Just home from Ireland with LOTS of quilting ideas!
 

We just got home last night after 8 days in Ireland--our first, but hopefully not last trip there! Was little disappointed that could not find any LQS--did look in Connemara for Rags for Linda shop, but frankly was so busy making sure that my DH, who was driving didn't crash me into the many stone walls--that driving on left side was tricky! Know there were some in Dublin area, but we had dumped the car by then and didn't have time to do more than sightsee. But what sightseeing!

Lovely old buildings, many with amazing tile work and ceiling molding--I had both camera and sketch book ready and brought home lots of ideas for machine quilting designs!

The food was great! What's not to like about a country where you find Chocolate Cafes in the cities??And the wool-both knitted and woven was just luxurious--did treat myself to an Aran sweater. What a friendly people the Irish are--we definitely want to go back!

My dream vacation! Glad you had such a wonderful time.

Sounds like you and your hubby had a wonderful time.

I went to Ireland in July. Our group did a work project in the Northern area and then we did a tour of the Ring of Kerry in the Southern area. Could not find a LQS any where! Closest type of fabric store we came to was for home dec. Was very disappointed but sure loved the countryside and the very gracious people we met.

We got home Friday from Ireland. 6 days of fun. Cliffs of Moher, Mizen Head, Dingle Peninsula, Castles, Dublin, Limerick, Kilkenny, Kilarney, finding which Pub had best food, soccer game, Aran sweater shopping, Guiness sampling and learning the correct way to "pour", golf and the friendly Irish people whom we'll always hold dear. We walked 6 to 7 miles every day and our travel companion drove the car like a pro.

I hope to some day get to Ireland, if I can get my husband out of the recliner.

So glad to hear you enjoyed your trip here. You certainly did a lot of travelling. Patchwork and quilting is very popular over here but the shops are hard to find, some are in private houses. Here's a link to a list of shops that is on the site for the Eastern Branch of the Irish Patchwork Society, http://www.easternbranch-ips.com/shops/.

Here is the main link to the Irish patchwork society which includes a link for people visiting Ireland. It lists all the different branches that are around the country and, as far as I know, visitors are very welcome to attend the meetings, certainly in the Eastern branch in Dublin, http://www.irishpatchwork.ie/index.html

Ireland is like UK our shops are very far apart as quilting doesn't have the status it commands in the US. I'm lucky with 3 shops within a 30 mile radius. Other areas actually go on bus trips to shops from local Quilt Guilds.

Visited Ireland in July, and it is an awesome country.. The people were great.. We rented a car, and destroyed a tire by hitting a curb.. The roundabouts were a real trip.. Can't wait to go back, and hit more castles.. I didn't hit any fabric stores, as I was with the guys, and didn't want to listen to them complain.. Glad I sat in the back seat...

Go without him. LOL When I want to travel and DH doesn't, I say see you later. I would have missed amazing memories if stayed home because he didn't want to go.

The family and I took a trip to Ireland a couple of years ago. The Irish are very nice to tourists

I did a quilt Ireland tour last summer with Kim Caskey. We did go to several quilt shops and had a lesson on celtic quilting. I think Rags to Linda was my favorite. What hospitality! Her shop is small so her neighbor made tea. We sat on the patio and took turns shopping. Her husband is a terrific gardener, so there were flowers every where. They raise chickens as well. What fun drinking tea, talking quilting and enjoying the patio. Kim does a tour every summer. There are great accommodations and a reasonable price.

We used to live in Ireland; hubby is from Ireland & the children grew up there. Never saw a quilt shop myself but, then, we were out in the sticks -- & it was quite a while ago! It is the most beautiful country though. We are going back shortly for a family wedding. There won't be any time for quilt shop searches. :rolleyes:

Don't feel bad, we were in Ireland last year, my husband is Irish, and we drove past Rags to Linda even though I was looking for it. The sign is really small and it wasn't till I double checked instructions about 1/2 hour past that I realised we had sailed past it. Hubby did offer to turn back but I had shopped from her when she attended a quilt show in England. Luckily our cousin knew of a quilt shop in Armagh and she took me there for a morning so that was a great consolation.

I'm so wishing I could go back to Ireland again. We have made 3 trips there and yet I long to go back. The countryside is beautiful and the people are very friendly. On our last trip we did the southern end of Ireland from Gallway down and back up through Waterford to Dublin. Awesome trip. Except when I fell in a field covered with sheep manure! LOL Found a pub for lunch and changed clothes in a tiny bathroom stall. What memories were made that trip.

I loved Ireland! Was there, unfortunately, before I began my quiltmaking hobby, but we found locally made lace (pillow covers) which I bought. Loved the people, loved the flowers, loved the landscape, loved Cliffs of Moher, and loved (some) of the food. I agree, it's a country worth repeat visits!

Like so many of you--I can't wait to go back! And thank you Roisinom, I'll bookmark those websites for my next trip--think it will be at least 3 years as we plan a train trip to Washington DC next year and 2017 will be a drive to Idaho for family event (maybe with 3 g-boys who will be 3,4,8 by then--how crazy am I??). I would have loved to have found someplace to purchase some of that lovely woolen yardage, too!

Sounds like a great vacation..

At Celtic Quilt Tours we offer quilt shop-hops and textile stops in Ireland and Scotland. This will be our third year travelling to Ireland, our second to Scotland and first to Alsace, France. Visit our web-site www.celticquilttours.com for details on all of our itineraries. Debbi