

Markets - Loads of them around Dublin with everything from food stuff to antiques.  Not been in years so can't tell you which one is best, but Georges Street Arcade is popular.
http://www.visitdublin.com/see_and_do/shopping/Dublin_Markets

Site Seeing Bus - Hop on, hop off as and when ya like for 2 days.  €18 each and doesn't include entry to sites, but offers discounts.  Can add on airport transfers for an extra €6 each.
http://www.irishcitytours.com/index2-citytours-tour1.php

Public Transport - Luas (Dublin tram) and public bus combi pass is €7.80 for one day and is valid for an unlimited number of trips in the day.  You can also get a 'bus only' pass for €6.50 per day.
http://www.luas.ie/combi-tickets.html
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/2-Journey-Daily-Weekly/

3 Day Freedom Pass- Public bus, airlink transfers and Hop on Hop off Combi - €28 per person.  Valid for 3 days use.  Does not include travel on the Luas.
http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Fares--Tickets/Tickets/Tourist-Tickets/

Dublin Pass - €35 for 1 day, €55 for 2, €65 for 3 (special offer on at the minute where you get 6 days for price of 3).  Covers all your admission costs for various spots.  If you intend to visit a number of places where admission is charged, it's worth adding them up to see if this pass is value for you.  They also have a small discount for the 3 day freedom pass if added on to this.  €24.50 instead of €28.  Below are the attractions included, so have a look and you'll know pretty quick if it's worth it for you or not.
http://www.dublinpass.ie/c-4-visitor-attractions.aspx

Awesome post Laxie and just what she was looking for rather than the blokes view of "work it girl and you won't need to buy a drink " :)

Now get the rsq done.

Yeah the British thing is a bit weird but a very good Irish friend did suprise me by asking me to take my help for heros band off because she was offended by it. I did not want her to feel uncomfortable but did agree but still found it strange non the less that she should be offended by it.

Almost forgot to add Phoenix Park & Ashtown Castle.  You can visit the President's house too if you turn up on Saturday.  Admission free. 

http://www.phoenixpark.ie/visitorcentre/#d.en.9200

Thanks ever so, Laxie, these are just the kind of things I needed.
Lots to browse through, seems to be quite a lot of stuff to see for free too which it looks like were going to have to stick to if we want to have any food/beer money!

thnx for the transport links too, the luas combi looks ideal, although the tour bus might be fun!
My only problem now is working somthing out that pleases the sightseers, the shoppers, the history buffs (just me probabaly) and the people who just want to get drunk!
wish me luck! xx

Are they really that sensitive?
Will bear it in mind, but we are taking mother, and she inadvertently offends people like its her job. ;ashamed;
Once again, wish me luck!

Don't worry, as long as she does not talk too much, you'll be OK.

Oh, wait......

I was really suprised by her being offended by it. I have been drinking with her half a dozen times in various bars at poker competitions and guess she never noticed it before. It may have been just her tho.

Out of interest, were you in England or Ireland at the time? If you were in Ireland I suppose it could have been seen as insensitive by a small number of people, but if you were at home?
And what did you say to her?

I am sure that Jason would not have spoken out of turn, or said anything inflammatory, it's not his style, not at all. He always thinks before he posts.

 ;goodvevil; rotflmfao

Lol. If only you knew how many posts I write and delete before posting.

I was actually in Kilarney but it would not have mattered where we were because I could see how she felt. Not offending a friend out weighed my support for help for heros on this occasion and I have never taken it off before or since.

I love Ireland and it is the friendliest place I have played poker and the craic is immense. The only time I ever encountered any hostility was when I used to do a lot of match fishing.  We used to go over to fish matches in Ireland during the closed season here and once was parked in the same car park as another competitor who had had a bomb placed underneath it. But this was up in the North in more troubled times.

