Have I made good choices in locations for our 1st trip to Ireland

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Have I made good choices in locations for our 1st trip to Ireland

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

Welcome to my forum. I'm so glad you found your way here with the help of some community members. We tend to be a close-knit group who are absolutely addicted to Ireland. We love to help others plan.

I like your idea of taking it slow. Too many people rush through Ireland. While that is okay for some, Ireland's richness is better explored slowly and savored.

First, are you aware that Smarmore Castle is giving a discount to forum members? Go to the "Hot Offers" section of the forum under the post Discount at a Castle Hotel North of Dublin.

Generally I think your itinerary looks pretty good. I would tweak a few things. Instead of 5 nights in Kilorglin I would choose 2 in Dingle and 3 in either Killarney or Kenmare. Now everyone here knows I adore Kenmare and it is my favorite small town in Ireland. So I am prejudiced in its favor. Killarney is larger and has more infrastructure like pubs, restaurants and shopping. So it depends on what you like. Kilorglin is okay and I believe that Bob (Itallian Chauffeur) has stayed there in a self-catering cottage before. But it has never impressed me as much as Killarney and Kenmare. Plus Killarney and Kenmare are better placed for your day trips.

Tell me what you are interested in doing in Co. Cork and I will tell you whether I think Clonakilty or Kinsale is better for your trip.

I'm sure the other forum members will have more advice for you when they stop in.

Michele

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Michelle, I think I found the Smarmore Castle while doing research here on IrelandYes. A discount would be terrific so I'll be sure to mention it when reserving.

My choice between Clonakilty and Kinsale is not so much what I want to see but what kind of experience do I want.

I started planning my itinerary with a stay in Kinsale but then from comments gathered I wondered if I was several years too late to experience the quaint Heritage town and it had become the trendy, fashionably "in" place only tourists deem a must see. Clonakilty was on the water, not far from Kinsale and although I have no interest in eating its traditional black pudding, I thought it was a fair substitue. Is Kinsale still a good choice as a Heritage town?

On a first visit I don't expect to find the "undiscovered Ireland" but I would like to find the places that will help me discover the qualities that draw visitors back.

Reworking my itinerary per your comments, would 2 nights in both Dingle and Kinsale/or like town and then 4 nights in Kenmare give me my less hurried travels? Thanks, Deborah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

Kinsale is trendy and tends to be very crowded on weekends. I don't know when you had planned on being there. Clonakilty is more of a genuine Irish town rather than a tourist destination. Perhaps it might have more of the atmosphere you are looking for. Although I do like Kinsale as it is very picturesque.

If you can rework things to have 2 night in Dingle and 4 in Kenmare that would be perfect. And once you have it worked out I can point you toward some undiscovered gems.

Michele

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Michele, thank you so much for taking an interest in my itinerary. I certainly appreciate your help. Our first night in Ireland will be mid-week so our weekends will be spent in Westport, Kenmare and Wicklow area.

Our Kinsale/Clonakilty stay would be on a Monday and Tuesday so in your opinion with that schedule would Kinsale be a good choice?

I think my husband would like picturesque and I want him to enjoy Ireland so much he looks forward to a return. I love him dearly and have for almost 40 years!! but he doesn't have a drop of Irish blood in his heritage nor does he have the soul of a poet but I think Ireland can get to him through its small towns, friendly pubs and B&B's and the full Irish breakfasts!!

thank you again, Deborah

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Yar -- It was probably ME that recommended Kilorglin as an ideal spot to "park" a while ... biggrin

With the possible exception of the time of, and immediately before and after, Puck Fair http://www.puckfair.ie/ , I STILL stand by that, too ...

PROVIDED ----

1) The intent is to use it as a base for exploring Dingle and Killarney, rather than points South;

Since you DO intend to continue on, through the SW, spending a couple of days IN Dingle and the balance in either Kenmare or Killarney IS a good idea.

Note that there are endless debates over Kenmare versus Killarney -- EVERYONE has an opinion AND a preference. I'm one of the FEW here that actually prefer Killarney, but we DO have friends living there and that does tend to "Color" my judgement.

2) You prefer to stay in a "real", town, rather than within the 'Hustle and Bustle" of major Tourist destinations, like Dingle or Killarney, while still having THOSE destinations reasonably close by ... biggrin

If the whole, "REAL" small town vibe is what you are after, I will stand up MY personal FAVORITE, Millstreet, Co. Cork http://www.millstreet.ie/blog/ against ANY other town in Ireland -- but you would have to emmerse yourself there for at LEAST a week, to truly appreciate all it's miriad charms....

I'm pretty experienced at this whole 'Giving advice on Ireland thing', with 11 trips under my belt -- and #12 already in the planning stages for July. cry

THAT SAID -- If given a choice between MY advice and Michele's, you would be WISE to heed HER words ---- I know that I do!

Michele's book http://www.irelandyes.com/book.html is one of the few Guides that I STILL refer to when making my own plans.

Speaking of liking Ireland, and searching out picturesque, in order to entrance your non-Irish husband -- Not to worry, IRELAND will do THAT, all on Her own ... aww

My wife's paternal Grandparents were both born and raised in Ireland. Her father still had 5 living first cousins still living there, when we made OUR first trip. in 1999. I however have NO Irish blood - WHATSOEVER --

I expected an enjoyable time. I expected to have a decent time. I expected that it would be a 'Once-and-Done' kind of thing ... confuse

My wife LOVES it there. She loves visiting with her family and the friends that we've made over the years ---

BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I DO!!!!

