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Post Info TOPIC: Upcoming planned itinerary


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Upcoming planned itinerary


Below is our planned itinerary.  Comments are always welcome.  Our coding can be a little cryptic, a lot of times show time to get somewhere and then time estimated visiting that location.

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IRELAND DETAILED ITINERARY 2nd Trip

 

DUBLIN & HOWTH SUN APRIL 29

Get into Ireland 9am (?10 am leaving airport)

Howth Cliffs, E of Dublin, 3 to 4 hrs, train station at Connolly (to get to Dublin), ~30m ride, 2:28pm

Molly Malone Statue, picture of us - 9m to walk to Museum

National Leprechaun Museum, Dublin, last 5:30, 14

Dinner before Crawl

Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl - Oliver St John Gogartys Pub 7:00pm 14 arrive early - last train leaves for Howth at 11:56pm

B&B Cornerville $90 (booked)

 

NORTHERN IRELAND MON APRIL 30

Leave at 9am

Malahide Castle NE of Dublin 16m from Cornerville 12, opens at 9:30, 1 hour

Gobbins Cliff Path, NE of Belfast £10 2 hrs 15 m to get here, 2 hrs 30m to walk, start top & bottom of each hour (1:30 or 2)

Dark Hedges Ballymoney, Northern Ireland County Antrim, 1h 15m to get here 15 more minutes to B&B

B&B - Kilmail Country Chalet 128

 

NORTHERN IRELAND & DERRY TUE May 1

Still at Kilmail Country Chalet  (leave 8:45am)

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, 25 m drive, £7, opens at 9:30, 1 hour

Dunluce Castle, Bushmills, County Antrim, NI 25m to get here - £2, opens at 10 am, 45m

Martin McCrossan City Tours, Derry (£4, noon/2pm/4pm) 11 Carlisle Rd (1hr to get here)

McNamaras Famous Guided Walking Tours (£8, 1hr tour)

 

DONEGAL WED MAY 2

Leave at 9am

Grianan Aileach Ring Fort County Donegal, 1h 15m to get here, free, 30m

Fort Dunree, 40 m to get here, open 10:30am, 7, 1 hour

Lunch

Malin Head, Donegal, 1hr to get here (B&B Area)

Banbas Crown, Donegal, 10m to get here, free, 1hr.

B&B Whitestrand $70

 

DONEGAL THU MAY 3

Leave at 9am

Great Pollet Sea Arch, 2h to get here, free, 30m

Lunch (Letterkenny ??)

Island View Riding Stables, Beach Ride to see Ben Bulben & Classieblawn, 2hr to get here, ride at 4pm, 42, 1hr 30m

Going to B&B check in then look for Arch or Crevykeel Court Tomb, (right along the N15) ??? or Devils Chimney Waterfall (Glencar Lough, Glencar Waterfall)

B&B Glachamara $140 (2 nights booked)

 

DONEGAL FRI MAY 4

Still at Glachamara

Leave at 8:50am

Donegal Castle County Donegal, 1hr to get here, 3.70, 1hr

Clocha na hÉireann in Glencolmcille, NW of Slieve League Cliffs, 1h 30 m to get here, 15m (Assaranc Waterfall ??)

Lunch

Glen Folk Village, 6, open until 6pm, 1h,

Slieve League Cliffs, Donegal, 30m to get here, free, 1 h 30m

 

 

 

SLIGO & CLIFDEN SAT MAY 5

Leave at 9am

Queen Maeves Tomb, Sligo, 30m to get here, 1hr 45m

Carrowkeel Passage Cairns on the Bricklieve Mountains Co. Sligo, 45m to get here, (45m - 1hr 45m)

Kylemore Abbey, 2hr 30m to get here, 1hr 30m

Skyroad ? After c/i at B&B

B&B Kingstown House $77 (booked)

 

ARAN ISLANDS SUN MAY 6

Leave at 8:45am

Aran Islands, from Rossaveal, 1hr to get here - Staying all day until 5pm, 25

B&B in SPIDDAL Ard Aoibhinn $77 (booked)

 

DOOLIN MON MAY 7

Corcomroe Abbey 1 hr 5m to get here, 30m (Doonagore Castle)

Ailwee Cave, 20m to get here, opens at 10am, 12, 30m

Gleninagh Castle, 12m to get here, 15m

Doolin Cave, 30m to get here, tours every ½ hr., 15, 1 hr.

