Do people ever make a trip around the entire island? Backpacking, wandering the roads and staying at taverns, anything like this? It sounds like it could be amazing.

My brother has walked all over Ireland and loves it. He and my sister stayed 2 - 3 nights in many towns and either in a castle of a pub.

Someday, maybe in 2013, we are all going to Ireland to rent a castle for one week, just our family (very large family). I can hardly wait.

Rent a castle. Rent... a castle! That just sounds so romantic, in the grand epic sense!

C'mon, rent? Do like the hoardes & STORM it...

it depends on how very large her family is...

A couple catapults/trebuchets and a battering ram should do. Any research on siege engines will give lots of clues...

Well, the weekly rent will be $2000.00 and so far there are 12 of us going, with a possibility of up to 20 more adult family members joining us. For an extra $500.00 we can have a cook and a maid.

Now that seems like a fairly good deal to me. My brother did the research and we are most likely going to do it.

Storm it, huh? That might work -- our family (Doyles) are descendants of the Vikings who stormed and invaded Ireland way back in ancient times. hmmmm ,,, I wonder if I still have my sword, shield and helmet.??!!

Unless she has Trolls to operate the battering ram, her family could be damaged by boiling oil or flaming arrows.

I like the trebuchet idea however. Nothing like a good siege tower, too!

Oh! A siege tower would be awesome to conquer!!!

Trolls...I think I can scare some up over there...they live under bridges, right?

Battering rams might give me slivers.

My goodness, Phyllis, what an adventure you will have. It's a terrific idea to rent a castle. Can I hide in your suitcase and come along? I always wanted to see Ireland.