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Post Info TOPIC: Our trip concluded (finally!)


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Our trip concluded (finally!)


Bit, Bob, Marsha et al, you put me to shame posting your trip reports so quickly!  I haven't finished my report from September last year, even though I have been dropping into the forum occasionally to keep up with what's happening.  Last year was our Year of the Big Holiday, '09 is the Year of the House...renovations, which have got in the way of doing so many things that I have unfinished. Now that the new kitchen is in, thought I'd finish off my own report, hate leaving things incomplete.cry
Will just write a condensed version of our final week in Ireland rather than a full-blown report like my last ones.

Week 4:
Monday- Beautiful weather, Ring of Beara, visited Gleninchaquin Park (but couldn't find the standing stones we were looking for) loved the scenery around the Clunee Lakes.
Further on spotted a sign to stone circles, parked the car and walked for at least half an hour up hill through dark, lush woodland, open grassland, over stiles and along a poorly defined track to find the Cashelkeelty stones.  Lunch in Allihies.

Tuesday-another fine day, had some down time, lots of walking around Kenmare just taking in the sights, saw the stone circle, the lace exhibition. Took the bay cruise in the afternoon, supposed to leave at 2-45, but departure wasn't until 3-15. Apparently happened a lot, the boat leaves when the captain is ready to turn up. The cruise took about 2 1/2 hours out in Kenmare Bay. Nice and relaxing , but we had a double commentary (recorded plus live) which was irritating, made even worse when the captain started singing.doh Had tea at McCarthy's, great traditional music started at 6-30, a respectable hour! Three musicians became five, no amplifiers, so was very easy to listen to.

Wednesday-Killarney via Moll's Gap, Ladies View. A fine calm day, the water in the lakes was like glass, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a mirror. Wandered around Killarney's shops, bought a few gifts.

Thursday-Left Kenmare, heading for Kilkenny via Cashel. Spent considerable time looking over the Rock of Cashel. Well worth the visit. Onto Kilkenny, nightmare getting through Mallow. The main road we were on was closed, but no detours were posted, went around in circles a few times before we unwittingly made our way out, no thanks to the road crew. Traffic in Kilkenny was horrendous, people everywhere. Found out later it was the last day of the National Ploughing Competition. Stayed at Alcantra B and B.

Friday- decided to have a car free day. Foggy to start off, but sky cleared as the morning wore on. Walked into the town centre and had a good look around: St Canice's Cathedral, Black Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, the Design Centre in the castle's former stables. Kilkenny's winding streets and laneways are very interesting.  Tea at Kyteler's Inn,waited for the music to start but when it finally did at 10pm, it was contemporary, not what we wanted to hear so we left.

Saturday-Kilkenny to Dublin, stuck to the main roads this time, two diversions one to Moone High Cross, which was fascinating, the other to Kilkea Castle which turned out to be a hotel. Got to the airport easily enough, found the car hire section not so easily. Dropped the car off, filled out all the paperwork, luggage onto a trolley and into the terminal to pay the motorway toll at a kiosk, Then caught a taxi into Dublin, took about 20 mins, friendly driver, cost of 26 euro. Stayed at the Brooks Hotel, great hotel, ideal position, walking distance to everything. Wandered through Trinity College/Book of Kells and the shops on Grafton Street.

Sunday- hop on/hop off bus, looked through the Dublinia exhibition and wandered around the area, lunch at a lovely little cafe called  Copper Alley Cafe. Walked back to the hotel down O'Connell Street, through Temple Bar.

Monday- last day in Dublin walked to Dublin Castle and had a look around the area, disappointing after some of the castles we had seen, although the Norman tower was worth a look. Spent time in Grafton St, Powerscourt and St Stephen's Green, in and out of shelter depending on the intensity of the rain.

Tuesday- taxi out to the airport, flight to Heathrow then to Singapore, where we spent a few days before heading home to Australia. Exhausted!

Summing up- an absolutely wonderful time spent in a beautiful country, worth the wait of the 20 or more years we had spent dreaming about getting there one day between the demands of  family, work, and mortgages!

Thankyou Michele for all your recommendations, most of the places we stayed at were listed in your book and we were very happy with all of them. Thankyou Bit for your suggestion of Hamill's in Ballinamore. It was great.

