What to do in only 10 days?

doncat · Member

What to do in only 10 days?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Donna,

Welcome to my forum! How wonderful that you will be able to use your friends' house as a base. Athlone is smack dab in the middle of Ireland. But you are wise to realize that you will not be able to do everything in 10 days. You are right that the coastline of Ireland is most scenic. However there are lovely inland areas too. You will be going off-the-beaten-path and may well enjoy that more than following the usual tourist trail.

Many things may be too far for day trips from Athlone such as the SW. If No. Ireland is tops on your "must see" list then you will need at least a couple of days. Check out some of the following links:

http://www.athlone.ie/
http://www.discoverireland.ie/eastcoast.aspx
http://www.discoverireland.ie/eastcoast/westmeath.aspx
http://tinyurl.com/32y4gr
http://tinyurl.com/37pq7h

They will give you ideas of what to see and do in the Athlone and surrounding areas. A few things I would not miss:

Clonmacnoise
Birr Castle Gardens
Belvedere House
Strokestown Park House & Famine Museum

I'm sure you will add to the list as you go.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Donna:

I'm replying to your query to my Trip Pix thread to also echo Michele's comment that Athlone would be a stretch for seeing MANY of the "MUST SEE' sites. It's a GREAT location and I'm sure that you could EASILY spend your whole 10 days based there and see a LOT, but not the atypical, 'EVERY VISITOR SEES....'

Killarney, Dingle, Mizen Head, the Bearra, Blarney and Donegal and Antrim would all pretty much REQUIRE an overnight or three....

The Rope Bridge is the Carrick-a-Rede, near Bushmills, in Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Gnarled Trees are the Dark Hedges, just outside Armoy, also in Antrim. Antrim pretty much needs three nights (minimum) to really enjoy.

In April, many Self-Catering places may offer Mid-Week or Weekend Specials for 2-3 night stays that might help keep the costs and constant relocating down to a minimum.
Both sites (and many others, also in Antrim) are well-covered in Michele's book.

Bob

doncat · Member

Michele,

Thanks so much for the quick response and valuable information. I'm not sure how you do it but it's wonderful and much appreciated.

I know my family came from Cork (although I don't have enough information to trace my roots) so I really don't want to miss going south either. I'll have to wing some of my plans. I'm definitely planning on at least two overnights -- one in the south and one in the North. Do you think in April, it would be safe to make travel plans at the last minute knowing I have the safety of my friends accommodations to fall back on if I can't get anything? This way, if need to alter my trip, I'm not stuck being charged for accommodations I'm not going to use?

Guess I'll have to wait for your book to arrive before I decide what to do!

Thanks again.

doncat · Member

Bob,

Thank you for the advice. I'm so glad that the gnarled trees and bridge happen to be in direction I'm planning on heading. Very convenient! I'm starting to wish I hadn't booked time to head to London but since my last trip there was twenty year's ago and I have no idea when I'll have the opportunity to travel again, I had to take the kids there.

When I go on vacation here in the States, I must be by the shore. So here's my question...how does the shoreline differ from East to West, North to South? I'm told the Cliffs of Mohr are more breathtaking than the Ring of Kerry but that Donegal is not to be missed. Just curious what your perspective on this would be.

Thanks,

Donna

doncat · Member

Michele, one more thing...
The new edition of your book comes out in March. Would I get the new edition in time for it to be useful for my trip in Mid April or would it be better for my to get the current edition now.

Please advise.

Thanks,

Donna

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Donna:

My wife and I first went to Ireland in April of '99. This past June ('07) made our ninth trip,yet it was our first foray into Donegal and Northern Ireland. Each trip has alternated between 8 and 15 days (NOT including travel).

Ireland is a compact country, size-wise, but it is GIGANTIC in the many varied and enamoring vistas and antiquities. Distances may be short, in terms of miles, but it takes MUCH longer to cover those short distances. Michele recommends figuring and average speed of 35 MPH, when estimating travel times. Personally, I'm more inclined to think that 30 MPH is more accurrate -- particularly when it is your FIRST visit.

Whenever people talk about seeing "The REAL Ireland', they are invariably talking about the SW -- Cork and Kerry, but there is NO place that I've seen so far, that hasn't been worth the visit.

The coast of Antrim was phenominal. Slieve League was inspiring, as was Innishowen. Dingle is a Dream Day (or two) and there is enough to do in and around Killarney to eat up every minute of a week-long stay. I've spent weeks in and around Cork city and several days in Dublin. We even rented a small, one-bedroom cottage on Sheeps Head (April of '06), for a week that will long live in our memories....

If all that seems overwhelming, then that's a GOOD thing, because there is NO way that you can POSSIBLY enjoy EVERYTHING in 10 days. You will have to make very difficult and often, PAINFUL decisions about what to see and what to give a pass to.

With a base in Athlone, I would suggest you choose EITHER the North, OR the South. Ten days really doesn't give you enough time to do justice to one -- and CERTAINLY not to both.

My most memorable Irish Moment? From a thread on FODORS:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=35010588

"I could mention the story of my Bunratty Folk Park photo, from my first trip --
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34990643

Or, how relatives, friends and sometimes, even strangers always ask, "And how long are ye home for?"

