[PJ Hannah B-R]

Spoke to Jamie last night and he is also definitely up for a weekend in Dublin.

Hoorah for finally getting to meet my poppet

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

ERK!
Have just realised that September is GAA All-Ireland Finals time
According to the 2006 dates, the second weekend of Sept was clear...but '07 dates are not set yet...

[Hebba Homemaker]

Umm maybe a silly girl question, but what does sport have to do with join meets??

Loverpool was in the middle of the world cup

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

joinee Purple heatherette, on 5 Dec 2006, 11:11 AM, said:

Umm maybe a silly girl question, but what does sport have to do with join meets??

Loverpool was in the middle of the world cup

Believe me, you would not believe what Dublin looks like on the day of an All-Ireland final
Imagine the World Cup Final being held at Ibrox or Parkhead and what the crowd would be like - then add another 30,000 to the crowd (Croke Park holds 80,000) plus all those watching it in the pubs
And if Dublin themselves get to the final - well doesn't *begin* to even cover it!

Having said all that though, the stadium is North of the river and I've planned for our fun and games to be South of the river so it might not be too bad...except for trying to find a pub.

This post has been edited by Joinee Del (GA): 05 December 2006 - 10:25 AM

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

This is still very early planning BTW.
I'll start looking for venues etc in the New Year

[DJ Darren (Ducktastic)]

Would it also push flight/travel prices up?

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

Joinee Darren, on 5 Dec 2006, 11:29 AM, said:

Would it also push flight/travel prices up?

I don't *think* so...it's very much an Irish phenomenon but there's always ex-pates coming back for the games. The bulk of the crowd would be from Ireland though.

[joinee coolio]

Is GAA hurling? We went to a match last year, and it was brilliant (if a little scary!).

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

joinee coolio, on 5 Dec 2006, 12:19 PM, said:

Is GAA hurling? We went to a match last year, and it was brilliant (if a little scary!).

Hurling, Gaelic Football and Camogie (Ladies Hurling) plus a few other smaller scale competitions come under the banner of GAA or Gaelic Games
Although I've lived here for five years, I've never seen a match (except on TV) but hurling looks incredibly dangerous!
It is apparently the fastest field sport in the world which I can well believe!

This post has been edited by Joinee Del (GA): 05 December 2006 - 11:40 AM

[Au Joinee Rory]

I played hurling in primary school. It's a very difficult game. Also quite violent. Des Bishop is right when he says the most important thing you can say to a person immigrating to Ireland is, "Never play hurling. Ever." On a family pride side-note, my granny was an All-Ireland camogie champion multiple times.

Back on topic: GAA finals time would be pretty bad timing for a join meet, for reasons already covered.

[Joinee Varwell]

How about calling the meet "Join Me To Be Sure"? Or "RoIn Me" - see what I did there? OK, they're rubbish suggestions.

I hopefully will be travelling around September, so sorry in advance that I will miss it!

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

There's a song called 'The Rocky Road to Dublin' so what about:
'The RAoK-y Road to Dublin' ?

[DJ Darren (Ducktastic)]

Like it Del!

[Silver SV Joinee Jo]

Ooooooh! Tempting indeed tempting!

[HRH Gold Joinee Sheli]

OH OH OH

ME ME MEEEE! PLEEEEASE!

and possibly a friend if i can convince a very skeptic nonjoinee buddy who loves Dublin to join in...

Can I still say I wanna come play?? waaaaaa!

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

There is *loads* of time!
The dates are stil not 100%
And a pub needs to be found.

Don't worry! When it gets *really* definite, I'll sort out a Roll Call thread

[HRH Gold Joinee Sheli]

phew!

and

YAAAAAAAAAAAY!

[Fab Loud SMJ YDMFreshmaker]

Me want come.

No.. wait that sounds wrong.

[HRH Gold Joinee Sheli]

Fab Loud Silver J YDMFresmaker, on 6 Dec 2006, 05:17 PM, said:

Me want come.

No.. wait that sounds wrong.

buahahaha! yes tobe.. yes it does

[Gold Joinee Twinkle]

I SOOOOOOO would like to come to this meet. But I don't know how next year is going to pan out with money and holiday days and babysitting persons.


*keeps fingers crossed*


Sam
xxxx

[SJ heulwen]

ooh ooh! I want to come tooooo!

[Silver joinee newman]

Hi guys-

Just want to say that I live in Dublin - it's a small place but should fit three/four people if you're stuck for places to stay.

Just let me know x

[Joinee Monty Zuma]

Ooh Ooh - can i join in too, please?

Can i make it a tentative yes for now?

[Joinee Ashley]

I should be there around that time anyway, I will try to arrange that we are actually in Dublin on the days the meet is being held, don't want to miss this,

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

OK...I've checked the GAA website and there are NO major events on the 8th/9th except the U21 hurling final whach a ) won't be that busy and b ) may not even be in Dublin

SO...

