the other Robin
Unregistered User
(8/19/03 1:10 pm)

2 weeks YIIPEE - need feedback

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I can't believe it...FINALLY, on Sunday, September 7th my husband, myself and my in-laws will be winging our way to the island. I can hardly wait and I am sure you all know the feeling!

Any last minute comments on any DONT MISS attractions? Basic itiniery below:

Sunday - leave Chicago
Monday - arrive 10:00 am Shannon, relax, get our sea legs back, check in, etc.
Tuesday - Cliffs of Moher during the day and back to Bunratty Folk Park in the evening
Wednesday -head toward County Wexford
Thursday - County Wexford - we would like to do some angling while we are there. Any suggestions?
Friday - County Wexford
Saturday - head toward County Cork stopping at the Waterford Factory
Sunday - County Cork, Church and sightseeing
Monday - County Cork, and Blarney to kiss the Blarney stone.
Tuesday - Dingle, ring of Dingle, coast line
Wednesday - Dingle
Thursday - Head back toward Shannon spend the night there and fly out on Friday.

I have planned a pretty opened ended trip because I want to be flexible. We are not interested in tourist traps but want to visit pubs (even though we don't drink), talk to people, visit old cathedrals and castles and soak up Ireland. I have been receiving Ireland of the Welcomes and have charted a couple of 'out of the way' roads to travel! I would love to get some feedback on 'mustsees'. I have been reading the site, ordered Micheles book, bought nearly 5 books and read them, bought a map and charted a course and asked questions for over a year so I think I am ready. I welcome any other feedback about great castles, restaurants and the like. Can't wait!

DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 67
(8/19/03 12:27 pm)

Re: 2 weeks YIIPEE - need feedback

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If you happen to be at the Waterford Factory around lunch time - be sure to eat in their cafe their. We really enjoyed the food there.

Not your least expensive lunch, but not outrageous either.

garyvol
Unregistered User
(8/19/03 1:12 pm)

wow 2 weeks

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If you have extra Euro money left over when you are leaving from Shannon, spend it at the airport shop for last minute gifts. A good way to unload the extra euro money.
have a great trip.
-gary

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1751
(8/20/03 12:52 am)

Re: 2 weeks YIIPEE - need feedback

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Hi the other Robin,

You must be getting excited about your trip.

Monday - arrive 10:00 am Shannon, relax, get our sea legs back, check in, etc. Michele's Answer: You might consider visiting Bunratty Castle and Folk Park today since it closes in the evening. That's when they have the banquets.

Tuesday - Cliffs of Moher during the day and back to Bunratty Folk Park in the evening.  Michele's Answer: You could also consider Aillwee Cave, Poulnabrone Dolmen & Burren Center in Kilfenora.

Wednesday -head toward County Wexford. Michele's Answer:  Fine. About a 3 hour drive. You might stop in Cahir to see the castle.

Thursday - County Wexford - we would like to do some angling while we are there. Any suggestions? Michele's Answer:

www.southeastireland.com/angling/
www.sea-angling-ireland.o...exford.htm
www.cfb.ie/fishing_in_ire...exford.htm

Friday - County Wexford.  Michele's Answer: Besides Wexford town try Kilmore Quay and Hook Head.

Saturday - head toward County Cork stopping at the Waterford Factory. Michele's Answer:  Fine.

Sunday - County Cork, Church and sightseeing. Michele's Answer:  Fine.

Monday - County Cork, and Blarney to kiss the Blarney stone. Michele's Answer:  Depending on where you are staying, you might consider stealing a night from Cork and spend it in in Killarney. Lovely area with lots to see and do.

Tuesday - Dingle, ring of Dingle, coast line. Michele's Answer:  Good.

Wednesday - Dingle. Michele's Answer:  Fine. Do Slea Head Drive and see the Blasket Island Center.

Thursday - Head back toward Shannon spend the night there and fly out on Friday. Michele's Answer:  Fine.

You said that you wanted an open itinerary, so I assume that you are winging it? I would suggest having reservations for your first and last nights as well as weekends (Fri & Sat).

Please let us know how you trip goes once you are back. We would love to hear all about it.

Michele

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 293
(8/20/03 10:13 am)

Re: 2 weeks YIIPEE - need feedback

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Hi Robin:

I understand your excitement. It's almost impossible not to have fun in Ireland.

Where will you be staying in Co. Cork? I'm a big fan of the Southern Cork Coast. Lots of neat little towns along the way. The drive from Kinsale to the tip of Mizen is wonderful! If you're a fan of Banoffee, (or just neat little pubs), you must have lunch at Mary Ann's in Castletownshend. It's the biggest piece of pie I've ever seen in my life. That will satisfy anyones sweet tooth for quite a while. For those who like out of the way places (that's me), The little fishing village of Crookhaven has a wonderful pub (O'Sullivans) and an amazing unassuming restaurant (the Crookhaven Inn). I could go on and on.

On the note of avoiding tourist traps, I'm sure there is someone in the family insisting on doing it, but kissing the Blarney Stone is the biggest tourist trap all of Ireland. You will at least be arriving during low season, but if I could see Killarney Nat'l Park instead of Blarney Castle, I wouldn't slow down to wave as I passed it on my way.

If you want to add to your list of books to read, McCarthy's Bar is an hysterical account of Pete McCarthy's tour through Ireland. His discriptions also make for a good tourist guide. He focuses a lot of time on SW Cork.

Hope this helps.

Bill