4 Days in Ireland

ericmccully · Newbie

4 Days in Ireland

ericmccully · Newbie

Also, I hear driving in Ireland is a bit tough. Do they drive at night in Ireland? I keep reading so much about having your day complete before it gets dark. Is that just so you won't be missing the sites or is that because it's tougher to drive at night?

Anchoress · Guru

Yes, we drive at night here:)

Just is that in rural areas with little lighting all you will see at night is the darkness......

so that aspect needs to be in the shorter days; by then it will be dark around 4.30 pm.

Many of the rural roads are narrow and winding.

Just take is easy and enjoy it. No great worries so please do not let that spoil your pleasure.

Slow and careful is the way.

Cannot help re the itinerary, but others here will?

Blessings this morning from Donegal

youngka · Guru

Hi! You are going to find this site very useful! Glad you found it and wrote in......if you happen to get to the Galway area, we stayed at a place in Kinvara: www.kinvara.com. www.conneelysbedandbreakfast.com will show you Sheila Conneely's B&B information. Sheila and her husband are super nice and she has lots of goodies plus a full Irish Breakfast in the a.m. Very cozy place and the town of Kinvara is not far away Shiela can recommend a wonderful place for dinner, also. Kinvara is situated in South County Galway, Ireland, just on the edge of the world renowned "Burren" on Galway Bay. Often described in tourist guides and other publications as a "Picturesque Seaside Village" (this was a good description taken off the Kinvara web site.) Lots of luck getting your four days filled with lots of nice memories! Youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

eric,

Everyone likes to visit Ireland at their own pace. When I do custom itineraries for people I always ask them how they want their itinerary paced: leisurely, moderate or fast. Most say moderate. What you have planned is a fast drive-through tour of Ireland. You can do it but it will mean lots of driving and time in the car.

Daylight hours are short at the end of Nov. Take a look at my weather page for sunrise/sunset times. It is difficult enough finding your way during daylight hours. In the pitch dark it is very difficult. Outside towns there are no street lights. VERY DARK!

To optomize your trip I suggest early starts each day. Drive times online are optimistic. More like 4 hours from Dublin to Bunratty. Another 1 to 1 1/2 hours to the cliffs.

Don't forget to schedule time for your sightseeing along the way.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Michele

ericmccully · Newbie

We have done a lot of prioritizing (again) since my post. After talking with some friends who also made this trip, watching enough Rick Steves videos for a lifetime, and scouring for more info online, we think we may be more excited about the Dingle Peninsula than the Ring of Kerry.

Due to time, it looks like the ROK will get cut. Along the ROK, we were most excited about Muckross House and the sites associated with the Lakes of Killarney. If I'm looking at my map correctly, we never actually have to get on the ring road to see those. And it's on our way to Cork anyway. I'm usually pretty good with a map, so someone PLEASE tell me if I'm missing something with this assumption.

Also, we are very intrigued by the Rock of Cashel and think we want to add it to our first day away from Dublin. We've run this by our innkeeper - Mary at Atlantic View B&B in Doolin - and she thinks it's possible if we get started early.
Does this itinerary sound any better?

Monday - Arrive in Dublin. Take bus tour of city's attractions, with most importance to seeing Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, and ChristChurch Cathedral. We're staying in the Temple Bar area that night. No desire to visit the Guinness Brewhouse. No changes here from my original post.

Tueday - Get rental car and drive to Rock of Cashel, which looks breath-taking in pictures online and in video. Then drive to Bunratty Castle. This is not so much a must-see, so if it looks like we're running late on time, it wouldn't break our hearts to miss this. Still, our friends said it was interesting, albeit pricey. I'm estimating a three-hour drive to Cashel from Dublin and then another hour and a half to Bunratty. Then drive to Liscannor/Doolin area to stay for the night. From what I understand, the music in Doolin is worth the trip.

Wednesday - Rise EARLY to see the Cliffs of Moher (we're staying a mile away) at sunrise. I think I'm most excited about this, and the Cliffs are still our main intrigue! Go back to B&B for breakfast, then make our way to Dingle and tour the peninsula. Stay either in Dingle or somewhere between Dingle and Killarney this evening.

