Brittens 2008! Ireland plan dead! Back to the UK!

LimpingFish · Mon 14/01/2008 21:11:02

It's about that time again. A time when the itch to flock together takes hold of all AGS'ers (well, those in and around the UK anyway), and new and exciting nesting grounds must be found/explored/destroyed.

This year, I propose the following...

O'Brittens! AGS takes the emerald isle!

28th of June - 5th of July 2008

Yes, seven days of fun on the west coast of Ireland! Begorragh, etc...

Corofin, Co. Clare, to be exact. See it here!

The closest airport to Corofin is Shannon, a mere medium-length train/bus/hired car journey away, and an airport serviced by most UK and/or european airlines.

Renting two of the above cottages, depending on the number of people who would attend (each sleeps eight), for the entire seven day period, would cost just over one thousand euro. If sixteen people actually attend, the price per person would be E62.50 (Â£47.50).

Would anybody be interested in this plan? Would anybody be interested in Ireland in general? Are there any other plans? Do small voles really hold the answer to life's questions?

Post your answers...here!

Thank you.

EDIT: Nothing is set in stone yet, so if people have other ideas, feel free to voice them.

scotch · Mon 14/01/2008 21:30:19

I was going to ask you about this, we were talking about it recently. If this doesn't happen CJ said he doesn't mind asking about his friend's place in the Lake District again, but most people don't seem to have a problem with the idea of O'Brittens if you're serious about organising it. I'd come, unless I really had no money. Travel sounds fine, Shannon is cheap enough to get to from all over the UK. Probably easier to get to than the north of England for most of us, Â£30-40 return from most regional airports.

My only concern (and it applies to both suggested Brittens locations) is remoteness, because there have been quite a lot of AGS meets without shops or pubs nearby recently. I personally don't find a bit of a walk much of a problem, but I know for some people it's an issue, so it'd be nice to work out how far of a walk it really is to the nearest source of food. Says "5 minutes by car" which sounds like it's probably slightly better than CJ's location, but doesn't seem to give the location any more specifically than that.

Galen · Mon 14/01/2008 21:49:08

Lake District eh?
I remember my sister going on her honeymoon there... and my brother-in-law mistaking a breed of orangey-brown cows on the hillside for lions (I wish I could believe he was joking, but I know him too well).
He really was twenty-three years to old to be making that mistake.

LimpingFish · Mon 14/01/2008 21:52:51

All about Corofin...here!

To be honest, I chose Corofin because of it's location to a major airport and the price of the holiday cottages.

If we bypass the idea of holiday cottages all together, perhaps a B+B/Guest House/Hotel-based accommodation plan might give us a more flexible choice of locations.

If we veto Corofin, it should still be fairly easy to find an alternative.

I'll get solid details about Corofin over the next couple of days (transport to and from, etc), make some inquires, and poke around some more on the side.

Dualnames · Mon 14/01/2008 21:57:34

Why oh why don;t you make it to Greece?

Radiant · Mon 14/01/2008 22:06:03

Quote from: Dualnames on Mon 14/01/2008 21:57:34
Why oh why don;t you make it to Greece?

You should have been to Mittens 2005, then

Anyway, I still live near the UK and I'll still consider going there. Depends on if I can get both that and Mittens off from work, I suppose.

Creed Malay · Mon 14/01/2008 22:06:46

I am game.

scotch · Mon 14/01/2008 22:08:10

Corofin seems fine to get to, just wondering about getting between the cottages and the town. You can get fairly inexpensive car rentals from Shannon airport if needs be anyway (less than 10 euros between the 16 of us, we could get everyone in cars if people thought it worthwhile). There's at least one bus in the afternoon according to buseireann.ie and 35km is probably not too far to share a taxi.

Don't worry dualnames, we're using an increasingly loose definition of Britain these days... maybe Brittens will be in Greece some day.

Ishmael · Mon 14/01/2008 22:11:10

I'm interested, but right now I have no idea whatsoever of my next summer's free time, financial situation or any travelling possibilities altogether.

Pumaman · Mon 14/01/2008 22:59:23

I'm in, but only because there's a town called "Killinaboy" just up the road which sounds like it's worth a visit -- lucky we've got the 18 minimum age these days or some people could be in trouble!

QuoteMy only concern (and it applies to both suggested Brittens locations) is remoteness, because there have been quite a lot of AGS meets without shops or pubs nearby recently.

I think the problem is that since we've moved "upmarket" from campsites to renting cabins/houses/etc they're bound to end up being more remote, since people don't tend to build large houses in the middle of towns. So yeah, it's not Corrofin itself that would be the problem, the issue is more the distance from the cottages to the town.

If we think it's a big problem, we can always continue looking for other places. A quick search turns up this, for example which claims to be in a village.

Anyway, thanks for getting the ball rolling, Fish!

Disco · Mon 14/01/2008 23:19:17

I've been looking forward to this announcement ever since coming back from the UK a week ago, and went straight into setting aside money. Whether in England or Ireland does not matter a whole lot, but Ireland would be preferable as I have yet to conquer it. Prices don't look too bad either.

m0ds · Mon 14/01/2008 23:54:30

Ireland is an amazing place! I will be there!! Corofin my guts up

50 squid is more than reasonable, yay! I'm sure a flight won't be too mental on price either. So yes, I would like to go

Stupot · Tue 15/01/2008 02:18:13

Hmm. I'd be up for making an appearance if I can afford it.
This going to be a tight year for me money-wise.
How far in advance are you going to need numbers?

Nikolas · Tue 15/01/2008 10:29:22

Damn!

Exactly on the 5th of July I have to be in Greece. I'm the best man to a wedding. Can't be away, can I? :'(

SSH · Tue 15/01/2008 11:05:29

Quote from: scotch on Mon 14/01/2008 22:08:10
Don't worry dualnames, we're using an increasingly loose definition of Britain these days... maybe Brittens will be in Greece some day.

Maybe it should be renamed "Eurens", which would be a piece of piss...

Stupot · Tue 15/01/2008 11:39:26

Yeh Ireland isn't technically in Britain anyway, sl this sets a precedent.
In a few years time Mittens and Brittens will merge and become Antarctens.

Dualnames · Tue 15/01/2008 12:38:54

Quote from: Radiant on Mon 14/01/2008 22:06:03
Quote from: Dualnames on Mon 14/01/2008 21:57:34
Why oh why don;t you make it to Greece?

You should have been to Mittens 2005, then

Anyway, I still live near the UK and I'll still consider going there. Depends on if I can get both that and Mittens off from work, I suppose.

I would so want a time machine now..

SSH · Tue 15/01/2008 12:56:06

Just play Ben Jordan 6 and it's like you're there...

of course, the underwater section is the only part that actually happened at Mittens

Dualnames · Tue 15/01/2008 13:00:21

I'm there... the Mittens isn't.

Sam. · Tue 15/01/2008 13:43:29

Ireland sounds just super.

Brittens 2008! Ireland plan dead! Back to the UK!

m0ds