All booked now,itinerary help...please

shan · Member

All booked now,itinerary help...please

Michele Erdvig · Host

Shannon,

What reservations are made? If for accommodations, then you have already organized your itinerary. You have chosen some interesting places to stay, perhaps because of family connections or festivals? Let me know some specifics so that I can make appropriate suggestions.

Michele

shan · Member

As we leave Dublin the first day fairly early in the morning, I wondered what we should plan to visit on our way to Carlow. Should we spend some of the day in Dublin? Or Wicklow?? What is feasable?
Are there places around Kilkenny not to miss, I read about a great castle and a brewery.
In Killarney, the Ring of Kerry and Beara are I suppose a must, what about Dingle, and do I have time with 2 days there.
Should I go through Limerick to reach Shannon or is there a ferry?? route that is better.
I saw on your site about Loop Head and would like to include this side trip then up through Ballyvaughan to our stay in Ballinsloe.
We are hoping 3 nights in Ballyconneely will allow for some horseback riding on the beach(any suggestions) and/or some golf.
And what about around Mullingar on our way back to Dublin, are there any things that I should watch for?
Three things that I am anxious to purchase are Irish sweaters , Celtic gold jewellery and the flat hand drum I see so often, are there good places to find these?
Thanks, Shan

-- Edited by shan at 22:20, 2008-07-18

Michele Erdvig · Host

Shannon,

Kilkenny Castle is very interesting. You can go to my Discounts page to download a free walking tour of the city. I'm curious as to why you chose Carlow instead of an overnight in Kilkenny, if that is your interest? Since it is your first day in Ireland you probably won't want to include a tremendous amount of sightseeing. If you don't want to go as far as Kilkenny you could visit Russborough House or The Irish National Stud instead.

With two days in Killarney (and part of one day traveling) you will have to choose one other thing to do. Dingle, ROK and Beara each take a full day.

If you are not going to see the coast of Clare and Cliffs of Moher, then going from Killarney to Shannon through Limerick and skipping the ferry makes more sense.

I think going from Shannon to Loop Head and then to Balllinasloe will make for a very long day indeed.

You can easily fill your three days in Ballyconneely with golf, riding and seeing Connemara.

Are you staying in Mullingar for fishing? Belvedere House & Gardens are nearby.

You will find bodhrans in Roundstone at Roundstone Music and Crafts. Sweaters and jewlery are available all over Ireland.

Enjoy your trip!

Michele

shan · Member

Thank you for alll the great info.
We chose our accomodation based on the criteria that they had to be at least 200 years old, a country manor or historically important if in a town. The route just seemed to fall into place from there. My son and I do not fish, we golf, ride horses,shop, sightsee and hike. The manor house in Mullingar is owned by Canadians and is on our route back to Dublin, seemed perfect.
We do plan on seeing the Cliffs of Moher, so I will watch our time and route carefully.
Shan