Advice on buying a violin

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I would like to buy a violin, always wanted one since I was a child. Can anyone give me advice on buying my first violin - how much it will cost, where to buy one etc. I saw some very cheap violins on ebay and amazon, but I don't trust them; they are too cheap, difficult to tune and sound bad. There is a large music shop in Dublin, Waltons World of Music, but I don't want to go before I know more about violins.

I once played some scales on an Irish fiddle in 1986, I was given a lesson by an elderly friend of my uncles (a former member of the old IRA).

How serious are you? I wouldn't shell out hundreds if you don't know how devoted you want to be at it.
You might check in music shops, used instruments are usually a bargain, and you can try them out before you buy. Maybe check with universities, schools, etc., to see if they know good places to go.

Good luck, that's the one instrument I couldn't pick up and play well (I play by ear), 'ceptin bagpipes...

A good option is to see if you can rent a violin. Some music stores will rent instruments and then apply the rental payments to the purchase price if the customer decides to buy the instrument. This way you can get a quality instrument and try it out; if you don't like it, you're only out the rental payments for the time it was rented. If you can, try and find a violin shop. That'd probably be the best way to get the most value from your money as they'd be in the best position to recommend a violin for you. If you plan on working with an instructor he/she might be able to point you in the right direction, too.