Notes On The 'Poorly-Planned Tour'

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Notes On The 'Poorly-Planned Tour'

tony2phones · Guru

If your brother in law is clearing US customs in Shannon then allow 3 hours before departure, the same for yourself. Kilarney can be done from Millstreet via Cashel and Cahir but the options you have planned look ok. You are clearly not a stranger so there is no harm in just winging it, see what the wind and the weather brings. There are no special dates on my calendar for your dates so apart from suggesting you just take your time, relax and enjoy youself there's not much to say.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Thanks Tony --

This will be my 12th visit 'over' since April, 1999. Wife's paternal G-Father hailed from Millstreet, Co Cork and G-Mother was from Drimoleague. Back in '99, my wife's father had Five living first Cousins.

Although generally referred to as 'Cousins' , the group loosely consists of her 92 year old Father's remaining First Cousin, and the children and grandchildren of the original five that we met, back in '99.

Matt is flying Continental, we are using Aer Lingus, so my understanding is that he will pre-clear Customs, but my wife and I will NOT ???

Still, I'll have the car hire return to deal with, so that's probably a wash -- time-wise ...

Also meeting up with some Yank cousins in Cork on 15 July. They are moving on to Killarney on 16 July, then flying on, to Germany, on the 20th. I'll give them the Grand Tour of Millstreet on one of the intervening days.

NO 'Green Blur' Trip, this --- though there MAY be a day or so, of such biggrin

Bob

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

I've been mulling over your trip. Who says it is poorly planned? You got a great rate at the Raddison Cork. Some things I like in the area:

Fota Gardens
Barryscourt Castle (hey it's free!)
Cork City Gaol & Radio Museum (liked all those old radios and the history)
Queenstown Story at Cobh
Kinsale: Charles Fort and James Fort

The way I see it, all the coming and going to Shannon breaks things up so the trip is not as smooth as you might like. That is just a reality you have to work around.

Couple of other things to add to Millstreet: Kilmallock (best little town you never heard of), Lough Gur.

July 24 & 25: You could head off to lots of various places. Since your BIL will still be with you I might suggest two nights in Dingle. Then again, you could have a couple of nights in Clare to do Loop Head, Cliffs of Moher, Burren, Aillwee Cave, etc. We must keep in mind this is a weekend. That might determine where you want to stay.

July 27 - 30: I vote for Kilkenny. If you've never stayed there it is about time. There is plenty to do from this base and it is a great little city (my favorite).

I agree that Mary Browne of Bunratty Lodge is a gem. Please give her my regards. I missed seeing her this spring. You will love Headley Court too. Mary's daughter-in-law Kathleen runs it and is right next door to Bunratty Lodge so easy to find. Kathleen is a gem herself - and was trained by a B&B expert (her MIL) ! biggrin

That's my two cents. Let the planning begin!

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Michele --

PART of my inability to plan is my lack of control over variables --

The first two days in Cork will be entirely taken up with visiting with the COUSINS -- both Yank and Irish, so we will likely NOT revisit much of what the area has to offer ...

We are TENATIVELY planning to host a Cook-Out / Get Together at the Millstreet house on Sunday. We'll probably do Dingle as a day-trip. I expect to overnight in Drimoleague or Bantry, so I hope to drive the N71 route north. Dunno yet if I'll be able to add Healy Pass into the mix -- depends upon if the Cousins join us or not .... confuse

Haven't heard back from Ciaran yet. He's currently in Kildare, but with the Derby and all, that's not too suprising that he's a bit preocupied. A meet up in Killarney or Kildare will obviously lean me toward either Clair or Kilkenny as a post-BIL destination ... confuse

We MAY revisit East Cork, as well, depending upon how the early part of the trip goes. The cousins that we are closest to suffered an unexpected and grievous loss in Jan ( as did we) and I fear that it might all prove quite disturbing, for all parties. Time will tell, I suppose.

Maybe I'm just too A.D.D and am over-obcessing -- but, then again, this looks to be a VERY busy July, with so many of the Irish economizing and taking their Holidays at home.
I do worry a bit about the very real possibility of finding it difficult to secure a bed for the night - 'On The Fly' -- for so much of the trip ...

Is Aer Lingus participating in the US Customs Pre-Clearance at SNN yet, or are they still waiting for Dublin to 'come on line' ???? I can see where that might seriously increase MY pre-departure time on 1 August.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Monday 28th of June 2010 11:01:48 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

Aer Lingus will not participate in pre-clearance in Shannon till November when it will also be instituted in Dublin. You will miss out on it this time.

Did you know there is a Fleadh in Kenmare from July 15 - 18?

Since you want to "wing it" with regards to where you will be on the blank days I would suggest that when you know what you want to do, make reservations then. July 24 & 25 is a weekend so you might want to be more concerned about those days. I'm sure if things fill in one area you can just move on to another one.

The cookout sounds like great fun. Sorry to hear about your losses this year. It seems the older we get the more often that hapens. My family has gone through that recently too, so you have my sympathy. It can be difficult. A very philosophical Irish woman that I know summed it up very succinctly: "Something's gonna get you." But hopefully not for a very long time.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bob,

You are taking off for Ireland in a few days. Are you packed yet? I wanted to wish you a fantastic trip. I know you will enjoy your time with the "cousins" and with everything else you decide to do. We will look forward to hearing what you actually did on the fly.

Safe journey and Bon Voyage! biggrin

Michele

-- Edited by Michele Erdvig on Tuesday 6th of July 2010 01:52:15 AM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

To give y'all an idea of how APPROPRIATE the Trip Title IS, I called to notify MasterCard that I would be using their/my Card 'Across the Pond" --

LAST NIGHT ! ! ! hmm

I suspect there shall be MANY lessons to be learned from THIS adventure. confuse

Bob