But, if I MUST chose only ONE:

In April of '01, we wandered into a music shop on College St, in Killarney and discovered a CD by a locally based singer/songwriter named Ciaran Wynne that was incredible, particularly the stunning ballad, "A MOTHER'S SONG". Upon returning home, I emailed the address in the liner notes, requesting info on more music. That email initiated a running electronic conversation and set up a Feb 2002 meeting in his hometown of Kildare.

In April of '03 we met up again, in Killarney. Ciaran gave us a copy of his newest CD and invited us to a performance in Kildare, scheduled for three nights later.

We had DETAILED plans, of course -- none of which included a 'side trip' to Kildare, but back at the B&B, my wife pointed out where Ciaran had thanked US in the liner notes!
We rerouted our travel and were in Kildare the following Thursday night.

Part way through the first set, Ciaran introduced us to the home town crowd, as his "GOOD AMERICAN FRIENDS", and dedicated "A MOTHER'S SONG" to us.

Memories of scenic wonders will fade, with time, that's why we keep RETURNING -- to refresh and recharge our spirits.

But memories of that Thursday night in a crowded Kildare pub will last a lifetime."

The REAL joy of Ireland -- what keeps bringing us back, again and again, is the Irish PEOPLE. If you rush about, intent upon 'Checking Off' another Must-See site, during a Mad, 'Green Blur' Tour, there will be no time left to EXPERIENCE Ireland.

Or to create a memory.

Bob

doncat · Member

Thanks again Bob. I hear the wisdom of your words and will do my best to heed them. Especially with the children coming with us, there's only so much we will be able to do. When we went to England and Wales for 18 days all those years ago, we sacrificed the York district. I've always regretted it but there was no getting around it. Same with Epcot.

Great memories. How is an Italian Chauffeur so in love with Ireland?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Donna,

Take Bob's advice about not even trying to do it all. Since you have roots in Cork, I suggest that be your one diversion away from Athlone. Spend a couple of days there and the rest of your time enjoying central Ireland. Save Northern Ireland for another visit.

In April you can "wing it" and make your plans as you go. If you can visit Cork mid-week you will be better off. On weekends places like Kinsale will fill up and be a madhouse.

I suggest getting the 2007 edition of my book so you can start your planning now. It is not changing greatly in 2008. I will be putting a few tips in my next newsletter anyway. If you need any updates you can do so right here on the forum.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Donna:

My wife's paternal Grandparents were both born in Ireland, in 1880 and joined the flood of immigrants to the US around 1900. Her father (who will be 90, this coming March) still has three first cousins that still live there. Under an ultimatum from my wife, I booked our first trip in April of '99.

I, on the other hand, can claim not a DROP of Irish blood through my veins, but that one visit was all it took for me to become smitten.

In the sayings of HER people, "I married into the farm".

There is an even older saying: 'Pos bean on sliabh agus postfaidh tu an sliabh.'
(powss ban own shleev UGG-us POWSS-hee too un shleev)

---- 'Marry a woman from the mountain and you marry the mountain.' ---

biggrin

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 16:30, 2007-12-08

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 12:37, 2007-12-09

doncat · Member

Will do, it sounds like good advice it's just so hard not to want to see everything. It's a shame we have such little vacation here in the States otherwise I could stay longer and see more.

The 2007 book's on its way or will be.

Regards,

Donna

doncat · Member

My husband is 100% Italian and I'm half Irish and half Italian. I grew up identifying more with the Italian side of my family because that's the side I was most exposed to. However, there wasn't a doubt in my mind where I wanted to go if I could only go one place. I found that strange but maybe Ireland's calling to me.

I hope my husband enjoys it as much as you did. I think he feels coerced as well. Then again, he's travelled all over the world when he was in the Marines and doesn't feel the urge to travel anywhere. He promises he'll get into it when the time to travel comes and I'm hoping that will be the case.

Donna

Michele Erdvig · Host

Donna,

I had to coerce my husband to Ireland the first time. Now he gets "homesick" for Ireland if he doesn't get his twice yearly fix. Sometimes the guys with no blood connection fall hardest.

Michele

doncat · Member

For some reason, I assumed you lived in Ireland Michele.

I certainly hope my husband will fall hard and give me something to gloat about. He generally comes around once he gets to his destination.

When I voiced my concerns about my son missing 6 days of school, his teacher said the trip would be more meaningful than an entire year of study and envisioned the trip being the cornerstone of his college application. That finally stopped my husband from complaining about the cost of the trip. So, hope springs eternal as they say!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Donna,

Thank you! The fact that you thought I lived in Ireland is a real compliment. I have had many Irish people tell me I know more about Ireland than they do. I get in a few months of intensive Ireland travel every year and get around to every corner. Many native Irish are stuck in one spot and never see it all. Instead they are jetting off to Spain or somewhere with sunshine.

I agree with your son's teacher that the trip will be very educational. Why don't you let him read up on the history of places. Tell him he will be your tour guide when you visit xyz castle and you want to know all about it. Give your kids some homework and they will enjoy it much more when there.

Michele

doncat · Member

That's a great idea. My daughter is a girl scout (I'm her leader) and I've contacted the girl guides council in Ireland and London and there are several patches she can earn just by touring the country. That's motivated her to do some reading before hand as well. My son's teacher is also assigning him something specific to this trip instead of his regular assignments. He'll have to do a photo journalism piece and something related to architecture which will hopefully keep him focused while he's there and give him a nice keepsake as well. The kids will have their own cameras so they can choose what's important to them.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Donna,

It sounds good. The more involved the kids are the better they will enjoy their trip.

Michele