Planning a trip and need help!!

dxmiller1980 · Newbie

Planning a trip and need help!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

dxmiller,

Welcome to my forum! Congratulations on graduating from nursing school. Can you tell me what time of year you plan on being in Ireland? Do you want to spend all your time in one place or will you be traveling around? There are not a lot of "dance clubs" in Ireland outside of major cities. However, the locals do have dances periodically. You can ask locally about them when you are there.

Give me a bit more info and I will try to help.

Michele

dxmiller1980 · Newbie

Hi Michele! Thanks for getting back to me. I am planning on going around May or June. I am up for pretty much anything. I am not into the touristy attractions. I am wanting to maybe kayak/canoe one or two days. I really want to spend time at pubs and local venues/fairs/festivals to really see some small town local life. Sort of the old world feel with the great irish music and fanfair. I was just a little overwhelmed with Ireland and didn't know which areas would be up my alley for what I was looking for. If you need anymore info let me know. I really appreciate any help I can get. I don't have a lot of experience with traveling non the less traveling over seas. Thanks again!!

Andi · Senior Member

I think Western Ireland would be a great place for you. Contact Killary Adventure Center at www.killaryadventure.com. They offer kayaking and other outdoor activities around Killary Harbour in Galway. Even if you don't want to drive a lot, if you rent a car and base yourself in, say, Clifden in County Galway, you can easily reach many different villages along the coastline with short drives, and spend time hiking in Connemara National Park. Clifden is not a large town, but would have pubs and music on offer much of the time. Inland Galway has many beauties to offer as well, the area around Cong is a special favorite of mine.

Just across Galway Bay, the towns of Ballyvaughan or Kinvarra would be good bases for exploring the Burren and County Clare. Although small towns and villages, there is often something going on in a pub.

If really makes a difference If you choose not to have a car, as exploring around these areas is more difficult, and takes more planning. I have always travelled by bike in Ireland, and that's really fun, too.

Good luck planning your trip!

Michele Erdvig · Host

dxmiller,

What good advice from Andi! First, I suggest you read up a bit on Ireland to see if one area appeals to you over another. Take a look at this websites and click on Events to check for festivals: http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ Doing those two things may just steer you in the right direction.

For what it's worth my favorite small town in Ireland is Kenmare, favorite city Kilkenny. Ennis is a town that has a lot of trad music and in May they have the Fleadh Nua. Most tourists flock to the areas south of the line from Dublin to Galway. Once you head north of that line the tourists thin out. Some good lively towns north of that line are Westport and Sligo.

If you want to go even farther off the beaten path consider Northern Ireland. Enniskillen is a nice town with scenic surroundings and gorgeous lakes.

Start your research now and we will be happy to help.

Michele