First time trip to Ireland

John Ivan · Newbie

First time trip to Ireland

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Is this too ambitious?
Are we missing something?

A big, HEARTY YES to both questions.

Go to www.aaroadwatch.ie plug your routes into their trip planner and then divide their 'Total Miles Driven' by 30 or 35. That will give you a realistic idea of how long it will take to get from Point A to Point B, without stops.

A Saturday night in Dublin is expensive. You don't say when youare traveling, but if it is within the next two month, I hope you already have a place booked. The weekends fill up, fast.

Have you already booked your flight? If not, it would be better to do an into Shannon and out of Dublin.

Your Day 3 is doable, if you don't spend any significant time at any of the sights. Adare is a fair detour, if the goal is to go to Cork.

Try reading some of the other postings on 1 week itineraries to get a feel for what you can accomplish in that timeframe.

Bob

wojazz3 · Guru

Bob is right. Connemara NP is a day in itself. It's too much to to include a drive of 3-4 hours from Dublin on top of it.

You'll probably spend a little 2 hours getting from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher. Figure you'll leave your B&B no earlier than 9 (breakfast rarely starts before 8). Of course, you'll go right by Dunguaire Castle and probably want to stop there, so add more time on to your trip. It's clsoing in on noon and if you go into the visitor center and view the cliffs not much chance you will leave before 12:30. It's about 1:15 to Bunratty Castle and you'll want to eat somewhere. So figure you hit Bunratty by 2:00. You can easily spend 2 hours in the Folk Park so at best though, you're out by 3:30. Another 45 minutes to Adare at least and a stop there, lets call it an hour and it's past 5. Sure you could drive as fast as you could to Cork, but I don't know why you would want to go that way if you are looking to see Killarney and Dingle the next day.

Day 3 is only doable (especially from Cork) if you spend very little time at the sites. There is so much to see in a small area on the Dingle Peninsula and part of one day to see that and Killarney is just not enough.

Driving in Ireland is slow and it should be that way so you can slow down and enjoy the countryside. Take aout about half of your objectives and it should work. If you haven't booked your tickets yet, follow Bob's advice.

Bill

Michele Erdvig · Host

John,

Welcome to the forum. You have received excellent advice from two veteran Ireland travelers. They have explained the realities of traveling around Ireland. Let us know if you are locked into Dublin or have the opportunity to change your flight plans. It would also help to know what month you will be there.

Once we know a bit more we will be better able to help you.

Michele

John Ivan · Newbie

We are coming on 5th May, and we've already booked tickets for Dublin - we had no choice, since there is the only destination from Pula, Croatia.
In the planning of the trip we followed the route we saw in a few tourist agencies.
I agree it's better to see less, but not to hurry so much. Maybe we could see Newgrange the first day and than head to Galway? Except Clonmacnoise, what other stops can we make?
Should we skip Conemara? Do you think we should sleep on Day 2 somewhere else, not in Cork?
We wanted to stay in Dublin for the first night (saturday) because we're coming half past 3, in the afternoon. Do you have a suggestion about that?

As you can see, we have no sense of time and distance and I really appreciate your help.

Michele Erdvig · Host

John,

You are arriving on a Bank Holiday. I hope you have your accommodations booked? If not do it ASAP!

Since you only have four days outside of Dublin, I suggest sticking closer to the east coast. I know that everyone goes west but with your schedule it doesn't make sense. There is plenty to do and see in the east. You should consider Co. Wicklow, Kilkenny and perhaps Wexford and Meath.

Michele