Need Ireland Itinerary Help please!

marisaleigh · Newbie

Need Ireland Itinerary Help please!

Michele Erdvig · Host

marisleigh,

Welcome to my forum. You are wise to realize the limitations of your time in Ireland and not try to see everything.

First, may I ask what the attraction to Cork is? It is a large city with gridlocked traffic and not the nicest or most scenic of places in Ireland. Is that what your reading is revealing also?

Had you thought of getting a jump start on your trip and departing Dublin on arrival? Then you could spend the last two nights in Dublin seeing the city. Heading south to Co. Wicklow (Powerscourt and Glendalough) on the first day is something to think about. It is a drive of an hour or two, depending on where you decide to spend the night.

By doing that you won't have a cross-country drive on your last day in Ireland to catch a flight. Of course, it will mean rethinking your itinerary.

What do you think?

Michele

marisaleigh · Newbie

Hi Michele!

I'm so glad I found these forums. They seem to be much easier to navigate than the other forums!

My husband initially wanted to go to Cork. He had friends that just returned from Ireland and I think he mixed up their reviews of Cork and Kinsale. He would prefer to go to Kinsale, or similar seaside town.

I initially did not plan to depart straight from the airport because I thought we'd be better off getting our bearings/recovering from the long flight with a relaxing night in Dublin. It is certainly an option if we were not traveling to far it would certainly be an option.

We both agreed to skip Powerscourt, but I would like to see Glendalough if it worked in the itinerary.

I've also been considering reversing the whole itinerary and after doing the first day in Dublin, heading west to the Cliffs. It seems as if most go south than west, but I cannot seem to figure out why!

Michele Erdvig · Host

marisaleigh,

I am glad you are finding my forum user friendly. I think you are right about mixing up Cork City and Kinsale. Kinsale is the small seaside town south of Cork. But don't go there just because friends recommended it. Plan the trip for your own needs. You will get small seaside towns in Doolin and the coast of Clare too.

I understand the desire to get "aclimated" to Ireland by staying in Dublin for the first two days. So that is what I think you should do then.

Perhaps after Dublin, going west first would make the most sense. Then you can meander back east again. If you last stop was Kilkenny or Glendalough it would make driving to Dublin on departure day much, much easier and quicker. You could definitely make a stop at Clonmacnoise on your way from Dublin to Clare.

Give your itinerary another try doing it that way and see what you come up with.

Michele

Sidz · Guru

I would concur with Michele, and also say that unless you have a real good reason to travel to Cork City, that there is really nothing compelling to see there, unless you love traffic and urban offerings. So much to see in Ireland, and so little to enjoy in Cork City.

Now rural County Cork is altogether different. That is some of the best scenery on the planet! smile

marisaleigh · Newbie

Thank you both for your suggestions.

Michelle - Departing Dublin sooner does seem to change the pacing of the trip a great deal! It seems as if we go west or east, departing day 2 and not 3 makes the trip seem a lot less frantic.

I'm now looking at two different itineraries based on suggestions. Not sure which one I favor at the moment, but would like to see if you think they are realistic itineraries that would not result in the "green blur" experience that I have seen mentioned on this forum.

I think once I get a better grasp of what is a realistic itinerary, I'll be able to really nail down what we can do.

Updated Original Itinerary:
Day 1
Monday October 5th
Arrive Dublin 9:15 AM, remainder of Day in Dublin

Day 2
Tuesday October 6th
Dublin to Kilkenny via Glendalough. Overnight in Kilkenny

Day 3
Wednesday October 7th
Kilkenny to Kinsale. AM Kilkenny City, Rock of Cashel, Cahir if possible, on the way to Kinsale. Overnight in Kinsale

Day 4
Thursday October 8th
Kinsale to Cliffs area. Overnight in Cliffs Area

Day 5
Friday October 9th
Explore Cliffs area. Stay somewhere en-route to Dublin.

Day 6
Saturday October 10th
Remainder of Drive to Dublin airport, stopping at Clonmacnoise on the way. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 7
Sunday October 11th
Dublin AM. Depart Mid-afternoon to airport.

New Potential Itinerary:
Day 1
Monday October 5th
Arrive Dublin 9AM, remainder of Day in Dublin

Day 2
Tuesday October 6th
Depart early for Galway, stopping at Clonmacnoise on the way. Overnight in Galway.

Day 3
Wednesday October 7th
Connenmara tour (To Clifden & Back). Overnight in Galway.

Day 4
Thursday October 8th
Galway to Cliffs, Burren, Doolin. Overnight in Cliffs Area

Day 5
Friday October 9th
Cliffs area to Kilkenny, stopping at the Rock of Cashel on the way. Remainder of late afternoon/evening in Kilkenny

Day 6
Saturday October 10th
Kilkenny to Dublin via Glendalough. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 7
Sunday October 11th
Dublin AM. Depart Mid-afternoon to airport.

Michele Erdvig · Host

marisaleigh,

I favor the second itinerary because it gives you two nights in Galway. The first one is all one-night stays. It will give you a quick taste of Ireland. Of course, departing from Shannon would have been ideal but many people cannot do that now.

Anyone else have an opinion?

Michele