The RAoK-y Road to Dublin WILL take place on the weekend of Sept 8th & 9th 2007 (even if it's only me and Joinee Ashley )

Now I need some assistance from Dublin or nearby based Joinees to scout us out a pub. Da Vinci & Rory, I think were both at K4, so you know the kind of place we need!
Plus I need to brainstorm with some people about a RAoK-ing route (Northside or Southside) and the ideal meeting point. I suggest St. Stephens Green at the bottom of Grafton Street or The Spire on O'Connell Street!

I can be e-mailed at joinme (at) eircom (dot) net or you can PM me
Failing that, I'm on ZeroEight6 1Nine5ZeroTwoSix4 but that phone isn't always on. You can leave a message though

[Pud]

How did I miss this? Well with flights from my nearest airport to Dublin at 49p I can see me coming. As always though it depends what children I have and what the situation is nearer the time.

[Octarine Joinee Da Vinci]

I'm hapy to start scouting for pubs in Dublin, some idea about numbers would be good as some of them will need minimums.

As for raoking walkabout the busy areas are, temple bar, O'Connell St and Grafton St. There are a raft of pubs all around this area.

Dell if you want to pm me and we can discuss in more detail

*is excited about meet and about the prospect of having to scout pubs*

[Au Joinee Rory]

Messrs. McGuire might be a good place. I know you can get it for free if you buy enough booze, and they should be able to hold whatever numbers we need. If we get an idea of numbers I'll ask my more pub-aware friends for other suggestions.

I'd suggest south side for RAoKing. I don't want to succumb to stereotyping, but you're less likely to get lynched for acting weird on Grafton St than on O'Connell St. Temple Bar is near enough to Grafton St that we could do both if we wanted. Though, to be honest, the walk from one end of Grafton to the far end of O'Connell would still probably be shorter than the RAoK route for K4. Dublin is a lot smaller than London.

[PJ Hannah B-R]

Ooh! I'm so a 95% definite on this. I've never been to Dublin, and have always wanted to go to see nice people instead of just going on a hen do, so YAY!

[joinee mhunter]

ok..I really fancy this, been to Dublin once for a gig at Whelands, and the place is brilliant...might fly in on the Friday night..or on the Sat afternoon(doesnt get into Airport until 3pm tho) and i will probably stay until Monday afternoon...then jet off to sunny Madrid, and bug the shi* out of Joinee Garcia, for a few days

If people are staying around until late late Sunday night, then i would recommend the Comedy club at the Ha'penny bridge pub (if it is still on,on a sunday night..!!)

is there going to be as much planned on the Sunday (9th) as there is for the Saturday (8th)..???

Hostel prices close to Temple Bar are fairly cheap at the moment averaging 12pounds per night in a shared dorm..!!!

when are the Geordie contingent thinking of flying out..!!!

Michael

[joinee_Cormac]

sounds like a good plan Del let me know if you need any help with the organising side of things!

[Gold Joinee Abad]

Me me me me!!!!!

[GJ Drought]

still think this should be called "its a long way, to raok-a-Rory"

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=_KIl8-GADyE


im in obviously!

This post has been edited by Cap'n Joinee Drought: 07 March 2007 - 09:49 PM

[Au Joinee Rory]

I wholeheartedly endorse the RAoKing of Rory.

[PJ Wopunga (GA)]

I cant make it! stupid going back to university at the same time as trip to dublin. i may cry now

[Joinee Ashley]

I should almost definetly be there, blokey wants to be in dublin for his birthday after a bit of pursuasion so we just have to book flights & find a hostel, yaynes!!

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

But it's a weekend!
Pleeease come...Gatwick-Dublin...go on, go on, go on, go on!

[GJ Drought]

ahhh g'wan! g'waaaan!! ahh g'wan.... g'wan g'wan g'wan!

[HRH Gold Joinee Sheli]

pft! it'll be like.. the first week back? skip it!

My uni doesnt start til early october!! How does yours start so early?!

hmmm... Del can you reccomend cheapish places for me to stay?

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

Not really don't know anywhere myself 'cos I live way out in the West, but http://www.ireland.i...ommodation.aspx has plenty, including hostels and accomodation on uni campus (bit of a busman's holiday maybe!)
Mike (Da Vinci) might know more, he lives quite close to they city centre

[Octarine Joinee Da Vinci]

I'll have a scout around and find places that are relatively cheap and more expensiev for those that may want to treat themselves. I'll post up some infor for those interested once I've doen a little research and have a little more time.

[HRH Gold Joinee Sheli]

woooo thanks you kindly boyo's!

[Keen Joinee (GTJ)]

Agent Redlocks, on 7 Mar 2007, 10:51 PM, said:

can you reccomend cheapish places for me to stay?

