Northwest Ireland Itinerary

murphy · Guru

Northwest Ireland Itinerary

murphy · Guru

Northwest Ireland itinerary continued:

Aug 9th we plan to leave Galway and head north to Westport. We will have all day to do the 90 mile (140k) 3 hour drive via Clifden on N59. We plan to visit Brigits Garden (before Oughtrard), Aughnanure Castle, stop in Clifden for lunch/shopping, and Kylemore Abbey. We are booked at Abbey Court B&B in Westport Aug 9th, 10th, and 11th. It is also a short walk downtown, so will check out Matt Molloy's Pub. Aug 10th we will do a day trip to Croagh Patrick...I have this crazy idea that I would like to try the 3 hour climb to the top and and back! Leaving there we would head south to Doolough Valley and see the famine monument, and the Srahmee megalithic tomb, via Louisburgh, Cregganbaun, and then the tiny roads thru Cuilmore and Liscarney.
Aug 11th we'll take a day trip north to Achill Island, and then possibly a swing further north after Achill to see "Ceide Fields", but this may be too far...estimating about 130 miles on a counterclockwise circular route. Or, would it be better to spend most of the day on Achill and then chill-out mid afternoon & evening in Westport? I don't want to short change Westport by spending all day in the car!?

Aug 12th we head north once again; final destination Donegal Town for a 2 night reservation at Haywood B&B. A stop at Foxford Mills and Belleek Pottery would break up the 105 mile (167K) drive. I figure a 3.5-4 hour drive time, which should allow for a couple hours to spend at each stop.

Aug 13th we plan a day trip to Slieve League Cliffs in the morning, and then catch the Kilcar Music Festival in the afternoon and evening, on the way back to Galway

Aug 14th destination Sligo. Here agian, we may take a northerly loup out of Donegal to Ardara for sure, and maybe as far as Dungloe, then swing east inland and then back south. North of Sligo is the Creevykeel Court Cairns that looks interesting before arriving in Sligo to check into our B&B, Pearse Lodge, and another 2 night stay.

Aug 15th, we plan to spend in or near Sligo Town. Will visit Creevykeel Cairns (if we run out of time the day before), and also Sligo Abbey, Yeates Museum, Mosel Arts Center, and St. Johns Cathedral. (More to Come) Dan

murphy · Guru

Northwest Ireland Itinerary continued:

Aug 16th we will head south to Michael Davitts Museum in the morning, and Tom Hennighan's Heritage Museum, which opens at noon, both near Swinford. (a little back tracking here) and then on east to Gureen Village, where we are booked for 2 nights.
Aug 17th we plan to see the Carrowkeel Cairns, Morrigan's Mountain and caves, and possibly, if time allows, Moytura East. We have reservations at the Churchview B&B in Gurteen. There is Trad Music on Monday nights in the pub next door, so will hopefuly hear the famous Gurteen musicians!
Aug 18th we will head in a zig-zag southerly direction, visiting the Knowck Shrine, then over to Stokestown to see the famine museum. That will more than likely put us in Roscommon Town that night, the only night we have left unbooked for a B&B.
Aug 19th we head south to Athlone to visit Clonmacoise, and then southwest towards Ennis stopping at Thor Ballylee (Yeates Tower) enroute. We have reservation for the final 2 night spent in Ireland at the Sleepy Hollow B&B, in Ennis
Aug 20th we will wind down , by doing the Ennis Town Walk, Ennis Friary, and Quin Abbey, as well as last minute souvenier shopping etc.
Aug 21st we depart Shannon at 11:30 AM, via JFK and arrive Portland at 11 PM yawn yawn

Luckily we have arranged a driver to come pick us up!

