Registered User
Posts: 10
(8/18/03 6:56 pm)

Day trips southwest Ireland

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I've been getting great info from many of you the last few weeks. Our trip is coming up in early Sept. We will be staying in Galway, Kenmare, then Ennis. What are your favorite and must see day trips from these areas? Thanks

Anita
Unregistered User
(8/18/03 9:20 pm)

I did three....

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While in Galway there are three that you must do if you have the time. You will see most of the major sights if you do the Connemara tour, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher tour, and the Aran Island tour. The Connemara tour has lots of photo stops including the most picturesque Kylemore Abbey. The Burren tour has, of course, the Cliffs of Moher, but also Poulnabrone Dolmen and a number of other scenic spots. The Aran Island tour takes you over to Inishmore where you can make your way around your own way by bike or take a horse and buggy trip, or a trip with a local tour guide in a van. Your mode of transportation will probably depend on the weather. I hear it's best to rent a bike if the weather is decent. Either way, make sure you have time to walk up to Dun Aonghasa, a spectacular, and very old, fort at the very edge of a high cliff. Oh, the other great thing about the Connemara tour is that it stops in Spiddal to allow you to shop at Standun's. The best place to shop in Ireland! Now, if you're renting a car and driving yourself you can still do the Connemara tour and the Burren tour on your own, providing you have a better sense of direction than I do. To get to Inishmore you have to get yourself to the ferry, and I don't recall what the parking situation is there, but it was about a 45 minute bus ride out of Galway.

Helen
Unregistered User
(8/19/03 12:45 pm)

Aran Island Trip?

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Hello there. Just a suggestion if you decide on Inishmore--We flew from Connemara Airport (Inverin, a few miles from Galway City) to Inishmore Airport in May, and found it to be much quicker than the ferry from Rosseveel. Only 10 minutes as opposed to aboiut 40 minutes by boat, which we had to take back due to the airport being socked in. We picked thje 10:15 am flight which got us in to Kilronan "city" and out to an empty Dun Aengus by 10:45, way ahead of the first ferry at 10:30. Just another idea to ponder! Helen
www.iol.ie/aerarann/

Helen
Unregistered User
(8/19/03 12:57 pm)

Correction Of Aer Arann Website

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Hi again, I tried the previous website for Aer Aaran, and it was wrong...Hopefully this is the newest one..
www.aerarranislands.ie/ Helen

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1748
(8/19/03 11:19 pm)

Re: Day trips southwest Ireland

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Hi gharborwa,

Good info from Anita and Helen. I think they pretty well covered Galway.

From Kenmare: Killarney, Beara Peninsula, Ring of Kerry, Mizen Head, Ilnacullin Gardens on Garinish Island.

From Ennis: Lough Derg Drive, West Clare, Loop Head, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Cliffs of Moher, near Gort: Kilmacduagh Monastic Site, Coole Park, Thoor Ballylee.

There is always plenty to do and see. You might just have to return again!

Michele