Having had a quick look on the internet (work's rather slow today) I have found it impossible to get a return flight from Manchester to Dublin for less than £134 including taxes (Flights are relatively cheap, it's the evil taxes that hike the price) If anyone can find them cheaper anywhere, please let me know.

Through Expedia, you can get a flight from Manchester airport Saturday morning (arriving 8.50am) stay two nights at a budget hostel in Dublin centre and return to Manchester Monday in time for lunch (12.50) All for just £170.06
If you'd rather stay in a hotel this increases to around £209.58 (based on two sharing at the Dublin Best Western)

I also had a look into driving over, but alas it is no cheaper once you take the cost of petrol into account even with four sharing.

I do hope this helps, and if not, well at least it passed a little time in my otherwise extremely quiet day

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

If you can get to Holyhead, then you come over on the ferries as a foot passenger for about £20 each way and then get a bus or a train from the port into the City

[Au Joinee Rory]

Aerlingus is dirt cheap most of the time. Book far enough in advance and you won't pay more than £1 + taxes and charges each way. The fly from Manchester, Birmingham, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol and Newcastle.

[Keen Joinee (GTJ)]

Thanks for that Rory, Just found return flights with Aerlingus for 49.25 all in - that sounds a lot more tempting

[Octarine Joinee Da Vinci]

Some info for those interested in coming to Dublin

THINGS TO DO

Guinness Storehouse
Open 9.30 –5
Cost Adult €14 - €12.60 if you book the ticket online
Student under 18 €7.50
Student over 18 €9.50

Excellent trip, it’s a 20 ish minute walk from the town centre (5 mins and €10 ish in a taxi) will take you about 2 hours to go around, or 20 minutes if you don’t want to hear, see and enjoy the experience. Entry price includes a free pint of Guiness in the 7th floor 360 clear glass walled ‘Gravity’ bar.

For more info go to
www.guinness-storehouse.com


Kilmainham Jail

Open 9.30-4

Adults €5 ish
Students €2.50 ish

This is the jail that the ‘rebels were taken to and executed at from the 1916 Easter rising. The tour is meant to be very good, still haven’t got around to doing it but everyone that I know that has been has given me very good feedback. You’ll definitely want to get a Taxi as it’s further on past the Guinness Storehouse, more like €15 ish in a Taxi.

Viking Splash Tour

€20 – 10% discount available for parties of 15 or more.

Tour takes 75 minutes (20 of which is in the water) tours depart regularly from Stephen’s Green which is right in the heart of the city centre. Booking is highly recommended for weekends.



ACCOMODATION

There are loads of hostels and hotels all over Dublin. Main rule of thumb is as follows. The city centre consists of two main areas, one either side of the river liffey. On the North side you have O’Connell street and a large number of shops, some bars and restaurants. If you’re staying on the North side you want to be close to the Liffey as most of the action is on the south side. On the south side you have Grafton street, another set of shops but also Temple bar (about 30 bars) and a raft of other pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and the like. If you want to be in the thick of it stay on the south side and near ish but not in Temple Bar. Temple bar is very touristy and full of stags/hens etc. think of maybe the Punch and Judy in Covent Garden.

The following website has a large number of hostels listed www.hostelworld.com


For anyone wishing to treat themselves and stay in a very nice location the following are all very nice, but very pricey.

Fitzwilliam Hotel
Westbury
Merrion
Shelbourne


FINE DINING/OTHER GRUB

Dublin has a plethora of excellent restaurants, it also has a even greater amount of places to eat very reasonably and a massive mix of all types of cooking. I have yet to find a great curry house but Pizza, Pasta, Tapas, French, Mexican, Lebanesse etc. are all available and I can recommend some venues for anyone interested.


If there is anything specific any of you would like to know either reply here or drop me a PM and I’ll be glad to try and help. (I am away from 10th until 21st March so it will be after 21st if I haven’t replied by 9th, it’s not that I’m ignoring you.)

[Au³ Joinee Jamie]

just found tis thread and am well interested in this, i've been to dublin once before and it was wicked cool. i just hope i still have money for fun when september comes around

when i came, we stayed here

I liked it, but then, i was a tourist, and we did stay in one of the 'holiday apartments' which was far enough above street level and double glazed enough for noise not to be too much of an issue.

[Silver joinee newman]

I live in Dublin, so am happy to put up a couple of people. Just let me know.

Also this website has some cheap places to stay - www.dublinbackpacker.com

[Doire]

This is all very exciting. I will have taken the previous weekend of work for the astonishing electric picnic so I'm not sure how easy it'll be to wangle this one off too. I'm sure I'll be able to get saturday off at least and then leave early for waterford...ugh that'll be horrible, but better than nothing! I'll probably end up trying to persuade drunken joinees to come back to waterford with me...be on your guard...


The tower I'll be working in. Come for a tour! Bring your viking hats!

This post has been edited by Doire: 05 April 2007 - 12:43 PM