First vacation to Ireland

ann delaney · Member

First vacation to Ireland

CowboyCraic · Guru

Dia Duit Ann,

First off, welcome to the forum!

With only seven days , given your areas of interest, it would be best suited to fly into Dublin and out of Shannon. This will make for a bit of a Blur tour though.

The daylight hours are getting sparse at the end of October, adjust your travels accordingly.

I would say:

Day 1 arrive Dublin -Overnight here
Day 2, pick-up rental vehicle & head for Belfast - Over night here
Day 3 & 4 - Antrim coast
Day 5 - Galway
Day 6 - Bunratty
Day 7 - Home from Shannon

You might well consider sticking to Northern Ireland and leaving the West of Ireland for another, longer trip. It would definitely make more of a relaxing trip:

Day 1 & 2 - Dublin
Day 3 - Belfast
Day 4 & 5 - Antrim
Day 6 - Dublin Airport Hotel
Day 7 - Home

In Dublin, take advantage of the Hop-on/off Bus tour &, if you are feeling up to it, the Musical pub crawl tour that evening

In Belfast, take a Black Taxi tour, it is a fantastic experience.

Do you know in which village or town your mother was born? You could either make that the place that you find lodging or perhaps take a look at BallyGally Castle Hotel.

I think that you would be best suited to the second plan, as long hours in a vehicle can be a trial no matter how well suited your traveling companions are to travel. One of the magical things about Ireland is that once you have touched her ground & breathed in her air, you cannot help but return.

Slan Beo (Take Care), Bit

ann delaney · Member

Thank you so much for your reply and suggestions. We are going to follow your advise about the airports.
My Mom's papers show "District of Cushendall, Registrar's District of Ballycastle, County Antrim". She was born on Antrim Road. When the family came to the U.S. the home was purchased by the Gore family. I have just sent off an email to Public Records in hopes they can tell me the house number. I was told there is a "Kelly's Field" at the end of Antrim Road - my Mom was Winifred Bridget Kelly, so I would like to know if there is any Kelly connection.

Checked out BallyGally Castle Hotel - definitely will try to make reservations today.

Thanks for the ideas of the Black Taxi tour, Hop on/off bus tour & Musical pub crawl tour - which they will definitely enjoy.

I can't thank you enough for these great suggestions which we will definitely look into.

If you have any other thoughts, please pass them on - much appreciated.
Ann

CowboyCraic · Guru

Ann,

Glad that I could be of some help. If you know the date that the family migrated over and they came through Ellis, I can do a search for their passenger records. There is sometimes house address from where the lived and a contact person in the united states.

If you cannot get a booking at BallyGally, you might look to Ardaghmore B&B in BallyCastle. It is a favorite spot, as the views are fabulous, the beds are comfortable and the breakfast filling and tasty.

Cushendall would be your mother's birthplace. You might even look to staying there. It is quite the town for history. Her people are warm & open. I have stayed at the Village B&B for a night. I wished I had more time in the area. You could easily fill 3-4 days there.

In any case, remember that you will need two currencies, Euro and British Pound Sterling, as you will be traveling in both countries.

Slan Beo, Bit

ann delaney · Member

Hi,

You are wonderful with all your help. My Mom and her family left via Liverpool, England on August 7, 1920 and came through Ellis Island on August 14, 1920 aboard the ship SS Caronia. I did get a copy of the ship's passenger listing, but no address in Ireland. On the papers I received in 2001, it shows my grandfather, Joseph Kelly's "address" as Mill Hollow, if that would help. My Mom was baptized in St. Mary's Church in Cushingdahl. (spelling?) between February 2 and August 7, 1920.

I have been working on this since 2001! It is about time I started to visit Ireland. My son and I have received the necessary forms, etc. to start the process of dual citizenship, but I should have started that a year ago.

I really appreciate your time and your sharing.

Take care, Ann

CowboyCraic · Guru

Anne,

In looking at the manifest for the Caronia, it would appear that Joseph, his wife Winifred and their children: Mary, John, Elsie & Winnie (Your Mom) were bound for Hartford, Connecticut upon their arrival in the United States. Their contact on the Ireland side of the journey was John Kelly, the brother, in Larne, County Antrim. So Larne would be another area in which you might find some answers. Interesting in that they show Joseph and the children's place of origin as Cushendall. However, for the mother, Winifred, the origin is listed as Glasgow, Scotland. There is a destination address showing of 15 Claremont ST, Hartford, Connecticut. However, there is no numeric address for John Kelly in Larne on the other end.

As for Mill Hollow, that is a street name in Cushendall.

I hope this sheds some light. I will poke about for other tidbits, as well.

Slan Beo, Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ann,

You are certainly in good hands with Bit while I was away from the forum for a few days. She is right that daylight hours will be short especially after Ireland goes off daylight savings time at the end of Oct. You will want to be up early and make the most of your day so you can be at your accommodations by about 4 pm. After that it will start getting dark quickly.

Dungiven Castle has recently undergone a complete refirbishment so take a look at it also. And don't forget to look at my Lodgings page.

Michele

ann delaney · Member

Thank you Michele & Brit.
Still working on trying to find a definite street address - checked Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Cushingdall re Feb. 1920 baptism (no response yet). Also trying to find name of cemetary in that area where many from the Gore family were buried - they purchased my grandparents home on Antrim Rd. - hoping the cemetary records would have a complete former address.

Made reservations at Ballygally Castle Hotel (thank you for suggesting it).

If possible, my son really wants to go to the West Coast to see the Aran Islands. Is there anything there to see? I hear Connemara is beautiful - anything interesting there to see? How about the Cliffs of Moher?

I like your suggestion of Antrim to Galway (isn't that a real long trip?) to Bunratty to Shannon airport. Any idea of how much we would be driving? Would this route be taking us near the Aran Islands and/or Connemarra, which I hear is beautiful. Anything interesting to do there?

Wish I had found this website months ago - you are so helpful!
Thank you so much!
Ann

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ann,

Given the time of year and your short visit I would suggest you not do the Aran Islands. It is a long drive from Antrim to Galway. You can access the AA Route Planner, get the miles, divide by 35 and get approximate driving times.

You can of course do the Cliffs of Moher between Galway and Bunratty. You will not have time for Connemara or Aran Islands because your main interests are in No. Ireland. If you had more time you could. But everyone is always hampered by the time they have available. Better to enjoy what you can comfortably see than to try to cram too much in and return home exhausted.

Michele

ann delaney · Member

Thank you for your advice - it kind of looked like it would be too much.

One question: Why did you tell someone to bring a facecloth?

Just curious, Ann

Michele Erdvig · Host

Ann,

Hotels in the USA supply washcloths (facecloths) but many in Ireland do not. They supply towels but not washcloths. If you use one it is best to bring one along. Most of the B&Bs I stayed in had them but the hotels did not.

Michele