I will be traveling to Northern Ireland with my boyfriend
this summer for 3 weeks, he lives there and I live in the
USA. Is there anything I need to know before I go? He is
Protestant and I am Catholic, I know that is a major problem
so what do I say if someone asks? I also need info on how
to find CHEAP airfare, is it cheaper to fly into Heathrow,
Gatwick, Shannon, Dublin, and take a smaller plane into
Belfast?? I will be flying out of Cleveland or Pittsburgh,
whatever is cheaper. Are there any interesting places to
see, nightclubs and castles? We will be spending a weekend
in Eire and Glasgow, what is there to do there? As you can
see I need some help, I would like ANY information you can
give me, it would be greatly appreciated. I might not get
to see this website for a few days so it might be better for
you to e-mail than put it up here. Thank you!!
[There are 22 posts - the latest was added on Sat 22 May, 21:33]
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Edinburgh's not in Ireland.
Who said it was???
since your boyfriend is from there wouldn't he be the best
source of information????
Jennifer,
Not only do you need to start reading and doing some of
your own basic research, you also need to realise that the
situation in NI is not about religion.
Grow a brain.
Well said Aoife!!! I wonder does she realise that Eire is
part of the same island????
Jennifer,
For fucks sake, why don't u just call a travel agent to
find the cheapest airfare
Wow, you're all unpleasant.
Jennifer, the first answer is that you let him answer those
questions. Aoife is being annoying; religion there is a
symbol for tribe, and it's about tribalism. You'll be part of
your boyfriend's tribe for the duration, so it's up to him to
make that judgement. There are parts of NI where you can get
in hot water for being part of a "mixed marriage." If you're
alone, just say that you're American and of no particular
religion, and don't discuss politics, and you'll be fine.
(I was in Belfast once and - I'm Jewish - I was actually
asked point-blank, 'are you a Catholic Jew or a Protestant
Jew?' The rest of the time I was with my Sinn Fein buddies,
so it was clear I was Catholic.)
You're also not going to get a fare directly into Belfast
from the US, whatever you do; you'll have to route through
London, Shannon, or Dublin. Ask at your local student travel
agency or start punching ideas into Expedia. You're not going
to save money by chopping up the trip, unless you fly into
Shannon or Dublin and take the train - very scenic and
perfectly possible. The train from Limerick to Dublin takes
about 3hr and from Dublin to Belfast about 3hr, and you get
to see lots of countryside. I know plenty of people who fly
into Dublin and take the train up rather than flying into
Belfast.
Go get a copy of the Lonely Planet (or better, Rough Guide,
which doesn't have such a Nationalist bias) and check it out
- you'll see that NI has many lovely sights, such as the
Giant's Causeway and the walled city of Derry (those are the
two unmissable ones from my perspective.)
Failte!
Sascha
Jennifer i was wondering what type of relationship u have
with your boyfriend if you've never discussed any of this?
I agree with sascha, you're all a little vicious.
you CAN fly into Belfast(try the charters, or maybe it's
just a candian thing) - they re also the cheapest. Simply
don't talk religion - most irish, northern or other, avoid
the topic. just don't be dumb. There is sooooo much to
see, and i would tend to agree that maybe you should be
talking to your boyfriend about this?!?!? any which way you
go you will find something to enjoy, so don't worry so much
- but do go out and buy yourself a book, and read up on the
country - it'ss help you understand everything, from the
religious issues to the sights.
Yes, you are mightly unpleasant, aren't you? As for your
religion, don't worry about it. I'm from Dublin and I
really don't think anyone in Northern Ireland gives a damn
what religion you are: as long as you're not Irish, that is!
#1 post is not by me, i feel special. jennifer stay home and
get intimate with your brain.
i am going to be studying at the university of glasgow next
fall, and i was wondering if anyone has any good tips for me
on what to pack for clothes, etc. i have been reading up on
scotland as much as possible, but i haven't been able to
find as much information as i would like. any interesting
facts about life in glasgow? i'd appreciate any
replies-thanks!
Jennifer I wouldn't worry about any of this as you probably
don't have the ability to find your way to the airport.
STAY AT HOME --- you idiot. If you have to ask these dumb
ass questions you really shouyldn't be allowed to leave
your country.
This posting has to be a joke! NObody could be this stupid
could they?
As a Canadian I am fairly used to silly American questions.
Now does someone understand what we put up with all the
time?
'Will I need to go through a check point to get into
Quebec?'
But gooolly! On my upcoming trip to the Republic I won't be
posting on this site. It seems that the Northerners are a
testy bunch. Relax guys, this kind of sensitivity doesn't
solve anything. The hard cold truth is...
No one knows shit about Northern Ireland. We know Dublin,
Cork, Galway and the Blarney Stone. In North America we
hear not too much more then Sein Fein and IRA 30 second news
bytes. So if peace slowly descends on the place get used to
these kinds of questions as more and more tourists arrive.
Northern Ireland is not so special a place (in our eyes
anyway) that it is worth going beyond the news clippings.
And as far as Americans go...Get used to it!!!
huh
In response to most of the ignorance here. Did any of you
stop to think that maybe I did talk to my boyfriend, but
wanted information from other people. For example, he has
never heard of Cliffs of Moher and I have heard from some
nice people that it is an unbelievable site. I know it is
in County Clare, I have some knowledge of the country.
"Well Really" had it right when he said, North America has
NO information on Northern Ireland. I have done some
reading but it is really hard to find anything on this
topic. I also wanted some information so I knew what he was
talking about when he talked of home. I did not want to
keep asking him what the hell he was talking about.
Remember!!! when someone puts a question up here it is
because they want first-hand knowledge, it might be hard for
them to find information in the library because there might
no be any!!!!
A chinese proverb, translated. "there are no stupid
questions, Only stupid answers". This is the most
entertaining branch on the thorn. Ulster is a beautiful
province, with Great people when they relax. Take a trip to
Belfast, North Antrim, Ratlin Island, Giants causeway and
Donegal (Gweedore, Letterkenny, Milford).
Hi Jennifer, If you have already talked to you'r boyfriend,
who has never heard of thr cliff's of moher..!! Ask
Yourself , Where has he been ? I am not surprised that your
info is limited. Is he really from Ireland ? Or an Irish
getto in N.Y. ?. I suggest that you leave him at home and go
on a tour of Ireland by yourself, HitchHiking is fine or by
Bus and train, You will need to take a ferry across to get
to Scotland. Have a great trip...
Very amusing discussion.
But anyway I just spent a lovely romantic weekend in belfast
(as boyfriend's passport was out of date and so we couldn't
go to amsterdam). I recommend going for a wonder around the
botanical gardens whilst eating an ice cream after having a
gorgeous cheap lunch in the cafe opposite the museum near
by.
I have to admit, the ignorance of some of you guys has made
me laugh,....but in reality it's quite sad. Your ignorance
probably comes down to your lack of intelligence to provide
a useful answer or none at all....