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wckc


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The trip is shaping up...
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Here is what we have so far:

     Day 1 - arrive Shannon, drive to Kilkenny with rest/stretch stops along the way. Visit around town, St Canice cathedral & round tower, night at Alcantra in Kilkenny town.

     Day 2 - a very long day - Brown Hill Portal tomb, Carlow castle, Castledermot round tower, Moone High Cross, Old Kilcullen, Glendalough, Baltinglass Abbey, night at Alcantra

     Day 3 - Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Kells Priory, Kilree monastic site, St Patricks well, arrive at Ivy Bridge Cottage - lodging for the next week

     Day 4 - another very long day - Cashel town, Hore Abbey, St Dominics abbey, Athassel Abbey, Holy Cross Abbey, Kilcooley Abbey, Ahenny high crosses, back to ivy Bridge Cottage

     Day 5 - Blarney castle & house, Kilcrea castle & firary, Coppingers Court, Castle Roscarberry, Drombeg stone circle, Desmond castle, Charles fort, Ballynacarriga castle, back to Ivy Bridge

     Day 6 - Jameson experience in Middleton, Cobh, Fota Island park, English market, Mourne Abbey, back to Ivy Bridge

     Day 7 -Carrigadrohid castle, Carrigaphooca castle, Torc falls, Muckross abbey, Muckross house, Ross castle, Kilarney town, return to Ivy Bridge

     Day 8 - Listowel castle, Ratoo round tower, Carrigafoyle castle, Ardfert cathedral

     Day 9 - Mallow castle, Ballybeg priory, Kilmallock castle & priory, Ballynamona castle, Liscarrol castle, Donkey sanctuary, Kilmeedy castle, Kanturk castle

     Day 10 - Leave Ivy Bridge - Adare, Newmarket on Fergus - ringfort & church/graveyard, Quinn abbey, Dysert O'dea castle and monastery at Clare Archeological center, Ennis Friary, Clare abbey, Cliffs of Moher (already visited 2x so a short stop), Lahinch beach & tower house, Night at Ardan House in Ennis

We haven't planned much beyond yet...

     Day 11 - stay in Salthill with friends

     Day 12 - To Inis Mor, night at Claiban house

     Day 13, 14 - in Salthill with friends

     Day 15 - Park Inn hotel @Shannon airport

     Day 16 - morning flight home

We know that we will be heading to Moycullen to visit Connemara Marble (hope to get a necklace repaired). Depending on schedules with our Salthill friends we might go out to Roundstone, or stop in at Clifden and visit with Malchy Kerns.

I'm getting worn out just typing this!

-wc



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Judy


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Since you will be heading up to Moycullen, a little farther north on N59 at Oughterard is Aughnanure Castle. 

Looks like from your itinerary you enjoy castles. Aughnanure Castle is one of the restored castles that we found on our last trip.



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wckc


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Judy -

You are right, Aughnanure Castle is a beautiful place - we visited it in 2010.

This trip will be a time mostly to see what we missed on our first trip in 2007 - the mostly green blur tour. I thought I had it planned out, but all I planned was where to stay! We had visited much of the south that time, and missed most everything we are stopping to see this time! We did see the Rock of Cashel, but missed Hore and St Dominic's abbeys. We saw Blarney castle - Keith went up, but my knees were too bad that day, so I didn't. Maybe this time...We drove through Kilarney town, and stopped and ate lunch, but that was it.

Both in 2010 and 2012 we went out to Clifden, but couldn't manage to find the castle. Visited Malchy Kerns place in Roundstone both years, bought a Bodran each year, but haven't met him in person. Keith has become friends with him long distance over the last two years, and he lives in Clifden off-season now, so we hope to meet up with him there.

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Michele Erdvig


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You have a very full schedule but you can whittle it down while you are there. The nice thing about self-catering is you can go as the mood hits you. If you wake to teaming rain you can relax in front of your fireplace sipping tea till it lets up and then proceed.

Did you download Corey's free walking tour of Kilkenny? There is also an informative guided tour from the tourist office periodically throughout the day.



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CowboyCraic


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As I have said, Coppinger Court is difficult to find but well worth the visit. We drove past it three times before we finally realised that it was the spot we had driven so far to see!

The cows won't mind you if you don't mind them!

I suspect you will pare down as you go, just because I have a better feel for your traveling style!

We will talk more in a few days time, see ya at Little Anita's! biggrin



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tony2phones


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You can reach Clifden Castle from below the sailing club or easiest up the Sky Rd to the triangular patch in front of the Tower Arch.. There is a Public right of way through the tower and down the path on foot.. Ignore the sign placed by the owners of the top house,, their garden might be private but the path is Not.. lower down you will see a sign pointing down the path to the remains.. wear decent shoes and also take a wander up to the D'Arcy Memorial

http://www.irelandtravelkit.com/clifden-castle-county-galway/

http://www.irelandtravelkit.com/postcard-perfect-view-of-clifden-co-galway/



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wckc


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Thanks Bit - you know we'll keep our eyes wide open for Coppinger Court! I agree - I think we won't hit everything on the list - but at least we have a list and a Plan this time!

Tony - thanks for the info on Clifden Castle.That will definitely be on the must stop by list now!

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wckc


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Michelle - I don't see the Kilkenny walking tour info on Irish Fireside...am I looking at the wrong place?

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Michele Erdvig


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http://www.knockahopple.com/downloadkilkenny.html



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Itallian Chauffeur


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Mind the cattle at Kilree and Mourne Abbey!  biggrin  biggrin

Since it was SO muddy, in Oct of 2012, I opted to take a pix from the road at Mourne.  The Bull sign at Kilree made me cautious -- and kept me from a close up of the High Cross there, but I 'Ran The Gauntlet' to visit the Round Tower! aww

The County Council just purchased Mallow Castle and plans to repair/semi-restore it as a Tourist Attraction.  Might make for an interesting visit, to see it BEFORE that happens.  Mallow also offers an historical tour of the town, mostly relative to the Civil War/War of Independence.

Never have managed to visit Kilmallock when the little Museum was open, but Michele says that it is Delightful!  There is a heavily disguised Round Tower at Kilmallock, as well.  It's NEAR the Abbey, but obscured by trees.  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kilmallock_Irish_Round_Tower,_County_Limerick_Ireland.JPG

 



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wckc


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Oh my...those cows always see to gang up on me and try to chase me! not my favorite thing. I'm more likely to run the gauntlet for Abbey's and high crosses than round towers (sorry Bob...).

Good to know about Mallow castle. We'll be sure to take lots of pics, and check into the historical tour too.

We'll see how our time goes in Kimallock. Since the tower is near the Abbey we might see it...



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wckc


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Ok Bob, I just looked at your link. That is what I call REALLY NEAR!

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