First trip, comments please!

raleigh · Member

First trip, comments please!

Michele Erdvig · Host

raleigh,

Welcome to my forum and thanks for your kind comments about it. If you have been lurking for a while you know that everyone here has definite opinions on Ireland and are very helpful.

Now on to your itinerary. See my comments in red below:

Wed. am: fly into Shannon, arriving 7:45am
pick up car (still pricing cars), drive out to Cliffs of Moher and Burren, stopping in Doolin for lunch or tea. Overnight in Kilrush on way to Dingle. * Fine. You probably want reservations for your first night in Ireland.

Thurs. Drive to Dingle, see town, maybe take horse ride in afternoon. Overnight Dingle (maybe Heatons) * Fine.

Friday: Do Dingle loop. Overnight in Dingle. * Slea Head Drive is gorgeous. Be sure to stop at the Blasket Island Center if you are at all interested in Irish history. And don't forget your camera!

Sat: drive out to Killarney State Park for a while, then on to Midleton distillery. Take tour, drive up to Kilkenny. Overnight Kilkenny. (long day driving--broken up by distillery tour, maybe other sites.) * This will be a very long day. You could easily spend the entire time in Killarney seeing the various sites. Kilkenny fills up on weekends. Reservations are essential.

Sun: See Kilkenny, maybe Castle. late afternoon drive to Waterford (or stay another night in Kilkenny) I know it's backtracking, but we want to see the crystal factory on Monday instead of Sunday. And Kilkenny is where family is from, although we don't know anyone there. * You might as well spend another night in Kilkenny. It is a bit less than an hour's drive down to Waterford and you can do it first thing Monday morning.

Monday: in Waterford, visit factory. Drive out to Glendalough, overnight Glendalough. * Fine.

Tues: Drive to Dublin, visiting Kilmainham Jail on way in. Drop car at airport, check into lodgings near airport, take public transit into Dublin to see other sites. * Perhaps you should drop your car first and then proceed into Dublin for all your sightseeing. Kilmainham Gaol is in Dublin City. Are you staying at an airport hotel? Be sure to have reservations.

On the whole, your trip is doable. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Michele

raleigh · Member

Thanks so much for the fast reply! I'm trying to get the itinerary in order so I can plan reservations, I'm not much of a person for winging it--I have your book to start me out with places--love the book's detail. That Killarney day was the only hangup, and I am going to keep studying that one to make sure we want to do it that way. Weekends are the biggest problem with travel anywhere I think! Thanks again

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Just some thoughts to consider:

Given that most of the more interesting sights in and around Killarney are south of town and it will probably be QUITE busy on a Saturday, why not consider dropping it and 'pick up' Goughane Bearra as an alternative. It's a shortish detour off the N22? I REALLY like Killarney, but a 'drive by' won't show you much and it won't do the area the justice it deserves.

How important is the distillery tour? Don't get me wrong, my wife's relatives own a business in Midleton and I LIKE it there, but...
Coming from Dingle, you could take the N72 over to Cashel or Cahir (I wouldn't think you'd want to spend the time needed to see BOTH) and reach Killkenny with a lot less driving -- particularly if you're going to 'backtrack' to Waterford on Monday. I wouldn't want to drive that same route THREE times...

Bob

yesiree · Guru

You could catch the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin instead of Midleton. In either tour, when you hear them talk about the "angel's share" be ready to shoot your hand up to volunteer...the lucky one picked gets to sample all kinds of booze.

FYI - Both Jameson and Kilmainham are on the Dublin Hop On/Off bus tour.

Feel free to try my Kilkenny walking tour. You can use it to pick and choose what you want to see there...stops #1-16 & #19 will give you good taste of the town.
http://irishfireside.com/downloads/downloadkilkenny.html

Michele Erdvig · Host

Raleigh,

I like Bob & Corey's suggestions about a different route to Kilkenny, skipping Middleton and seeing the distillery in Dublin. There are so many different ways to get from point A to point B in Ireland...and most of them are scenic. So many decisions, so little time!

