Conference tallis::celt

    
    Why would anyone in their right mind want to attend these things
    in Dublin...
    
    when CORK, the best city in Ireland, is just down the road a bit????   ;^>
    
    I mean, why waste yer time in durty old Dublin, (an "also ran"-type
    city), when you can have it all in Cork?!
    
    Joe (Ambassador, Tir na nOg)

Just copied this from Usenet.  I figured as there will be
MILLIONS of you going to Dublin for the Culture this year,
it's worth reading.  Best always to be prepared.....

Don't get me wrong, Dublin is nice, but it IS a city,
don't be stupid and generally you'll have no problems...

Bernard

------------------------------------------------------

From: mbrennan@swift.cs.tcd.ie (Micheal O'Braonain)
Subject: Dublin - a wee warning
Date: 21 Aug 91 11:04:21 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, Trinity College Dublin
 
The following is a re-post of somehting that appeared in
soc.culture.celtic last week, perhaps it should make an appearance
here in rec.travel
 
 
The headlines in the Dublin papers the last couple of days concern
the murder of a German tourist, and the assault on his friend, in
Dublin's Phoenix Park.  They were camped in an isolated part of 
this very large park on Wednesday night, when 3 men attacked them 
with sticks and a knife, beating one to death and seriously injuring
his companion.  Both were in their twenties.  
 
While Dublin has a relatively high incidence of petty crime (burglary
larceny etc) it has a low rate of violent crime, and murder is rare
enought to ensure each one gets widespread coverage in the national
papers.  The fact that this was a tourist who was murdered, and that
it happened when there was nothing else newsworthy about means it
is being used/abused by the media to fill those column inches and
current affairs programmes.  However it has thrown up a few intersting
points.  Perhaps you might make note of it if you plan to travel this
way later this year or next.
 
1.  'Budget accomodation' (hostels, campsites) is in very short 
    supply in Dublin.  If you plan on staying in Dublin from
    mid-June throught to end-August, and you want to spend less 
    than IRP$14 on accomodation per night then you must book in advance.
    (IRP$14 will get you a room and breakfast in a B+B)
 
2.  A lot of tourists in Dublin are victims of petty crime.  This
    appears to be for a number of reasons.  a) they are easily
    identifiable.  b) they usually have 'good pickings' like 
    cameras and cash.  c) they are careless.  This carelessness
    stems from the general relaxed holiday mood they are in, as 
    well as perhaps an image of Ireland being the land of of
    the thousand welcomes.  
 
    If you are Dublin remember to lock you bike at all times -
    especially for the 10 seconds while you pop into the shop/loo/
    phonebox.  Dont leave you backpack/panniers unattended.  If
    you are in a car then never leave luggage on the roof and 
    expect it to be there when you return, never leave anything
    visible inside your car especially not luggage, cameras, 
    camcorders.  That should be stowed in the boot (trunk).  However
    transfer the stuff to the boot *before* you park, not in full
    view of the potential gurrier.  Finally minimise the amount
    of cash you have on your person, if you must carry a lot then
    distribute it.  A money belt is of course a good idea.  Dont
    'advertise' that you are carrying much case by say producing
    a wad of IRP$100 pound notes.  If you have just done a large 
    transaction at a bank or other financial institution then
    take reasonable care that youare not being followed.
 
3.  Dublin's many parks are very well tended by Dublin Corporation, and
    provide a great amenity to us all during the day.  At night they
    often become home to the more marginalised in society - the 
    homeless, down+outs, cider drinking youngsters, prostitutes
    male and female.  As well as being illegal to camp there, it
    is strongly not recommended.  There is only one campsite within
    easy reach of the city - that is in Shankill (sp?) which is
    about 7 miles to the south, but is easily reached by DART
    (local train).
 
The general idea is that Dublin is much less safe than the rest of 
Ireland, where you would not need to take the same level of precautions.
However it is not a hotbed of crime and vandalism either - you just
need to take the same sensible precatuions you would take in any other
busy capital city.  
 
Take care, but enjoy,
 ,   ,
Micheal
-- 
 ,   ,  ,      ,              ,       ,          ,          ,  ,      ,
Micheal O Braonain     Roinn Riomheolaiochta, Colaiste Na Trionoide, BAC 2.
Email                  mbrennan@cs.tcd.ie
-- 
 ,   ,  ,      ,              ,       ,          ,          ,  ,      ,
Micheal O Braonain     Roinn Riomheolaiochta, Colaiste Na Trionoide, BAC 2.
Email                  mbrennan@cs.tcd.ie

    I know of at least on tourist who was pick-pocketed and was then put
    off the trail of his attacker by a group of lads who he thought were
    innocent bystanders.
    	They turned out to be accomplices of the thief deliberately putting
    the hapless victim on the wrong trail......