Favourite B and B : Heaton's in Dingle. Fantastic!! Marless House (Galway) and Iorras (Sligo) also excellent.
Favourite destination: Dingle, with Kenmare a close second.
Best pubs: The Poor Scholar (Ballinamore) Lohan's (Galway) Mackormacks (Trim) McCarthy's (Kenmare)
Highlights (difficult, but if I must name a few): our night in Ashford Castle (superb), Newgrange, Dunluce Castle, Ross Errily Friary, Dun Anghasa (Inishmor), Rock of Cashel, Ballycarberry Castle, breathtaking scenery of Conor Pass, Killarney National Park and Slea Head Drive, gorgeous little villages such as Cong and Roundstone, it was all wonderful. People have asked me what I would have cut out if we hadn't had the time. Hard to say....every part of the country we visited had its own distinctive charm, wove its own magic in our hearts.

So much for a condensed report! But it brings back such great memories, as does reading the reports of others, even if they are of places I haven't seen.

Warmest regards to all,
Meredith

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meredith


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Meredith,

Great report -- I went back and read your earlier posts and really enjoyed following your progress through Ireland. Don't feel bad about posting late. This is the first time I have managed to complete a report at all, even though I have used this website to plan a few earlier trips!

I will be going through your posts again, since I know there are a few places mentioned that MUST go on my to-do list for a future trip.

Thanks for sharing,
Marsha

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Marsha


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Marsha

Thankyou for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed the reports. It's gratifying to know that even with a single trip to Ireland, what I've written can be of some use to others in their planning. I'd be interested to know which places mentioned are going on your to-do list when you have time.

Regards,
Meredith

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meredith


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Meredith,

I greatly enjoyed your report. Better late than never! I'm glad you had nice experiences at the accommodations in my book. Sounds like you hit quite a few pubs and lots of good sightseeing. Thank you for finishing up.

Michele

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Wow! sounds like quite an adventure. I am heading to Ireland next summer. I plan to take in all the sights that I can. In particular I want to see the Boyne Valley and Skara Brae...as well as Newgrange and Tara. I can't wait until then!

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cancun vacation


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Sara,

Skara Brae is in Scotland. Are you going there as well?

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

Click links for Michele's Book or Custom Ireland Itinerary

Visit Michele's Irish Shop for unique Irish gifts and beautiful photos of Ireland.



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meredith --

STARTING a Trip Report is NO big deal   biggrin --- It's FINISHING one that is impressive. hmm hmm

Nice report, with lots of good info, so Thanks, for that.

Are you ready to plan a RETURN trip????

Bob

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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!



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thesarasmile:

I, too, am curious ...

Is your interest in the Groove Ware People personal, or academic?  When and for HOW long are you planning for your trip?  Are you including English sites in your mix, as well?

As Michele has said, Skara Brae is located on Orkney, as are some lesser sites, so that makes three different countries ...  Am unaware of any other Irish sites beyond the Boyne, but that particular bit of history is outside of MY area of familiarity ...

There are TONS of neolitic sites, practically EVERYWHERE that you look, but I don't think that most are credited to your 'people' ...

Folks here are a generous lot -- we would be happy to assist, advise and recommend, if you'll give us a little more info to work with ...

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Thursday 20th of August 2009 06:56:18 PM

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Bob

Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!



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Sara,
Yes, it was an adventure! We were lucky to be able so spend a whole month in Ireland and really see it properly, Even then there is much we didn't see. Our itinerary was continually tweaked (with a lot of helpful advice from forum members here) until we got it right. The best advice was to have as many multi -night stays as possible in particular areas, rather than trying to cram too much in. Out of 30 days, we only had 3 single night stays, narrowed down from 23!

Kind regards,
Meredith

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meredith


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Bob,

Thankyou! I have always enjoyed reading your trip reports with their detail and humour, so I am glad you found mine worth reading.
As for a return trip I would LOVE to, but there is so much more out there we want to see and it is all on the other side of the world and in another hemisphere! It takes us about 24 hours (including a stopover) from Australia, and with the time and money we have to spend, we are looking at places other than Ireland unfortunately. That's why I will continue to look in on this forum every so often-if I can't go there again, at least I can experience it vicariously through other members!

Kind regards,
Meredith

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meredith


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Meredith,

I'm glad you get your "armchair travel" to Ireland here while planning to visit other places. It is a big world and there are many places to see.

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

Click links for Michele's Book or Custom Ireland Itinerary

Visit Michele's Irish Shop for unique Irish gifts and beautiful photos of Ireland.

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