Itinerary Help, Please

mjh · Member

Itinerary Help, Please

Judy · Guru

Hi Mary,

We will be arriving in Shannon the week after you and our plans are similar to yours.
Here are some suggestions.
Since you say Adare it an absolute necessity (and I agree), instead of taking the Tarbert Ferry, you could hit Adare on your way to Dingle.
If you stay closer to Ennis the first night then the trip on the second day to Dingle would not be as far to travel and you could fit Adare in on the way. Since your time is short and you don't want to drive all day, I would skip the Rock of Cashel. It's a long drive. We were not as impressed with it as we were with other places in Ireland.
You could spend a night or two in Killarney or Kenmare. Skip the Ring of Kerry. The area around Dingle is a shorter drive and is just as beautiful.
Yes, the drive from Killarney to Kenmare through the Killarney National Park is awesome with stops at Muckross, Ladies View and Moll's Gap.
If you stay in Killarney, a trip to the Gap of Dunloe (just outside of Killarney) is a must see.
Take the shorter trip into the Gap via pony and trap ride.
You never mentioned Bunratty. You could do that on your way back to Shannon.
The last night you could stay near Shannon or even the Great Southern Shannon Hotel at the airport. (Now the Park Inn)
Hope this helps.
Judy M.

yesiree · Guru

There are a lot of options that take in the things you've mentioned.

Definitely look at Kilkee, Kilrush or Ennis on your arrival day...you'll be closer to Dingle (on day one you can plan to catch the cliffs and maybe take a drive through a small part of the Burren...don't plan too much).

Then consider two days around Dingle and two days around Cashel. A detour to Adare as Judy mentioned is always an option. In Dingle be sure to stop in and say HI to Mazz at the Dingle Record Shop...tell her the Irish Fireside guys sent you.

Near Cashel you can take in sites like the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, the Swiss Cottage, the Vee Drive and the Glen of Aherlow.

Finish off by heading back to County Clare and staying somewhere like Bunratty where you can take in the Burren, Knappogue Castle, Quin Abbey, Bunratty Castle/Folk Park or see the Cliffs in case you had bad weather on arrival day.

Like I said, there a lot of great options, so as long as you don't overstuff your itinerary, you'll have a great experience.

-- Edited by yesiree at 14:12, 2007-04-23

mjh · Member

Thanks Corey and Judy for your replies. Made a couple of changes. I've read that the drive from Shannon to Dingle is doable on the first day.

Day 1, Sunday - Arrive Shannon 9:30am - Drive to Dingle, stopping in Adare for a visit. The Shores has availability for these nights.

Day 2, Monday - Spend second night in Dingle

Day 3, Tuesday - Drive to Kenmare, spend the night.

Day 4 Wednesday, Drive to Cashel, spend the night in the area

Day 5, Thursday - Drive towards Ennis/Shannon - Visit Cliffs and Burren

Day 6, Friday - Spend 2nd night in this area.

Day 7, Saturday - 9:30 am flight to Atlanta.

Day 6, Friday -

Day 7, 9:30 am flight from Shannon

Thanks again.

mary

yesiree · Guru

On your Kenmare day, are you planning to do part or all of the ROK or spend the day at the sites around Killarney and then spend the night in Kenmare? Since you're doing the Dingle drive on Day 2, I'd suggest the Killarney sites to get yourself out of the car.

The Bru Boru show in Cashel is a great evening experience.

Ennis is a great base for your last two nights. You can see all the sites in Clare from there.

mjh · Member

Thanks Corey

We weren't planning on ROK since I've been told that doing both the Dingle Peninsula and ROK would be very aggressive. You think staying the 3rd night in Killarny would be better than Kenmare since we're not planning on ROK. Would it be better to stay 2 nights and do Cashel from Killarney?

Thanks,
Mary

CowboyCraic · Guru

Mary,

I think that I would add an extra day in Kenmare at Day 4. You should only need one night in Ennis prior to your departure. That will give you the extra time you need to explore Killarney and Kenmare. Also, with such an early flight, you might consider Bunratty or the Hotel, used to be Great Southern Shannnon, at the airport instead of Ennis as that will give you extra time in the morning to get up & moving. By overnighting in or near Cashel, you will have a full day on Day 6 to drive the loop, Cliffs of Moher/Doolin/Burren, and return to the area for your last night.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Sidz · Guru

Should traditional music be part of the quest, I would recommend a night in Doolin (close to Shannon Airport, minutes from the Cliffs of Moher) after your flight arrives. You have three pubs in this wonderful little town that feature music every night of the week. I loved this place the first time we were there.

-- Edited by Sidz at 11:31, 2007-04-24

stannseniors · Veteran Member

There are three pubs in Doolin? We onlly found one in 2005...maybe we just settled for the first one we went into and didn't ask...can't remember. weirdface

CowboyCraic · Guru

Yes, there is the infamous Gus O'Connors, McGann's and McDermott's. O'Connor's being down on Fisher Street amongst the row of shops towards the Pier.

Slan Beo,

Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mary,

Great advice from everyone. There is now a new pub (part of Hotel Doolin) in Doolin. They were playing country music when I was there but that will vary with the season and trad will sometimes be on.

I agree that more time in Killarney/Kenmare is best.

Michele