Is this too much for ten days?

4momandme · Member

Is this too much for ten days?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Fran,

I'm glad to hear that you have made a decision about how you will travel in Ireland. May I ask why you are departing from Belfast instead of Shannon or Dublin? To go all the way from Clare to Belfast will take a minimum of 6 hours drive. There will most likely be a hefty drop-off fee for the car.

A word about a couple of things. Blarney Castle and the stone requires hiking up over 100 tiny spiral steps through some very tight passageways. The stone is at the top of the tower and requires some acrobatics to kiss. The Waterford Crystal Factory requires a good amount of walking to go through on the tour.

You may want to re-plan to take into consideration your mother's requirements. You will average 35 mph in Ireland. Very few motorways except around major cities. Most roads are small and winding.

Michele

4momandme · Member

thanks for your comments. You have to know my mother - I asked her what she wanted to see in Ireland when she told me she wanted to go and she had no specific answer. So I suggested she get some books from the library, which she actually did, but since the only places she recognized were Dublin and Belfast that's all she read about! Anyway, she said she wants to see both cities and some countryside and was interested in the Waterford factory. With your comments about the Blarney Castle, I think we'll leave it off. So I haved decided to figure out what I want to see and have used the places listed as suggestions. I could even skip Dublin myself. I have also ordered your book and hope to refine the "plan" from that. Are there any must sees in Belfast? From what I've read there's more to see and do in Dublin and I myself would prefer flying into Dublin and out of Shannon and skipping Belfast.

Thanks.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Fran,

I suggest your mother get some photo books about Ireland. Sometimes just looking at the beautiful scenery, gardens, castles, etc. will point you in the right direction.

Belfast and Dublin are vibrant cities with lots to see and do but most people are happy to have a day or two of city life and then head off into the glorious countryside.

If you decide to skip Dublin and Belfast, you might think of Shannon as your arrival and departure points. Perhaps after my book arrives you will get a better handle on what you want to do. Maybe your mother will even read it!

Michele

yesiree · Guru

If she would like a mix of cities and country...suggest Cork or Kilkenny instead of Belfast. Both are on your suggested route and will save you the long drive. Kilkenny isn't really a city, but it's got enough going on to have the benefits of a city...the same would hold true for Killarney.

It sounds like you'd be better off suggesting to your mother some specific sites that would fall on your Dublin to Shannon route...or in/out of Shannon itinerary (as Michele suggested, pictures can really get the job done). Chances are, when she starts reading about real things rather than trying to sift through a big, intimidating book, she will appreciate you narrowing down the choices for her.

Good luck.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Fran,

Great pointers from Corey. Actually Kilkenny is my favorite city in Ireland. It is compact, beautifuly set on a river, has a castle and lovely cathedrals, good B&Bs and restaurants. There is also lots to do and see in the surrounding countryside.

If you decide on doing it I will recommend Corey's walking tour, which you can download free. Go to my "Discounts" page for the link. You have plenty of time for planning. I like Corey's idea of steering your mother toward certain places. Perhaps give her a reading assignment of one chapter every once in a while! wink

Much less intimidating than having to read a whole book.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 00:46, 2007-10-10

4momandme · Member

Thanks to both of you - great ideas all around. Look forward to receiving your book and will begin from there. I'm sure I'll have more questions and will be back! thanks again.

4momandme · Member

Okay - my problem with having my mom read my book is that she lives 2000 miles away from me - maybe I"ll have to get her her own book from Christmas.

Anyway, I am thinking of this sort of itinerary as she really wants to see Belfast:

Two nights in Dublin
One in Belfast (I realize it's about 300km to Galway from here)
Two in Galway area
Two in Killarnery
One in Kilkenny
one more in Dublin

We are not really big shoppers, she doesn't want to see a lot of museums and she won't be able to take long, long walks with her walker.

By starting and finishing in Dublin and going to Belfast we save on drop off charges of flying into one and leaving from the other.

Is this doable?

Fran

Michele Erdvig · Host

Fran,

You might want to consider just going to Belfast for the day and returning to Dublin. It only takes two hours to Belfast by train. Then you could get a tour around the city by bus or black taxi and train back to Dublin. That would save you lots of driving.

The rest is do-able.

Michele

Melissa5 · Guru

4Momandme, it's wonderful that you're taking your mother to Ireland, and that she's interested in reading about it.

Definitely stear her towards a more practical itinerary, as she's looking at fun things to do that she recognizes, but she's not seeing the practical side, such as the drive times or the slow roads. I think in the end she will really appreciate it if you gently stear her towards a more doable itinerary.

The beautiful, green, wild, and wonderful countryside of Ireland, and the gorgeous seacoast views, are the best, I think. I would choose either Dublin or Belfast, NOT both. (I chose Belfast because my Irish grandmother is from there.) For most tourists I think Dublin is a better choice for their first trip, plus Northern Ireland is more expensive.

I'd suggest you work out 2 or 3 practical itineraries that work better...and show them to your mother, along with lovely photos...ask her to choose among them. I think she will happily oblige. Perhaps there are even some movies which are filmed in Ireland which can help. There are also calendars with photos of Ireland.

Perhaps you and your mother would enjoy one of the fun medieval banquets. We liked the Dunguaire Castle medieval banquet. If you fly into or out of Shannon, you can try the Bunratty Medieval banquet...we didn't do that one but I heard it's fun also.

Enjoy!