Cliffs of Moher from the water, 10m to get here, 1hr tour (done at 4pm)

Inn Inn at Dromoland $186.75 (2 nights booked)

 

ENNIS & LIMERICK       TUE MAY 8

Kilkee Cliff Walk, 1 h 15 m to get here, 1 h 30 m

Castle Lane Tavern for lunch (right near castle)

King Johns Castle, Limerick, 1h 30 m to get here, 8.35, 1h 30m

$67.50 Possible Bunratty Banquet 5:30pm

 

ENNIS & DINGLE           WED MAY 9

Leave after events

Dromoland Castle 6m to get here

Hawk 1 ½ hrs, 70 each, email to set time, try for 8:30am/9am

Archery - ~1 hr. 38 each

Dingle Peninsula, 2hr 45m to get here

Dolphin Boat Ride 16, 1hr

Harry Clarke Stained Glass Windows Dingle 3.50

Murphys Ice Cream (after dinner)

B&B in Dingle ONeills B&B $75 (booked) also, the Small Bridge Pub, music nightly (or OFlahertys)

 

DINGLE PENINSULA THU MAY 10

Start drive 8:30am / 9:00am

Slea Head Drive 3 hr. drive

Lunch

Muckross Traditional Farms, 15m to get here, 9, 1-2 hrs. (opens at 1pm)

Ladies View Also off of N71 (10.5km from Torc) p.286, 20m to get here, (15m)

B&B Mountain Dew $140 (2 nights booked)

 

KILLARNEY FRI MAY 11

Still at Mountain Dew

Gap of Dunloe Full Boat/Pony Cart Ride (5hr tour), starts 10:45am finish 3:30 28/30(pony)

Torc Waterfall, 15m to get here, (30m)

 

 

 

KILLARNEY / KINSALE SAT MAY 12

Leave at 8:30am

Killarney National Park , 10m to get here, 2 hr horse tour, 65, (Starts at 9:30am ), p.290

Lunch

Drishane Castle, Millstreet, 45m to get here, free?, 45m

Kinsale Ghost Tour, stay in Kinsale, 1hr 15m to get here, 10, (starts at 9pm, tour 1hr 15m), 4m from B&B

Charles Fort Kinsale, 10m to get here, 5, 1hr tour (opens until 6pm)

B&B Ashgrove $128 (2 nights booked)

 

KINSALE SUN MAY 13

Still at Ashgrove

Drombeg Stone Circle County Cork, 1 hr 15m to get here, 15m

Mizen Head Signal Station, 1hr 20m, (open until 5pm), 1-2 hrs, 7.50

 

KILKENNY MON MAY 14

Leave at 9am

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny, 2hrs 15m to get here, 7, 1hr 30m

Ducketts Grove in Carlow Make Appointment with County Carlow Tourism, 40 m to get here, 45 m

Kytelers Inn Kilkenny, 5m to get here, Dinner

B&B Celtic House $83 (booked)

 

ROSCOMMON TUE MAY 15

Leap Castle County Offally, 1hr 10m to get here, 6, 1hr.  seanryan@mail2web.com. (make appt) *

Castlestrange Stone in Athleague, 1 hr 30m to get here, 15m 

Elphin Windmill, 45m to get here, 5, 45m tour, lunch

Arigna Mining Experience, Roscommon, 30m to get here,10, 1hr tour (last tour 5pm tours every 30min.)

Boyle Abbey 5 10am-6pm

Possible B&B Abbey House $77

 

ROSS CASTLE - WED MAY 16

Cavan Burren Park, 1hr 5m to get here, 30m

Marble Arch Caves, 30m to get here, 9.50, 1hr 15m

Castle Ross Castle E160 , 1hr. 15m to get here (booked)

 

Drogheda & Dundalk THU MAY 17

Old Mellifont Abbey, 1hr 15m to get here, 2.10, 1 hr tour

St. Laurence Gate, 15m to get here, 15m

Magdalene Tower, 5m to get here, 15m

Roche Castle, 1h 30m to get here, 30m (Cúchulainn's Castle also nearby)

Proleek Wedge Tomb, 30m to get here, 15m

Carraig Mor 64 in Ardee

 

SWORDS - FRI MAY 18

Leave at 9am

Scrabo Tower, 30m to get here, 1h

Spire of Lloyd, near Kells (My Irish Jeweler, 76 Furze Rd, Sandyford Ind Estate, Suite 406)

Trim Castle, 2 hr 15 m, 1hr. 5

Swords Castle, St Columbas Church, Swords Round Tower

Seamount House B&B in Swords $84 (booked)

 

 

 

SAT MAY 19

Drive to Dublin Airport Leave B&B by 8:00am at latest

Flight Home Lvs at 11:25 am.

 

FUTURE TRIPS or POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES/TIME FILLERS

Sheepshead Peninsula, County Cork, Bantry Bay, 1hr 40m to get here, 30m to 1hr

Tullyboy Farm, Roscommon (JJ)

Eddie Joe's Open Farm, Roscommon (JJ)

Dun A Ri Forest Park



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I'm getting ready to head out to New England for a week, but I'll get the ball rolling with a few, quick comments.

Seems like a full and active trip.  Drive times and visit times look fairly reasonable, but may be significantly impacted by weather and crowds (if any).

On the road to Northern Ireland:  http://www.megalithicireland.com/High%20Cross%20Monasterboice.htm

Drishane Castle requires pre-arrangement to be seen.  SEE:  http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/history/drishane-castle  If you wish to view more than the exterior, you might wish to contact the Millstreet Museum.  Also nearby:  http://www.antaisce.org/properties/kanturk-castle      http://www.megalithicireland.com/Knocknakilla%20Stone%20Circle.html     http://www.castles.nl/kilmeedy-castle

I'll be curious as to what 'drew' you to Drishane -- and the route you are taking from Killarney to Kinsale, via Millstreet.  My wife's grandfather was born in the vicinity and we visit Millstreet regularly.