I went on an historical walking tour of Dublin (please don't ask). Pretty much every landmark of any significance on the tour involved a battle with the British. The Irish lost almost all of them. You can still see the bullet holes in the Town Hall. Even the Derry (NOT Londonderry) flag has three flaming castles on it, representing the damage the English caused (I forget which battle/rebellion).

It is a lovely and welcoming place that you will undoubtedly enjoy visiting. As with any place, just be aware of the culture in which you are a guest.

Ahhhhhh, you should have said earlier!  Makes more sense now.  I was surprised by it coming from someone in Dublin unless you were in a mainly 'locals only' pub...in which case, yes, you might find that in Dublin. 

Killarney is a whole other kettle of fish and I can very definitely see you running into trouble down there.  Even if she didn't mind, she'd have to be wary of the others around you who would kick up...especially after drink. 

Yes, once you have the whole scenario it was a perfectly reasonable request and not that suprising after all.
Although it was a small oversight, as Tal said previously when you are a guest in someone elses country the onus is on you not do or say anything they may find offensive, regardless of your own opinions.
The reason I questioned this in the first place is that at first it sounded like Smashedagain was minding his own business, playing poker in his local when his Irish friend decided she didn't like his wristband, in which case the above rules should apply, and he should have felt no pressure to take it off, imo

That should have been an indication that there was something wrong with the story :)

At least that's what I understand, he says, butting in...

I just don't understand this frugality obsession. I have no idea where she gets it from.

I thought of you the whole time I was gathering links for her and kept saying to myself, "Tom won't like this...costs too much."   rotflmfao

Lol

The 1916 Revolution tour is fantastic if anyone is interested in the history of the troubles. Take the one with the Irish guide Lorcan.

The literary pub crawl is also a good tour, would suit the literary and drunks alike.

Whatever you decide Dublin will make you welcome and make you laugh. Have fun and as mentioned take plenty of money.

I haven't been for a few years, but Cafe en Seine was a fantastic bar to visit in the evening......

http://www.cafeenseine.ie/index.php/bar-cafe/

The 1916 tour sounds like my kind of thing, Kev, how do I find it?

Runs out of the International pub. Proper grotty pub, I love it.  ;D


http://www.international-bar.com/

Cheers, mate, thats going on the to do list!

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/dublin/kilmainhamgaol/
Tour Bus, Leus will all take you here, not made it there myself yet but had a few friends who have been and have spoke highly of the experience.

Oooh! There is so much stuff I want to do now I'll never fit it all in!

Got back yesterday, completely exhausted from our highly enjoyable trip to Dublin.
Thanks to everyone for there tips and suggestions, they really helped us fit a huge amount in to the two days we were there.
It was very expensive, as several of you pointed out, (Thirteen euro for a double brandy and coke!)
but we found ways around that, i.e going to the local spar shop!  ;) The people were fantastic, so friendly and down to earth, and the whole atmosphere of the place was great, even though on the Friday it was Culture night and everywhere was ram packed with people.
Didn't get to do the 1916 tour which was a shame, but because of our early flights we were up for 22 hours straight the first day and couldn't manage to get everyone organised to be there for its 11:30am start the next morning :D
Had great fun on the tour bus though, it has live commentary and the drivers are informative and hilarious at the same time.
Kilmainham gaol was good too, but sad.
We rounded it off with a really wonderful three course dinner and Irish dancing and traditional band show on sat night at the Arlington hotel, followed by a great modern band till 2am for those who were up for it :cheers:
All in all we had a great time, will defiantly go back one day

My wife goes on Friday with her mates. Taxi picks em up at 4am :(

Ireland's great

Anyone else playing the IPO this year?

Glad to hear you had a great time, although it was a given.  ;D


We are over there from 26th October for the Paddy Power Irish Winter Festival. Can't wait.

Sounds like they have the same flight times as us, 6:35am from east midlands?
Up at 3:30am, back to bed at 1:30am the next morning cos' we thought we best have an early night!