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Wednesday 10th of February 2010 05:48:46 PM

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Bob, Yes I think it was several of your comments either here or at Fodors that gave me the idea of Killorglin. I have since read one or two of your reports as I'm working my way through the Irelandyes forum trip reports!!

For many varied reasons, I hope my husband catches the travel bug to Ireland. I'll put together the best trip plan to make that happen with the suggestions I hope to find here. I definitely plan to order Michele's book.

Your enthusiasm for Ireland is contagious and very welcome. Thanks, Deborah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

I am always happy to add my two cents worth of advice.

I think you and your husband will be happy with Kinsale. My husband has not a drop of Irish blood either but I sometimes think he is more Irish than the Irish now. He is full of Blarney so the Irish took to him immediately.

We so enjoy Bob's comments here on the forum. He brings an excellent sense of humor with his wisdom. And like he said on another post about favorite places, his favorite place is wherever he is in Ireland. That can be said about most anyplace in Ireland.

Michele

stewh · Guru

Deborah
My wife and I spent a week self catering in Clonakilty a couple of trips ago. Even though it is 'on the water', it is not really a waterfront town. That being said, we enjoyed the town very much. Beautiful Inchydoney Beach is just south of town and a lot of West Cork is very much at hand. Also the town has a very active music and pub scene - definitely a real town and not very 'touristy'. Have a great trip!!
Stewart

Monty · Senior Member

Agree that it is not actually on the water, but quite close. Wonderful area, however, and the pub scene is good there. If you are into trad music, several good stops to be had. Make sure and go to DeBarra's. Great place!

Also this is the home of Free State movement leader Michael Collins, and a statue of him is now in place in city center. Clonakilty is a good base for touring the southern areas of Cork for sure.

Monty

-- Edited by Monty on Thursday 11th of February 2010 10:20:09 AM

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Monty and Stewart, I appreciate your comments about Clonakilty. I think if I were staying for a full week that would be my preference too. For only two nights I believe my husband would enjoy Kinsale. I've also made note of your favorite towns in another of the threads here that I am following. You've been a help in changing my travel plans to include Kenmare and Dingle and to be sure to keep Kilkenny as one of our two night stays.

Thank you so much for your trip reports which I am gradually working my way through. Some great travel tips can be found there for a first time visitor.

Thanks again to everyone for their help. Deborah

Maggie117 · Guru

My two cents...I loved Kinsale especially Charles Fort. Fortunately I went during mid October and it wasn't crowded. There was a lot of constructions being done though, which I'm sure is complete by now??? The food in Kinsale was great, but then again, I enjoyed all the food in Ireland! :) Good luck and have fun!!!

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Maggie, I appreciate you taking the time to give your two cents and remember that you listed Kinsale as a favorite town in Ireland for you. Thanks for the recommendation to visit Fort Charles. It sounds like it's not to be missed. If you have any recommendations in Kinsale for dining I 'd love to get your "two cents" on that! Thanks, Deborah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

Charles Fort is a very interesting piece of Irish history. It is a star-shaped fortress right on the harbor. The views are gorgeous. If you are up for a hike you can do the Scilly Walk but it is very hilly, as is much of Kinsale. Across the river in back of The Dock Pub is Charles Fort's lesser known cousin - James Fort. It is in a more ruinious state but is worth a look too. It has views of Charles Fort!

Michele

bronxbomber · Veteran Member

Maggie117 wrote:

......The food in Kinsale was great, but then again, I enjoyed all the food in Ireland! :).....

Before last May, our last trip to Ireland had been in 1970 - from Rosslaire to Dublin. Other than fish and chips, the food was generally terrible.

What we noticed then but did not, thirty-nine years later, was that tea time was at 3:00 every weekday. People would pour out of work and into the tea shops. Does that still go on?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bronx,

You will be happy to find out that Ireland now does very good food, some of it even gourmet quality. You will find Irish kids pouring out of school around lunch time but not the 3 pm tea bunch. It will be a whole new adventure for you. I will be interested in hearing comparisons. There have been tremendous changes in 40 years!

Michele

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Thank you very much for all the help I've received planning my itinerary.

I'm moving a little more often than I originally planned but after looking at many of the favorite places in Ireland posted by contributors here, I found myself wanting to see them as well!!

I still have to find where we will stay before returning the car in Dublin but I think I'll start that as a new topic. Thanks again, Deborah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

What does your itinerary look like now?

Michele

DeborahAnn · Veteran Member

Michele, Thanks for asking.

Taking the suggestions I've received here, I've put together an itinerary that doesn't have us moving too often

2 nights at Smarmore Castle

3 nights Westport

1 night Doolin

2 nights Dingle

4 nights Kenmare

2 nights Kinsale

2 nights Kilkenny

2 nights somewhere in Wicklow

4 nights Dublin

Once I have my itinerary in place I can relax for a bit before I start planning the daily schedule. Your book will be a big help with that. I think I read it will be available in March. Is that correct? Deborah

Michele Erdvig · Host

Deborah,

Sounds perfect! Yes, my book will be out some time in March but I don't have a firm date yet. It could be any time in that month.

Michele