I'll try to add more insights later.  

 

 



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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!



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Well I hope by early May weather won't be such an issue. I know Ireland has been getting an unusually snowy and colder than normal winter.  Whilst I know there are always exceptions and any day could be nice or rain, I have found a lot of people that say/feel that in general, May is usually a relatively drier month, especially as compared to Sept (and we had very little rain overall).  As to tourists and crowds, this ought ot be a good "shoulder season". We went Sept 17 to Sep 29, 2015, and most places were not crowded or "too crowded". We wanted to go in Sept this time, but Irma put me off that. This being a longer trip I did not want to go for 3 weeks, in hurricane season. I figure since we come home May 19th, we should be before summer break for almost all US schools, even colleges, usually are finishing up finals around this time, before their classes end for the summer.  We are also a good bit ahead of Memorial Day travel.  So hopefully we won't find many places to be too crowded.

Drishane Castle - I believe it was recommended or I saw it on Facebook "Postcards from Ireland". I was not aware of the pre-contact so thanks, I will look into this.

I found this website and it says without appointment. Is that wrong or may that have changed from your prior knowledge?

http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/history/drishane-castle

EDIT:  I see this is the same link you gave me.  I do not see on the page about setting an appointment ahead of time.



-- Edited by QuiGonJohn on Monday 12th of March 2018 12:40:42 PM



-- Edited by QuiGonJohn on Monday 12th of March 2018 01:55:55 PM

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The Drishane property is now privately owned.  Originally purchased to be converted into a luxury hotel, the Manor has since been converted into housing for International refugees -- originally from Kosovo, but more recently, from Africa.  The Tower House (Castle) hasn't been occupied since the 1600s and the door is locked.  There IS access to the Grounds during the posted dates, but if memory serves, interior access to the Tower House (IF available) requires some pre-arrangement.  The museum can give you the details.  They can be contacted through the web site.

I've spent weeks in the area over the years.  It is MY favorite Irish small town.

Here's your basic route that day:  https://goo.gl/maps/rDarFLhAhMK2   If you want to make a day of it, you MIGHT be tempted by THIS, though:  https://goo.gl/maps/TCmcjxBd9q22     It adds Kanturk Castle, Knocknakilla, Gougane Barra and Bealnablath (Site of Michael Collin's death) -- all of which are Free sites.



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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!



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Bob, Thanks, I just submitted a query on the website.  Maybe if we finish our horseback riding at 11:30 as scheduled, we'll head off straight-away and take lunch somewhere in Millstreet. as we can take in a bit of your favorite town.  Then head over to the castle.



-- Edited by QuiGonJohn on Monday 12th of March 2018 04:07:55 PM

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The Wallis Arms is good for a full meal.  Nibble's -- just West along the street, closer to the Church -- is an excellent bakery and café.  

The Museum is located opposite the Church, in Carnegie Hall.  There is a car park (parking lot) along side it.



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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!



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Wow, you are really trying to pack a lot in there .... could I just ask where you got the time for the distances? Because you often need longer in the summer, due to farm traffic. We don't have a lot of motorways here. 

I think you might want to play it by ear and be open to dropping one or two items per day. Also, if the weather is acting the maggot, you might not get out to the Aran Islands. 

You might want to book a holiday after this holiday. 



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Hi Orla, we did a similar itinerary on our first trip in Sept 2015 and only had to drop a couple items on one day. We got driving times from Google Maps, and we always add a little cushion. Like if it says 1h15m, we usually round up to 1h30m. However, we like to have the structure of a plan, and yes, we are open to changing or dropping items each day, if necessary.

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Looks like you will be on the go in Ireland. Your days will be very full but daylight will be lasting longer in May. You mention several times departing your B&B at 8:30. You should confirm with the B&B owners that you require an early breakfast. Not all will do it but may leave you a Continental breakfast to serve yourself to. Many B&Bs start serving at 8 or 8:30. Then you need time to eat. Just be aware of that.

You are a bit all over the map. I could have planned a smoother route and transitions from place to place without much backtracking. But you will see a good amount of Ireland. Since you have almost everything booked I won't suggest any changes. Just play it by ear to see how much you can fit in each day.

Let us know if you have any questions.

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Thanks Michele. I thought it mostly a CCW loop. We did this on our Sept 2015 trip. Only difference is that was all one night stays, so we were more on point at the end of each day of taking in sights. But this trip is longer and we wanted to put in some 2 night stays, which necessitated a bit of traveling around an area. And a couple items on here are still tentative (might see this or that), just not spelled out as such.

Always welcome suggestions for places to eat, dinner and maybe lunch. Although we usually just grab something quick for lunch, not a sit-down meal most days.

As to our morning departures, we will of course discuss at each place we stay. On our last trip, it was not much of a problem. If it ever is, we can just grab a pastry and coffee/tea at a convience store or such.

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