It's a shortlist that's causing controversy in Ireland for being - well, too short, and also for being wrong.
This week Clarence House hotel in Dublin, Skellig Michael in Kerry and the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim have all made it into the list of 1,000 Ultimate Sights in the world from the Lonely Planet guide.
Trouble is, some are scoffing at the Clarence House pick. Owned by Irish rock royalty Bono and the Edge of U2, it's a decent enough hotel venue in central Dublin but it strains credulity a bit to call it (as the Lonely Planet guide does) one of the 'best music pilgrimage sights' in the world.
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Read more:
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U2 donates over $6 million to musical education for kids
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Most would just have called it an upscale hotel belonging to two major rockstars. It's certainly not on a par with the mighty beauties of Skellig Michael in Kerry and the Giant’s Causeway up north, that's certain. So could there have been another possibly more cynical reason it made the final cut?
At least Skellig Michael made it into the list as 'one of the most marvellous monasteries and convents,' whilst the rock formations of the Giants Causeway has earned it a place in the top 10 'most unusual beaches.'
But if you stop by the Clarence House looking for a mighty vision you may well leave without - as the song says - having found what you're looking for.
9 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.bunkerhill | Apr 14, 2013, 10:23 AM EDT
Clarence House? Terrible choice. Along with all the natural beauties which abound in Ireland, what about Newgrange, a world wonder, or Dromoland if hotels were to be included. From the picture, the Clarence House would hold no appeal for us. Possibly the choice of Clarence House, aside from it belong to U2, was to deminish Ireland as a tourist attraction.
Brolaur | Sep 29, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT
Carrigcourt. Couldn't afford to buy a postcard? pULL THE OTHER ONE!!!!!!
TheOldPerfessor | Sep 28, 2011, 02:21 PM EDT
PatriciaMarya - if that Longford B&B was in a giant converted estate just off the main highway, we were there in 2004 and it totally rocked. We had a sports connection there too - when we woke up we were informed that the Red Sox had won the World Series. Being solid Yankee fans, that was not the best start to our day.
CitizenWhy | Sep 28, 2011, 01:12 PM EDT
In the spirit of Obama, let's compromise here. Build a replica of the Clarence Hotel on the Cliffs of Moher.
CitizenWhy | Sep 28, 2011, 01:10 PM EDT
Travel guides try too hard to be different from each other.
PatriciaMarya | Sep 28, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT
To the OldPerfessor...I totally agree - a hotel vs. The Cliffs of Moher?! No contest to this Yank! I'll take a lovely bed and breakfast in Longford where the Lady of the House took the time to make us Potato Cakes to go under our poached eggs that wonderful Satuday in February of 2009 with the Olympics from Vancouver on in the living room. (Gosh, that just made me way too nostalgic!)
mcdolan | Sep 28, 2011, 10:18 AM EDT
Hey, before it became upscale I often stayed in the Clarence as a relatively cheap (£15 a night for single) convenient city centre stay with a great restaurant when I visited Ireland. Whether it belongs on this Lonely Planet list of Sites (not signts) is a no-brainer, it doesn't!
carrickcourt | Sep 28, 2011, 09:49 AM EDT
Not sure about that Lonely Planet list but the Lonely Planet guide for Ireland is only travel guide I have found here in the USA that has anything about the areas in Ireland where my ancestors came from, the Bailieborough/Kingscourt area of Co. Cavan and the Carrickmacross area of Co. Monaghan. Not big tourist areas but they have lovely hills and lakes. I remember my second cousin trying to find postcards in Kingcourt and while finding a few she found them too dear in price to purchase.
TheOldPerfessor | Sep 28, 2011, 09:43 AM EDT
Let's see now - do we pick a Dublin hotel or the Cliffs of Moher? Really hard choice. Flip a coin.