I've never been to Ireland before, and I'm being sent the week before Good Friday for an official event. Is this a good idea to stay later at my own expense? I vaguely remember hearing that it is not very exciting on Good Friday as many places close down, but I don't know about the rest of the weekend. Also, things may have changed since I heard that.

Any help will be appreciated.

Note: I originally posted this in Travel&Dining: Destination >> The World > Europe (Eastern/Western) but I've moved it since very few people seem to read that forum.

Pubs are closed on Good Friday!!!!

And if I don't care about pubs?

Things will probably have changed a bit since we were in Ireland over Easter in the late 1980s... but back then it wasn't just a case of pubs being closed, EVERYTHING was closed. We couldn't even find anywhere to buy lunch (this was in the Cork area) - we eventually found some greasy spoon take-away place that was open, but I remember we had quite a job finding anywhere at all.

Good Friday is a MAJOR holiday to the Irish. Expect everything to be closed down, and a lot will likely be closed on Easter Sunday as well. You'll have a better chance of finding something open in Dublin, but I would be wary if you're out in a small town.

Heresy! Ireland is not a tea toddling kind of place. There's Guinness, Grace and God. The order is up to you.

In reality, a lot of the dynamics of small town Ireland surround the Church and the Pub and, in reality, a good balance makes for a good trip. If you compound that fact with the Smoke Free Pub, it makes a big difference--you'll find a lot of the Irish music scene centers around the pub and a lot of them play better when you've shown your appreciation by sending them a few pints. In the Gaelic areas of County Galway and west Kerry, you'll see what I mean.

However, the Irish Mass can be quite beautiful, so if you are there that weekend, do take in a service--even a lapsed Catholic like me finds beauty in the Gaelic version of the Our Father. But don't expect much else to be open outside of Dublin and, perhaps, Killarney (tourist trap!). And certainly don't expect that Ireland will be properly represented... you have to balance the pulpit and the pint to really feel it.

Timothy

So... you're all saying I should still go, right?

Well, depends what you're looking for. I don't know if I'd make a city break for that weekend alone, but if it was part of a larger itinerary, I'd go.

Timothy