Galway - Better than Dublin

Galway is a better place to visit than Dublin, if you take the Lonely Planet's new 2010 guide to Eire seriously. It says post boom Ireland is really not much different than other modern European countries. "Temple Bar is, by 3am, a cess pool with the only culture on display is in the pools of vomit and urine that give the whole area the aroma of a sewer," the book says.

The western city of craic comes out on top though. It's awesome trad wins high marks from the travel critics. This, they say, is the real attraction in Ireland - unique music, culture and a friendly atmosphere. Galway has all of that and more.

Colm Byrne