Thursday - See the Muckross Estate and some of the sites around the Lakes of Killarney (Gap of Dunloe and others). We're staying in Cork this evening and flying out from Cork early the next morning, so - depending on time - we'd like to see the Heritage Museum in Cobh this afternoon. I think we've called "Blarney" on visiting the Blarney Stone. Seems like a tourist trap, and I'm not one lacking for "gab," hence my long posts on your forum.

Does this sound any better? I'm curious about realistic driving times because the ranges of time I find to and from various towns vary immensely.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Eric,

I have a brief few minutes stolen from my workday to check the forum. I am still waiting to get a new computer at home.

In regards to Doolin and music, at the time of year that you are going, I would be surprised if you find any music on a Tuesday night. They have more of a regular music sched during the high season of summer. You would have more luck finding music in Ennis at mid-week.

I would be more likely to suggest:

Day 1 Arrive Dublin & do as suggested
Day 2 (Tuesday) pick up rental car as early as possible- travel Dublin-Galway-Doolin - taking the coastal route from Galway to Doolin

Day 3 (Wednesday)Doolin to Dingle via Rock of Cashel- (http://www.aaireland.ie/routes/route.asp?utc=miles) This will be a long day but the only way I can see to fit in Cashel.

I would suggest lodging in or near Tralee and then completing your run on Day Four. You will be able to do Muckross House in Killarney. However, the Gap of Dunloe needs a full day to be done properly. Blarney is highly overrated. Cobh is beautiful in its own right.

As for estimating driving times, using the link I provided you above, you can calculate the mileage. Then take the mileage and divide by 35 (maximum road speed you will attain in most areas), this will be your actual driving time. It is a shame that your flight in couldn't have been into Shannon, as your interests are on the west coast. It would have made this a less harried trip, to be sure.

I hope that you will make it back for a long trip when it will be possible to experience that which makes Ireland truly special. Perhaps a spring time visit when the lambs are at play, everything is in bloom and the daylight hours are longer.

Enjoy this brief taste of Ireland. It will leave you wanting a larger bite.

Slan Beo, Bit

Michele Erdvig · Host

eric,

With your short time it makes sense to skip the Ring of Kerry. Dingle will more than make up for it. You could probably fit in Cashel on the drive from Dublin to Doolin. But I don't think you will have time for Bunratty Castle.

You will get a little slice of Ireland on this trip. Maybe on another trip you can get more "slices".

Michele

khatrineluz · Newbie

Hey thanks for the useful ideas here been planning to visit Ireland and currently looking for a place to stay and spots to stroll/visit when we get there... Actually i just got back home from my work and travel in Australia.I stayed there for four months and had a great time. Whilst I was in Australia my parents took care of of my cats, but they never had pets at home so it was a big task for them. They emailed me on one day about that they found a website with a xxx on it. Everyone who has experience with cats or just wants to talk about it, can leave comments on this special forum.My parents are really grateful for it, because they didn't know anything about how to treat cats and found some tips on it that were really useful!
Sorry cant help talking about my pets, anyways as i said i really enjoy my stay in Australia it was more than a work but a pleasure too... So now im planning for another trip but for pleasure only not for work. i plan to bring my family in Ireland... and hopefully well enjoy our there... again thank you this post helps me organize my travel plans for Ireland!

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig at 02:16, 2008-12-15

Michele Erdvig · Host

I have a feeling that khatrineluz's post is really SPAM. I have removed the links to the various websites posted, hence it shows that I edited khatrineluz's post. I will be interested to see if khatrineluz is actually going to Ireland. If so, I will be happy to help as always.

Michele

khatrineluz · Newbie

Actually my plans is still due next year, summertime to be specific because kids are at vacation this time... We are going to stay at home for Christmas this year... Cant wait for that!

Michele Erdvig · Host

khatrineluz,

I will look forward to helping with your questions.

Michele