Week from Kenmare to Shannon

Lelia · Member

Week from Kenmare to Shannon

Michele Erdvig · Host

Lelia,

I don't know of a car rental depot in Kenmare or Kinsale. The closest to Kenmare would be Killarney. The closest to Kinsale would be Cork. However, your friends are most likely driving to a ferry. Could they drop you off in Killarney or Cork to pick up a car? Hiring a chauffeur-driven car is a lot more expensive and usually done by groups of people who can better absorb the cost.

Driving from Kinsale to Bunratty will most likely take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic.

You can do day trips from Bunratty but Connemara is a stretch. Are you going to be self-catering in that area or staying in B&Bs?

Michele

Lelia · Member

Michele,
I just got your book in the mail and it is wonderful. Of course, our friends could drop us at either Killarney or Cork. I didn't think of that. They are taking the ferry back to Wales from Dublin. Which town would be better for the car?

I don't think I mentioned the dates we will be there. The week for the two of us is Sept. 22-28, 2007. We leave from Shannon on the 29th. Sort of a last minute planner, huh?

We were hoping to stay at Bunratty Lodge the last 2 nights, but they are booked. We can stay there anytime Sept. 22 -26, at least as of right now. So we would need to be near the airport the night of the 28th. Should we try to go to Galway area first, maybe 22,23 and then Bunratty on 24,25,26 and then somewhere near on 27 and 28. I will check availability for Headley Court.

Lelia · Member

Sorry, I forgot to say that we will be staying in B&Bs except for possibly the last night, maybe a hotel near the airport.

-- Edited by Lelia at 18:02, 2007-08-10

youngka · Guru

Hi Lelia,
My husband usually do self catering totally, a week here and a week there. We found it hard to get to Shannon from our cottage in the Cliftden area, timewise, so we stayed at the hotel at the airport. It was really handy! We had to give up a day at our cottage because we were so far from the airport, but we had a real good rest at the hotel before leaving. (our flight was a morning flight. Returning our car was really very simple, plus walking to the airport the next a.m., not even a block to walk and the hotel had carts for our luggage. The breakfast at the hotel was really good, but not included in the fee for the hotel. Hope this helps. Clifden is a cute place to go, if you can make it. We liked the Off The Square restaurant, but there are many places to choose from and lots of shops. Roundstone, also, is a place to go also. We enjoyed their gift shops, and seeing where the bodhran (drums) were made. I believe the name of his shop is The Monastery (web site: www.bodhran.com). He and his wife, Gifty, have a very nice gift shop and
restaurant!
Have a good trip and good luck with your car rental and places you decide to visit
Youngka

Lelia · Member

Youngka,
Thanks for the info on Clifden. If you had only one choice, which would you choose, the Galway, Clifden area or Bunratty area?
Lelia

youngka · Guru

If you do like us, I would suggest Clifden. But it is really far from everything. I only saw the castle and folk village in Bunratty -- so I don't know that area and we stayed away from all the big towns--so I don't know about Galway.
Youngka

stewh · Guru

Hi Lelia,

Your idea of spending the week in County Clare sounds good but I would not spend that much time in Bunratty. Like Youngka, my wife and I are big fans of self-catering. Last Spring we spent a week at a very nice house http://www.doonbeg-ireland.com/clare/burrenholidayhome/index.html in Corofin, Co. Clare which is within easy driving distance of Shannon and Galway. Corofin is a nice little village with friendly pubs (with food) and a very good restaurant. There is plenty to see in Clare from the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher with some good castles and many ancient sites thrown in. I hope you have a great trip.

Stewart

Lelia · Member

Thanks for the suggestion. It is really hard to judge distances and time required to do the things we would like to do. The only problem with Clifden is the distance. Do you know how ling it takes to drive to the airport from Clifden?

Lelia · Member

Thanks Stewart for your ideas. Is it possible to also see the Connemara area from Corofin as well as the Cliffs of Moher?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Lelia,

If you are spending your last week in B&Bs instead of self-catering then you can certainly spend a couple of days each in Clifden, Galway and Co. Clare. See if Headley Court can accommodate you for your last night. Bunratty is only 10-15 minutes from the airport. If they are full try the Courtyard.

Driving from Clifden to Shannon on departure day is not a good idea unless your flight is later in the afternoon or evening.

For distances go to: http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/ Get your distance in miles and divide by 35 to get approximate drive times.

You can do Connemara from Corofin if you get an early start but it will be a long day.

Michele

youngka · Guru

Michele
Thanks for mentioning Bunratty for last night -- I forgot it is almost on top of Shannon. I am glad you mentioned the http....... Think we will try this site also. We got fooled on a few trips because they didn't look far from where we were at the time. There is a lot to do in Connemara when planned out. We loved Westport, but it was quite a drive. I'm going to have to check our map to see where Corofin is. I haven't seen it on the map just searching for other things.
youngka

Lelia · Member

Michele,
Thanks so much for the road site. It is truly invaluable. I am so lucky to have discovered you and your book! Also this forum is fantastic.

Here are my revised plans. Please let me know if this works or if you have better ideas.
Saturday - Rent a car at Killarney. Stay Saturday and Sunday nights at either Drumcreehy House in Ballyvaughan or O'Connor's Farmhouse in Doolin. Which would be better for touring this area and then going to Clifden? I think I like Drumcreehy better except that they allow pets and we are sensitive to pet smells. Would that be a problem?

Monday - Drive to Clifton . Stay Mon, Tues, Wed. at either Byrne Mal Dau House in Clifden or Ivy Rock House in Roundstone. Which is better for home base?

Thursday - Drive to Bunratty. Stay Thurs and Friday at Headly Court.

Saturday - Leave from Shannon for U.S.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Lelia,

I'm glad you are enjoying the forum. It is a fun place for planning a trip to Ireland. What you have outlined will work well. Either Doolin or Ballyvaughan are fine. Although if you want to do Loop Head drive you might opt for Doolin as a bit more central to the coast of Clare. Never had a problem with pet odors at Drumcreehy!

Clifden is probably more central to the Connemara region. Although if you like small fishing villages Roundstone is hard to beat.

Michele