Fall Is a Great Time for Backpackers Seeking to Explore Ireland

The end of summer does not mean the end of youth tourism services in Ireland. Backpacker tours and transportation services are ready to roll on through the fall and winter.

From the modern music of the clubs to the traditional tunes in the pubs, Ireland is known for its night life, and two Barnacles independent hostels in Dublin and Galway can put youthful travelers in the center of the action. The hostels, in the center of each city’s entertainment district, are open 24 hours year-round and cater to backpackers, students, writers, artists and families. They have modern kitchens for guests’ use, currency exchange services, common rooms with open fires and luggage storage.

The Barnacles Temple Bar House, built in 1997, has balconies that overlook the twisted cobblestone streets of Temple Bar, Dublin’s trendy district known for its shops, galleries, pubs, clubs and interesting eateries. It’s less than a five-minute walk to Grafton Street, a pedestrian walkway and the city’s main shopping area.

A few minutes farther is Trinity College, where the library has on display one of the oldest books in the world: the Book of Kells, a Gospel written and elaborately illustrated around 800. The hostel is also within easy reach of the city’s other key sites: Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin Castle, the Dublin Writers Museum (which celebrates the works of George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde) and the National Museum of Ireland (where you can see Viking and Celtic artifacts). Finish your sightseeing with a tour and a sample at the Guinness Brewery.

Rates range from $26 per person in a dormitory room to $58 for a single room. Barnacles Temple Bar House, 19 Temple Lane, Dublin; 011-353-1671-6277, www.barnacles.ie/templebar/accommodation.htm.

Galway, a university town known for its medieval heritage, is considered Ireland’s liveliest city after Dublin. The Barnacles Quay Street House, in a renovated medieval townhouse, is opposite the popular Quays Pub in the city center, an area known for restaurants, clubs and pubs, and a 10-minute walk from trains. The hostel is at 10 Quay St.; 011-353-91-568-644, www.barnacles.ie/quaystreet/accommodation.htm. A bed in a double or single room costs $39 per night; a dorm bed is $24.

For details on all Barnacles Hostels, log on to www.barnacles.ie. For details on other hostels in Ireland, contact An Oige, the Irish Youth Hostel Assn., 011-353-1830-4555, www.irelandyha.org, or Independent Holiday Hostels, 011-353-1836-4700, www.hostels-ireland.com.

Touring Ireland’s small villages, historic ruins and wilderness areas is easy in the low season because many companies catering to backpackers operate year-round. Their services are geared to travelers ages 18 to 35 but are available to all.

The Shamrocker is part of the Radical Travel Network, 011-44-131-557-9393, www.radicaltravel.com, which also runs backpacker tours in Britain. The company offers three-, four-and six-day tours in 35-seat buses with Irish guides. Departures depend on demand. Guests are dropped off at hostels at night, but accommodations are not included in the tour price. (Upgraded accommodations can also be arranged.)

This fall the six-day Southern Rocker tour is scheduled to depart Dublin weekly and costs about $204. The guided tour stops at Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Dingle, Cork, Cashel, Glendalough, the Hill of Tara and the Blarney Stone. For details contact the Shamrocker at 011-353-1672-7651, www.shamrockertours.com.

Tir na nOg Tours has six-day tours departing about once a week, and three-day tours about three times per week. Groups range from 15 to 22 people. Departing from Dublin, Irish driver-guides take you off the beaten track and give commentary on myths and legends, historical events and current affairs. All tours include transportation, accommodations in hostels, light breakfasts and site entrance fees.

The six-day southern tour departs Dublin on Mondays, costs $267 and covers the highlights from the Blarney Stone to the Cliffs of Moher and from Dingle Peninsula to Galway Bay. Accommodation in Dublin is not included but can be arranged if needed. Upgrades to twin rooms are possible for an extra charge.

For details, contact Tir na nOg Tours at 011-3531-836-4684, www.tirnanogtours.com.

Stray Travel Network also operates backpacker tours in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Ireland programs range from one to six days. Unlike Tir na nOg Tours, Stray allows you to set your own pace and break up your trip along its route. Most passes allow you to take up to four months to complete your trip. The company uses 28-passenger buses, which stop at popular tourist sites and hostels, where beds are reserved for about $16 per night. The “All Ireland” route takes a minimum of six days to travel and costs $235. It departs each Tuesday and Sunday.

For information, contact Stray Travel at 011-44-207-373-7737, www.straytravel.com.

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance travel writer. Her Web site is www.izon.com.