We are open to suggestion to tweak this itinerary, and wonder if there are any "must not miss" attractions that we havn't mentioned? or any places that we should skip? Thanks to Michele and all of you faithful individuals, who post regularly, giving out information and inspiration! Cheers! Dan

Roy · Guru

Dan,

We will just miss you in Westport! We will be there August 3-8 then heading to see my mother in law in Co. Westmeath. My wife has her heart set on climbing Croagh Patrick. She last did so when she was eleven years old. We have a list of potential day trips and will keep options open as the weather dictates. Achill island is a definite. You will catch the tail end of the Westport Music festival. Have you decided how to make use of your JFK layover?

murphy · Guru

Roy,
Have you posted your list of potential day trips? Sorry we will miss you in Westport. It would be fun to meet in person, some of you folks who visit this websight! If your wife can make the climb up Croagh Patrick, so can I! The question is, what is there to do for the non-climbing spouse during the 3 hour climb ? Any suggestions, let me know. As for the JFK layover, my wife didn't sound too enthused about a day trip into NYC...we are kind of small town folks. Cheer...Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

It looks like you have everything planned out. You have some interesting zig-zags and loop-de-loops planned.

For Aug 11th you may just be content with doing Achill Island. If you do Atlantic Drive, Minaun Mountain, Famine Village and Keem Strand it will take up a good portion of your day.

Aug 13th we plan a day trip to Slieve League Cliffs in the morning, and then catch the Kilcar Music Festival in the afternoon and evening, on the way back to Galway. * I assume you meant on the way back to Donegal not Galway?

Aug 14th destination Sligo. Here agian, we may take a northerly loup out of Donegal to Ardara for sure, and maybe as far as Dungloe, then swing east inland and then back south. North of Sligo is the Creevykeel Court Cairns that looks interesting before arriving in Sligo to check into our B&B, Pearse Lodge, and another 2 night stay. * Doing this loop will take a good portion of the day since it can be slow going on some of Donegal's coastal and mountain pass roads. If the weather is not good perhaps you will skip it in favor of a more direct route to Sligo. I always enjoy Rosses Point near Sligo. Lissadell House & Gardens has just reopened and is worth seeing. Parke's Castle is interesting. The drives around the lakes and to the waterfall are scenic. Since you seem interested in ancient sites Carrowmore would be a must. If you don't get to climb Croagh Patrick you might consider Knocknarea. Maeve's tomb at the top is very impressive close up, although from a distance it looks like a tiny bump.

Aug 16th we will head south to Michael Davitts Museum in the morning, and Tom Hennighan's Heritage Museum, which opens at noon, both near Swinford. (a little back tracking here) and then on east to Gureen Village, where we are booked for 2 nights. * Do you mean Gurteen? If so, it is very close to Sligo and I would question why you need to switch accommodations.

We will look forward to hearing how your plans turned out after you get back.

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig on Thursday 23rd of July 2009 10:10:14 PM

murphy · Guru

Michele,
Thanks for the helpful hints. Yes, I did mean Donegal...my late night posts aren't coming out as they should. For Aug 11th, would it be possible to do some of this from the Sligo/Gurteen area, or do I have enough planned already? I debated for over a week about the Sligo /Gurteen, and changing lodging situation. Since Sligo appears to be the largest city in NW Ireland (I believe 17,000) I didn't know if we wanted to spend 4 nights there; We are already spending several nights in a more urban setting (Galway-Westport-Donegal-Sligo). So we thought a rural village might be a welcome change. Also, Gurteen is suppose to be chock-full of Trad Musicians, and the lure of spending a couple of nights there was the deciding factor! I realize there is more to Ireland than Trad Music, but that is one of the highlights for us.
We will save the Dongal coastal and mountain pass route for another trip when we visit Northern Ireland. We will take the direct route to Sligo as per your suggestions, and have added the attractions you listed around Sligo to our itinerary. I will definitely let you know how it all works out when we get back. 10 days and counting! biggrin

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan,

In 2008, we Comfortably visited the Davit Museum in conjunction with The Museum of Country Life at Turlough (Castlebar) and Turlough Abbey, as a daytrip from our four night base at Westport Quay. It would be a great, Foul Weather alternative plan for some of your Westport time.