Michele

raleigh · Member

Thanks, everyone for the comments and suggestions. Absolutely, too much to see, too little time. I am finetuning now--(changes in blue):

Wed. am: fly into Shannon, arriving 7:45am
pick up car (still pricing cars), drive out to Cliffs of Moher and Burren, stopping in Doolin for lunch or tea. Overnight in Kilrush on way to Dingle. (have sent inquiry to Hillcrest view)

Thurs. Drive to Dingle, see town, maybe take horse ride in afternoon. Overnight Dingle) Booking Towerview, I think.
Friday: Do Dingle loop. Overnight in Dingle.

Sat: drive to Kilkenny, taking day to see sights on the way, Rock of Cashel, or Cahir, others. Overnight Kilkenny. (still inquiring at B&Bs, you're right, Kilkenny fills up on weekends) If I don't find lodgings there reasonably, I may find some other area to stay, and drive in to see Kilkenny sights on Sunday.

Sun: See Kilkenny, maybe Castle. Stay over another night.

Monday: Drive to Waterford, visit factory. Drive out to Glendalough, overnight Glendalough.

Tues: Drive to Dublin. Drop car at airport, check into lodgings near airport, take public transit into Dublin to see other sites. Main things to see: Jameson's distillery, Kilmainham Jail, Book of Kells. If we have time for all. I have booked a basic hotel near airport.

Wed; fly out Dublin. How early should we arrive at airport?

raleigh · Member

One more question

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

RE: First trip, comments please!

raleigh · Member

Ah so why didn't I think of that--stashing the luggage first. Great idea! I'll take a look at the Lismore idea too, sounds interesting. We love being "in-direct." I grew up always being lost, you find the best things that way!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Raleigh,

What time is your flight? If the hotel has a shuttle to the airport find out the hours. That may determine whether you keep the car or not. The airlines generally recommend being at the airport 3 hours in advance of an international flight. When I was at Dublin Airport last October it was bustling. Also, security has been tougher to get through. But if it is a real early flight you may not need the 3 hour window.

If Laragh House and Alcantra are full, try Auburndale in Kilkenny: http://homepage.eircom.net/~auburndale/ She has dropped out of the various B&B books so may have availabilities. If Kilkenny is booked I have several good suggestions in Cashel. Get back to me on that.

Things are shaping up.

Michele

raleigh · Member

Thanks, Michele. I haven't heard back from Alcantra yet, Laragh is full. So are a few others. One suggested Castle Lodge, but I can't find out anything about it. Alternatives in Cashel might be a way to go.
Another hitch, apparently Kilrush is housing ESB workers--some kind of electric plant? so I am not having much luck there. Is it too much farther to stay around Doolin and drive to Dingle the next day? Looks like a four hour drive. Suggestions anyone? Thanks.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Raleigh,

Did you mention my name to Alcantra? If not, send them another email telling them that I recommended them to you.

Also in Kilkenny try Fanad House: http://www.fanadhouse.com/ I don't know Castle Lodge.

Doolin is fine instead of Kilrush. Check my "Lodgings" page for suggestions.

Michele

raleigh · Member

I heard from Alcantra today, they have rooms. So does Hillcrest view in Kilrush. (no ESB workers there?) So I have booked those and Emlagh Lodge in Dingle and Wicklow Way Lodge in Glendalough area. And found a deal for the Days Hotel in Dublin for the airport hotel. So it is shaping up pretty well, I think. One long day driving, others not so bad. Now I have to settle on the car, and set up my phone. Thanks for everyone's help and input!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Raleigh,

I'm glad to hear that things are shaping up and reservations are coming through. Maybe Hilcrest View kicked out the ESB workers? Do note that Wicklow Way Lodge is not near anything. It is way up in the Wicklow mountains. The views are gorgeous though. But count on driving several miles for food, etc.

You will have to let us know how it goes when you return. We will look forward to hearing from you.

Michele

raleigh · Member

Hmm, so do you think I would do better with Pinewood Lodge maybe? Is it closer in, do you know? I'd love feedback from anyone who may have been at either place? Thanks.

Michele Erdvig · Host

raleigh,

Pinewood Lodge is walking distance to Laragh although it is up a hill. Wicklow Way Lodge is several miles from any town but it is a very nice place to stay. It all depends on what you are looking for. Or you could stay at Lynham's of Laragh and just have to walk down the corridor to get to the pub or restaurant.

Michele