There’s no place like home?

With good weather dominating the early part of the summer, more of us opted for a

‘staycation’ in Ireland. We asked our Facebook friends how they rated their holiday experiences. Here’s an edited selection of some of the comments we received.

Frances Mansfield: People are complaining about the prices but we all know that Ireland is an expensive place to live in. I have also heard that much of the accommodation is booked out months in advance in a lot of the popular tourist spots, so someone is using it. Went to Connemara. Lots of places to visit but the service in the hotel was not brilliant. Still waiting for a reply to my complaint eight weeks later.

Brian Byrne: Was going to have a week here. Far too expensive and over priced for what they wanted for a week. I only wanted the rooms for a week, not actually buy the things off them for good. For what they wanted for a week I could have got three weeks in Spain, including flights.

Elaine Dalton: Went to Clare for two nights. Weather was crap but we made the best of it as it was our holiday. Thankfully we had the car to go to the Cliffs of Moher and drive to see Fr Ted’s house. It would be great to have public transport to heritage parks and sites.

Ashling Byrne: We went to Wexford for a few days. Great to have a break away from Dublin but wasn’t much around to do with the kids unless we drove but we took the train so we were kind of in the middle of nowhere. But like I said, it was nice to have a break from Dublin. It was very expensive to stay down in Wexford. We only stayed three days and ran out of money come Thursday. Plus don’t think it’s right when you pay through the nose for a hotel family room and the kids’ juices and even lunch snacks are not included in the price . . .

Christine Melia: It’s too expensive In Ireland – seriously! Public transport is a mess too. Maybe the Government should look into making the heritage parks and sites more public transport friendly. An example of this would be Newgrange. No public transport goes directly to it. Such a shame.

Rachel Lattimore: We spent a week in Mount Wolseley holiday lodges, Carlow. Great for kiddies and you can use all hotel facilities. Smashing golf course as well. The houses are fab and it is reasonably priced if booked on Dreamireland.ie

Carol Todd Barry: Spent a week in Leitrim Quay with my family, including two teenagers and one 22-year-old. Had an amazing time. We rented a modern three-bed house with all mod cons and got a 23ft cruiser with the house for the week. None of us were sailors but after instruction we were confident enough to travel on the river. Visited Lough Key Forest Park and Carrick-on-Shannon. Highly recommended holiday. Rating: 10 out of 10.

Christine Huston: Went to Trabolgan with the kids for a week. Fab time, great weather, beautiful beaches and all for under a grand. What’s not to love about Ireland!

Brenda Russell: Went to Galway and stayed at the Clybaun Hotel. Weather wasn’t the best but a great time was had by all.

Ger O’Donnell: Spent time in Kelly’s Hotel, Rosslare, Wexford – an absolutely fab time for adults and kids alike. Doesn’t matter what weather is like, there’s something for everyone to do.

Shantelle Roberts: I have been in Ireland for three months (living here for two years on and off) and it was very warm and humid for about four weeks and it finally rained last week and this week! Ireland is very expensive, especially when you actually live here and experience it full on . . . Two nights or two weeks isn’t enough to know what Ireland is really like. I have seen almost the entire country and yes they do rip tourists off and the locals too.

Wayne Flanagan Tobin: Went to the Cliffs of Moher last week and it was over-commercialised, for example, paying for parking and the high costs of the shop there. Then back in Galway there was more of the same high costs. The week before I was in Belfast and found better value for money. Overall I would rate Dublin as an excellent place to visit with the Phoenix Park, Guinness factory, museums, parks, walks and the upcoming Dublin Horse Show. Staycations will have to be made more affordable, though.

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