We didn't visit Ceide Fields, but we did drive out and throughout Belmullet, then back to Westport in one day. Have you considered routing past there, on your way to Donegal?

I have an old LONG Trip Report posted here, detailing our time spent in Donegal, that highlights some of the area attractions that Bit (Cowboy Craic) also visited this year. MIGHT be worth a look for you ... confuse

Whilst in Donegal town, if you happen across a Nun selling jams and knitted wear, be sure to stop by and make a purchase. The Irish Blackberry jam is terrific! Tell her that Bob sends his regards. biggrin

Bob

murphy · Guru

Bob,
The Museum of Country Life was on our list until we were advised to see the Tom Hennigan display instead, both similar, but the later is privately funded and is suppose to be the better of the two, as per information we received on the Web.

Yes I did consider Ceide Fields on our way to Donegal Town. I need to do some more work on aaierland.ie and see what the milage total is for that loop. Westport to Donegal is104 mi (167K) and figure 3 hours drive time. However, we had planned on stops at Foxford Mills and Belleek Pottery on the way. In looking at the map, we could maybe do the Ceide Fields loup on the way to Donegal and then do Foxford Mills when we do the Davitt/Hennigan day trip on Aug 16, and catch the Belleek Factory on the leg from Donegal to Sligo on Aug 14th (since we aren't doing the loop north of Donegal on this trip).

I will try to locate Bit and your trip reports.... I'm not too good at searching the archives.

Is the Nun selling knits and Jam; "Anchoress" that use to post here? We will definitely look for her!

Regards, Dan

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan,

Yes, 'tis Anchoress, of which I speak. biggrin biggrin

My wife and I REALLY enjoyed the Museum of country Life. Our conducted tour group consisted of us and an older couple, who were from Galway. They were as interesting as our Boston born guide AND as interested as we were. The Museum is sited on the grounds of the old Turlough Estate, but they don't offer tours of the Manor House. Near the entrance is the old, derelict fortified house that the newer Manor House replaced. You can SEE Turlough Abbey from the Musem Entrance. If you go to the old abbey, look up to the hill across the road -- there is an old Ring Fort there.

Bob

youngka · Guru

Dan, yes the Nun is Anchoress. I was to meet her this year, but we didn't make it up to see her, since we had to return early. These are the directions she wrote to me, so we could find her from Rathumullen (North of Donegal).

"From Ardeen House, go towards Letterkenny. At the roundabout, take the left exit, signed Sligo. May also say Stranolar. Balleybofey.Follow on in that direction and through Stranolar and Balleybofey to Donegal Town. At the roundabout near Donegal Town, take the Sligo road. No need to go through Town. At the next roundabout, Sligo also.About six miles on, a right to Rossnowlagh, well signed and laned. Care here; after that first Rossnolwagh sign, do not take any right turns that say Rossnowlagh as they lead down to the shore. Stay on that road which will say Ballyshannon. A few miles on, after a pretty little Church on the left, you will see Rossnowlagh Friary on the right. Our car is a wee purple one."

Anchoress and the sisters sell their items at a place like an open market. She is real nice and will be very helpful. In case you want to write her first and find out her schedule, here is her email address: anchoresscj@yahoo.com Hope you find her okay, and since you are going to be coming from a different direction, she can give you better directions than I. HAVE A GOOD TRIP!! youngks

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan:

Bit's Report (the Donegal portion):

http://ireland.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=65127&p=3&topicID=28457962

Mine is REALLY long -- It runs THREE web pages -- I think the Donegal part is on Page 2 -- :

http://ireland.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=65127&p=3&topicID=12825158&sort=newestFirst&page=3

Bob

youngka · Guru

Bob, and yours is soooooo interesting and gives so much information.....THANKS..youngka

Michele Erdvig · Host

Dan,

Thanks for clarifying why you are changing accommodations. Makes sense to me now.

Bob,

I enjoyed the Museum of Country Life too. At first glance I thought it might be boring but when I got into it "boring" flew out the window.

Michele