Susan,

it's a really great deal from JFK- I called my sister-in-law in Brooklyn to tell her the fare. How good a deal remains to be seen I guess.

Roy

Roy,

Is that the price will all taxes, etc? If so go for it.

Michele

Roy, if you are just looking for basic accommodation to break up the drive, we stayed at St. Anne's Farmhouse in Milltown, between Tuam and Claremorris. That first day we went out to Coole Park and Thoor Ballylee. That was about enough for our first day. St. Anne's is nice and clean with all amenities. Our family room had nice views from windows on three sides.

Thought I'd copy and post this info just received from the Indpendent Traveler site -- happy booking!
------------------------------------------------------

Ireland Spring & Summer Fares from $199 OW

Provided by: Aer Lingus Expiration: 01-21-09 Travel Dates: Through August 31, 2009

Fly from select cities to Dublin or Shannon from $199 each way and enjoy warm temperatures and the vibrant green landscape of Ireland; this deal offers winter prices on spring and summer travel dates. Travel through June 15 and pay only $199 each way for airfare from select cities to Ireland, or travel through August 31 and pay $249 each way for airfare from select cities to the Emerald Isle. This deal expires January 21. For more information and reservations, please visit the Aer Lingus Web site.

Sample Fares Departure Destination Fares Boston Shannon $199 OW Boston Dublin $199 OW Chicago Dublin $249 OW Chicago Shannon $249 OW New York Shannon $199 OW New York Dublin $199 OW San Francisco Dublin $299 OW San Francisco Shannon $299 OW Washington D.C. Shannon $249 OW Washington D.C. Dublin $249 OW

Terms & Conditions Travel Dates: Through August 31, 2009 Advance Purchase Requirements: May apply. Expiration: 01-21-09 Minimum/Maximum Stay: May apply. Blackout Dates: May apply. Additional Fees: Stated prices exclude government taxes, fees and facility charges of up to $52 eastbound and $107 westbound, and the September 11th security fee of $2.50. Additional fees may apply. Further Restrictions: Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include roundtrip economy-class airfare on valid Aer Lingus transatlantic services. Further restrictions may apply.

Remarkable prices aren't the? The day after I booked, fare from Dulles/JFK/Shannon went up $80, so there may be a limited number of seats available on each flight that are on sale. June should be wonderful (and hopefully dry). After the past two summers, I'm holding out optimism for a brighter summer of 2009!

Just passing along this pretty ad from the front page of this morning's New York Times!  (We're below 0 here and snow covered, so I'm dreaming of greener days.)

Thanks all, for the well wishes.

I was being somewhat facetious about the Trip Insurance
Although, I AM looking into Medical Coverage on wife and I, after the 'Beating' I took on the last trip...

Worst case, I'll 'EAT' a couple hundred in Change Fees, if my FIL's status 'goes South' ...

FIL will turn 91 in March.  He has virtually NO vision left (and LIMITED hearing) and has handled the shift to relying upon a walker and required assistance POORLY -- it was, in fact, what led to the fall that broke his hip.  MIL is 83 and HER vision is getting pretty bad, as well.  Neither drive any more (thankfully), so all their transport needs fall upon my wife and I.  They ARE, thankfully, Mostly self-sufficient and as we have promised, they do still live in their own home, less than a quarter mile from us, in the same developement.  Most of their other kids have been big help, but we LIVE here and they don't ...

One or more of them will 'Step In' while we take our vacation break.

Have reserved a Self-Catering House in beloved Millstreet for 14 days.  Am hoping to FINALLY dedicate the necessary time to the research for the third and final installment of my opus, family history trilogy (I finished Part Two in May of '05!) and the Mrs. will do a couple of day-trips on the train, into Killarney....

http://www.millstreet.ie/Links/dooneen/dooneen.html


Two weeks is running 270 Euro per, heat and electric, towels and bedding included!  RYANAIR has tix on offer SNN to Brussels for 3 days return for about 42 Euro per person and SNN to Paris (Beauvais) and back, for about 52 Euro each, so we MAY continue our 'Branching Out', too...

I'm hoping the Irish economy does recover soon, but not TOO quickly ...  I've got my eye on a couple of different properties available on www.daft.ie   I just MIGHT be able to swing a deal on one, if price fall just a tiny bit further and the dollar rises just a WEE bit higher!!!!

Since the Mrs. INSISTS that I'm not allowed to retire for another four ( !! 4 !! ) years, I told her I need the motivation ...   

We'll see ...

Bob

Bob, your postings are always so interesting. I checked out the place you mentioned and it sure looks nice, not a bad price either! Good luck on the house looking, there are some pretty nice ones we had seen at realtor offices when we would walk by and compare prices!

Roy, I had that ad for the specials and I just deleted it. Not until you put your comments on this forum did I decide - why not - we'll go!!! My husband and I will be going from May 1 and return June 14. Just getting a car at Shannon and take off, when we get tired stop for the night and drive the whole coast line. This will be the first time in our visits that we won't be making reservations and we are going to be going a good time of the year. Last trips have been in March-2x's, and October. They were nice also, but we feel we should see more blooms and color this time. ANYWAY, thanks for the little PUSH -- we are getting excited. youngka

Michele -

Further back from the page I linked to (found at the TERRIFIC ( www.millstreet.ie )is a page that listed a contact email address.  I mailed out a deposit last week, after ascertaining that the house is both pet AND smoke free, and that sheets, towels, electricity and heat were INCLUDED in the price. 

As I explained to the owner -- while I have owned pets, over the years, I have NO desire to share a bed with OTHER PEOPLE'S PETS. 

Likewise, though I AM a life-time smoker, I haven't smoked in my OWN house, in over 25 years.  No great sacrifice to not smoke in someone else's house! 

I DO, however, object to smelling OTHER'S stale smoke. 


Anchoress --

Trust me, I wish NO ill-will or further ruination to the Irish, OR their economy.  I am merely of the opinion that a Euro should never have been WORTH US$ 1.60 and that ALL property prices need to settle to a REALISTIC value. 

Even then, I will consider myself FORTUNATE INDEED, if the right circumstances permit me to finally realize my dream of owning a small, modest home somewhere in Ireland.

Many of my wife's Irish relatives are heavily involved in the construction trades so it is most certainly my wish that these difficult times settle as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 22:45, 2009-01-25

Bob,

Thanks for the additional info. I hope the house is everything you want it to be. It looks brand new. I am still kicking myself for not buying that cottage in Dingle for 500 pounds over 30 years ago.

Michele

Michele -

And, Oh Yeah ---  MY 'Kick Myself' moment came during that SAME trip, in '99, when my wife's cousin's husband (the builder) showed us the new Estate that he had just built. 

At the time, he had about six unsold semi detatched three bed, two baths, that his agent was asking 50,00 Irish Pounds for ...

                                                                              

Bob