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I enjoyed reading your blog about your trip around Ireland.Glad you had a good trip,despite the weather at times.That "soft day" can sometimes last for weeks.One thing that comes across is that things can be very expensive.I think we can thank the good old "Celtic Tiger"for the fact that the simple everyday things like a cup of coffee or a pint of Guinness can make the price of a simple snack so dear.

What an amazing blog.  Looks like you had a fantastic trip...despite the rain: "it only rained twice this week....once for four days the second time for three days!!"  How true!

As for the prices, we are off next week to spend 10 days touring the Soutwest, and I am dreading the costs involved.  The problem is not just the "Celtic Tiger" but rather the massive inflation that occured when Ireland joined the Euro.  I had a friend at uni in Dublin at the time and a load of us went down for a weekend shortly after the conversion.  In a pub we bought a round of drinks: a couple of Guinnesses, largers, vodka and Cokes etc.  nothing too silly.  The barman told us it would be 40-odd Euros...we were shocked, but were ready to pay as we couldn't do the calculations quick enough.  "Naw lads, I'm only kidding", he says, "it's actually 20 Euros"...point is, shopkeepers, publicans, etc. could (and did!) charge whatever they wanted, which is my inflation went through the roof.  Thanks for the heads-up on the coffee-shop prices, we will be sure to avoid those, although I am afraid I am a slave to the Guinness and that will be unavoidable!

But never mind, we will have an amazing time regardless.

All the best!