1st time to Ireland

Gran55 · Member

1st time to Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sandy,

Welcome to the forum. You won a trip to Ireland? That is absolutely fantastic!

Since it is your first trip there and you only have 6 days, I suggest sticking to the west. Fly into and out of Shannon. That will make your experience much easier as you will not have to deal with big-city Dublin traffic woes.

I agree that May would be better than June for using B&B vouchers. Keep in mind that the first Monday in May is a Bank Holiday and that is a very busy weekend. If you have Town & Country vouchers this is the website you will be using for your B&B choices: http://www.tandctrade.com/

If you agree that flying into Shannon is best, you can get started on an itinerary. Please let me know if you need more help or have other questions.

Michele

Mark D · Senior Member

Hello,
I just loved how relaxing the West was. I think you would really enjoy it.
We spent 10 days visiting the following spots, and it was heaven !

Shannon
Oughterard
Westport
Sligo/The Rosses
Galway

Visited the folowing places and towns

Connemara Marble
Lough Carrib boat tour in Galway
Shopping in Galway
Lennane, Killiary Harbor
Kelmore Abbey
Ashford Castle
Foxford Mills
Standun
Carrowmore
Ceide Fields
Crough Patrick
The Burren
Yeats Country
Ennis,Cliften, Cong.Balina, Castlebar
Donegal plus many more smaller towns.

Began our tour in Oughterard, and ended in Galway.

As you see we did many, many things in a very relaxed pace.
We also played music everywhere we went. ( mostly in hotel pubs and larger town pubs)
As I always say on the board, YOU MUST
GO TO MATT MOLLYS in Westport if you even remotely enjoy traditional Irish music. Yes, it gets very crowded, and the music gets better as the night goes on, but it will be an evening you never forget.

Just one mans opinion !
Cheers !
Mark D.

-- Edited by Mark D at 16:55, 2007-02-04

-- Edited by Mark D at 16:56, 2007-02-04

Merle · Senior Member

Mark,
Speaking of Matt Malloy, we had a chance to see the Chieftains in Ann Arbor a couple weeks ago. It was awesome, but Sean Keane wasn't with them and they didn't say why. I listen to them almost all day!! We are going to Matt Malloy's when we are in Westport this September. There's another pub there we also want to check out next to Matt Malloy's.
Merle

Mark D · Senior Member

I am areally big fan as well.
I got to have a pint with Matt Malloy himself, and he invited our group to "takeover" his back party area. It's been almost 3 years now, and singing in Matt Molloys is still a highlight in my life.
One can hope they come to Burlington, VT this St. Paddy's Day !

Cheers !
Mark D.

Gran55 · Member

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to take your suggestions and stick to the Western side and go in May. Will I need to book lodging ahead of time? If so, what are your recommendations? We'd like to see as much as possible but don't want to be spending every minute on the road either.
How much of this route could we take in and not wind up exhausted? (keeping in mind we are staying 6 nights)

Thanks!

Sandy

A picture named Ireland Map best.JPG

Mark D · Senior Member

If it were me, I think you should chose either the NW, or SW region.
I spent 10 days in the NW, and did not see everything.

You can spent at least a day in the Connemara Region, Galway, Westport.
Maybe add Donegal. The Aran Islands is a day trip.
I think it is better to stay more than one night at your hotel/B & B. You don't want to live out of your suitcase. Having a couple "bases" makes for a more enjoyable experience.
Dublin just seems too far out of the way for this trip ! <SIGH>
I think 6 nights is not near enough time to ENJOY all the places on your tour map.
You may be able to add a NW or SW town into the mix, but trying to do both regions seems exhausting.
But again, I am 45, and really enjoy the slower lane.
I am sure you will get plenty of opinions.
Which ever you chose, less is more in Ireland !

Cheers !
Mark D.

EDIT: I just noticed it was 2 different tours !
Sorry for the confussion. My vote is for the NW. Dublin just seem to far from everything to enjoy this trip. I could be wrong !
-- Edited by Mark D at 21:20, 2007-02-05

-- Edited by Mark D at 21:58, 2007-02-05

oopsy · Senior Member

How wonderful that you have won a trip!

Western Ireland is wonderful (I'm guessing eastern Ireland is as well; I just haven't seen much there). On our first trip we did the West and Northwest (Connemara region, Donegal, Leitrim), and we did Galway and more of the southwest on our 2nd trip. Both areas are wonderful. You might want to provide more info on the kinds of activities you enjoy--hiking/walking, historical sites, shopping, sitting on a beach and breathing it all in...

I've only been twice so I'm not an itinerary expert, but here are a couple of ideas:

Maybe a loop that includes Doolin or some other Clare stop (I think Doolin is in Clare, not sure), Aran Islands, 2 or 3 days in Connemara region, and possibly Galway.

