I have a running buddy who is very shy, I told her about the board and she just can't do it.She is going to Ireland to run the Dublin Marathon in October.The race is Monday October 27th. I think she should fly in on Monday to save money and stay through the next Tuesday, this would give her 4-5 days outside of Dublin and she wants to go to the "countryside". She will be alone and is 37 years old and single,she will be traveling alone. She does play golf as well,but is just a beginner.

She also drinks beer. RR

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She also drinks beer

Something to do on her first evening perhaps and she might meet some other singles if she wants to link up with people?
Literary pub crawl

You don't give a budget Robert, but what about staying in hotel in the country (where is her preference?) with a golf course attached, as part of the deal. Everyone caters for beginners, I believe, so that is not a problem but green fees are generally high. Will she be hiring a car?

I think no car. Budget is moderate, I'm not sure the upper end but I'm thinking under 100 euro/night. Plane tickets look reasonable about 750 from LA. RR

That budget is not large enough for any of the nice hotels with golf as a feature unfortunately.

She will be probably want to be situated in a country town in order to be able to get around as public transport in the countryside is not great. Somewhere like Killarney perhaps where she can pick up buses or tours to see more of the area around although I find Killarney (reached by train from Dublin, about three and half hours) itself very touristy but it is the gateway to Kerry and some marvellous countryside. What area of Ireland does she want to be in?

I would imagine that other members on here would know of nice country town bed and breakfasts with golf nearby but I am afraid, not being a golfer, I have no personal experience of this.

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The race is Monday October 27th. I think she should fly in on Monday to save money

Even depending on where she's flying from and her good physical condition, isn's that a bit violent? I would advise her to arrive a day early.

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Originally posted by bugsydd:

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The race is Monday October 27th. I think she should fly in on Monday to save money

Even depending on where she's flying from and her good physical condition, isn's that a bit violent? I would advise her to arrive a day early.

I ment the Monday Before the race not the day of the race! RR

/QUOTE]

I ment the Monday Before the race not the day of the race! RR[/QUOTE]

Ah, that's better!

Has she tried the official Irish Tourism site www.discoverireland.com? One can choose on the right side of the screen the activity (in her case it's Golf, right?) and the county and they show you a list with the possibilities. Maybe she can choose a hotel without a golf course of its own but near a golf course.

Robert, I am thinking that if she wants to get straight to the country without stopping in Dublin then hopping on a fast coach service at the airport like this
might be the answer. There are many members on this board who rave about Galway and she can certainly find some lovely little roads out in the country around there to practise her running although I don't know about local bus services at all. I think there are quite a few golf courses around there too.