Or, some stop in Clare, Dingle two nights, Kenmare or Killarney for 2 or 3 nights depending on your flight time, possibly last night near airport.

Donegal in the NW is absolutely amazing, spectacular, unforgettable beauty. But it is also a bit of a trek from Shannon for a 6 night trip.

Happy planning!
oopsy

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sandy,

Draw a horizontal line right through your map just above Lisdoonvarna. Then decide to do either what is above the line or below the line. Not both. It will make it a much nicer trip. Skip Dublin this time as it is all the way across the country from everything else.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 01:13, 2007-02-06

CowboyCraic · Guru

I would suggest going up above the line, as toward the end of May, the tour buses start to run in the south a bit more frequently than in the Northwest. Connemara will be brilliant with color at that time of year, Coole Park is breathtaking. You might consider basing out of Co Galway for three of your six days and then heading down south into Bunratty or Ennis for your final two nights before heading home.

If you base out of Galway, it saves you from packing and unpacking everyday. You can do day trips, Connemara Region, Clifden, Coole Park or Inis Mor or another of the Arans.

If you go south, I would suggest heading to Kenmare first, staying three nights so that you can explore Killarney National Park, Beara Peninsula and then on to Dingle for two nights, perhaps at the Shores, and then into Bunratty for the last night and the Ceili in the Corn Barn at the Folk Park followed by a Bunratty Pub Crawl.

That gives you a bit more to consider.

Slan Go Foill,

Bit Devine

wojazz3 · Guru

I agree, either north or south. In May, the SW won't be terribly crowded and there are some tricks to avoid the crowds. Either choice is fantastic though. In the SW, if you have a chance to make it out to the Skellig Islands, it's an incredibly memorable trip. Makes for some nice hiking too. It's my new "yikes, you have to see this" in Ireland.

By the way, the pub next to Matt's is The Porter House.

Bill

Merle · Senior Member

Bill,
Thanks for the pub info in Westport. I'm sure I have it in my notes, but they are not organized this week. Last week they were

Merle

Gran55 · Member

Wow! Thanks for all the help. Sounds like the SW is the way to go. I've got some planning to do now. Will post again when I come up with an itinerary.

One more questions for now. Should I make reservations at the B&Bs or wing it when I get there?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sandy,

To make reservations or not in May just depends on your exact dates. Do your itinerary first and then I can tell you. Generally having reservations for the first and last night and winging it in between works well for May. However, May 4-7 is a Bank Holiday weekend. Those are important to book. Also, if you want to visit a popular place over any weekend you may want to book. Let us know once you know your dates and we will chime in with more advice.

Michele

Gran55 · Member

New info: I can leave as early as May 19th and have to be back to work the 29th so anytime in there would work. Of course, I'd like to have a day or two to adjust before I have to go back to work. Any advice as to when I should leave?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sandy,

Leaving as soon as you can will mean more time on the end of your trip to recover from jet-lag. I usually find the jet-lag worse on my return to the States, although last time it wasn't too bad. One time it really hit me bad and took over a week to feel normal. There is no rhyme or reason to it!

Michele

Gran55 · Member

OK, I made my reservations. We're leaving May 19th and arriving in Shannon on May 20th and then leaving Shannon on May 26th.

From there I'm totally overwhelmed. Looks like so many choices! I still think we'll do the Southwest but even that has me flustered. I know we don't want to have to check in and out of a place to stay every day. I'd like to stay a couple of nights in a couple of places. So where should we start?

Dude · Guru

Sandy, with just six days I think I would spend the first two days in County Clare. Go explore the Burren, check out Dunguaire Castle, Coole Demesne and Thoor Ballylee and the Cliffs of Moher. Base yourself in Ennis (I recommend Eden Hill House) or maybe O'Connor's Farmhouse in Doolin. Then do the Loop Head drive and take the ferry across the Shannon. Spend a night in the Killarney area and the next day take the Gap of Dunloe tour with the jaunting cars and boat trip on the lakes. That afternoon head for Castlegregory, stay at The Shores and spend the next day exploring the Dingle Peninsula. The last day drive back to Bunratty and take in either the ceili or the banquet.

As far as lodgings go, that gives you two nights in Ennis or Doolin, one in Killarney, two in Castlegregory and one in Bunratty.

Maybe this will give you some ideas. Of course, you could always head north and check out Connemara and the Westport area.

-- Edited by Dude at 00:03, 2007-02-16

-- Edited by Dude at 00:08, 2007-02-16

Michele Erdvig · Host

Sandy,

Start with a calendar and map. Make a list of what you want to see in order of importance. Then plot it out trying to stay for multiple days where it makes sense. For instance both Killarney or Kenmare are good bases for the southwest. Once you have an itinerary we would be happy to comment on it.

Michele