jar1229
Unregistered User
(8/12/03 10:52 am)

Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Hi there - thanks in advance for your help - will be in Ireland from 9/8-9/14. We have some reservations already but need some "in-between" help. We are a young couple looking not to kill ourselves but just see the highlights, mostly between Dublin and Kenmare as we've pretty much filled in the Kenmare to Shannon leg. It would be a big help if you can get us from Dublin to Kenmare and give us two nights accommodation recommendations - here's the plan:

Day 1 (Monday): Fly from Amsterdam to Dublin - Staying at Le Meridien Shelbourne.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Rent car in Dublin and drive southwest. What to do? (Waterford?/Blarney?) Where to stay?

Day 3 (Wednesday): What to do? Where to stay? (Cashel?)

Day 4 (Thursday): Drive to Kenmare and check into Sheen Falls Lodge in time to explore prior to nightfall.

Day 5 (Friday): Drive to Ring of Kerry - spend whole day there. Return to Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare.

Day 6 (Saturday): Depart Kenmare and drive to Cliffs of Moher for day. Return to Shannon and stay in airport hotel. (Could use a recommendation).

Day 7 (Sunday): 1PM flight home!

DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 57
(8/12/03 11:11 am)

Re: Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Well, for days 2 & 3, you have lots of choices.

You could head down from Dublin, through Powerscourt & Glendalough , on into Kilkenny - hopefully get there in time for the last tour of the day. (This would be a full day)
Then on day 3, if you want - drive into Waterford (about 60 - 90 min) for the tour), then work your way back , stopping at Jerpoint Abbey, maybe Jerpoint Glass Studio, Bennettsbridge. Maybe see the castle if you didn't see it on day 2.

OR - you could head directly to Kilkenny , see the castle, walk around a bit , depending on your time, see some of the surrounding areas - If you or your husband is into golf - Stop in at Mt Juliet Golf Course ( about 1/2 mile from Jerpoint Glass and about 1 mile from Jerpoint Abby) for lunch. My Father LOVED it there. Then head on to Cashel for the night. ( My favorite B&B - Dualla House, just a few KM outside of Cashel)
Day 3 would then give you time to explore the Rock, Cahir Castle , and possibly even drive into Waterford for the tour ( we did it from Cashel as well)

I would choose the Cashel option - It is a great place to base from , and will put you that much closer to Kenmare.


RE: staying near Shannon Airport - Have you looked at Bunratty? I have stayed twice at Headley Court - and will probably stay there again. Bunratty Lodge is also popular, but sometimes hard to get reservations for.
You may be interested in doing the Banquet at Bunratty Castle your last night - it is a great way to wrap up your trip. It is only 10 - 15 min from the airport.
www.shannonheritage.com is the site for the banquet. You do need reservations as it fills up quickly.

Debbie

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1714
(8/12/03 11:25 pm)

Re: Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Hi jar1229,

Debbie has given you just the advice that I would have. What you decide on doing depends on your tastes.

Personally I love Powerscourt and Glendalough. I can wander through them for hours, going off-the-beaten-path and seeing things that many tourists don't see. How many of you have been to St. Saviour's Church, the waterfall or noticed the Deer's Stone at Glendlough? How about the pet cemetery at Powerscourt? This is one of the magical corners of Ireland.

If you decided to do this you could spend the night near Glendalough or push on farther south into Co. Wexford or Waterford. It is always a bit of a challenge gettting all the way to Kilkenny at this time of year, since there is no direct route and you must choose to either go through the mountains or stick to the main roads and go a little out of your way.

Kilkenny is my favorite city in Ireland. It is not too big and not too small, set on the Nore River and surrounded by beautiful things to see and do. The city itself is very interesting and full of antiquities like St. Canice's Cathedral & Round Tower, Black Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, a lovely walk along the river, and medieval lanes called "slips".

Cashel also makes a good base for seeing some of the attractions in Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford. It's main attraction is the Rock of Cashel and the town itself is more of a work-a-day Irish town. Dualla House is an old historic farmhouse outside town with antiques and beautiful countryside views. Rockside right in town is also very nice. On the edge of town is a new guesthouse that is elegant but more expensive. Just depends on what you prefer.

So let us know and we can help you better.

Michele

DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 58
(8/13/03 9:03 am)

Re: Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Michele -
I LOVED the Pet Cemetery! I have a picture of Eugenia the Cow's memorial in my album, that makes everyone stop and go ?HUH? .

Debbie

jar1229
Unregistered User
(8/25/03 4:15 pm)
 
Re: Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Thanks so much to DebbieK and Michele for you advice - here is what we've decided based on your recommendations - as you can see my follow-up questions have to do with travel time basically. Also - could use a gut check that I'm pacing correctly. Thanks!

Day 1: Dublin (Stay at Shelbourne)
Day 2: Dublin - Cashel (Drive from Dublin to Kilkenny - see the castle - then to Cashel). Question - how far from Dublin to Kilkenny and then Kilkenny to Cashel? Check into Dually House for one night.
Day 3: Cashel - Kenmare: See the Rock? What's this? and Cahir Castle, then drive toward Kenmare. Check into Sheen Falls Lodge.
Day 4: Kenmare: Ring of Kerry
Day 5: Kenmare: Explore Killarney and relax
Day 6: Kenmare - Cliffs of Moher: Drive directly to Cliffs of Moher (how long a drive?) then return to Shannon (how long a drive?) - stay at either Headley Court or Bunratty Castle (checking availability).
Day 7: 1PM flight home!

DebbieK
Registered User
Posts: 83
(8/25/03 5:06 pm)

Re: Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Hi there -
Your trip is fast approaching.

Dublin to Kilkenny is around 2 - 2.5 hrs I think - depending on traffic and where in Dublin you are starting.

Kilkenny to Cashel is around 1 hr.

? the Rock (go to this page for pics /desc www.tipp.ie/cashelsi.htm )

I will leave Kenmare -> Cliffs for Michelle to estimate

The Cliffs to Bunratty is around 90 min.

Bunratty Castle Hotel is not like staying in a Castle - it is a hotel across the street. Nice, but not a castle if that is what you are thinking it is.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1777
(8/25/03 10:46 pm)

Re: Need "In-Between" Lodging Recommendations

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Hi jar1229,

My assistant Debbie is right on the money with her advice. In Ireland not everything with "castle" in the title really is a castle. Hence, Bunratty Castle Hotel is just a hotel not a castle.

Day 1: Dublin (Stay at Shelbourne) Michele's Answer: Fine. You might consider taking the hop-on hop-off bus tour of Dublin.

Day 2: Dublin - Cashel (Drive from Dublin to Kilkenny - see the castle - then to Cashel). Question - how far from Dublin to Kilkenny and then Kilkenny to Cashel? Check into Dualla House for one night. Michele's Answer: If you are going from the airport to Kilkenny, probably 2 1/2 hours as there is much road construction going on in the airport area. Perhaps a tiny bit more than an hour from Kilkenny to Cashel (depends on your route). I hope you have reservations for Dualla House? The front rooms are very large.

Day 3: Cashel - Kenmare: See the Rock? What's this? and Cahir Castle, then drive toward Kenmare. Check into Sheen Falls Lodge. Michele's Answer: If it is a lovely day I highly recommend the walk along the river between Cahir Castle and the Swiss Cottage (about a mile or so). More on the Rock of Cashel: www.historic.irishcastles...cashel.htm

Day 4: Kenmare: Ring of Kerry. Fine.

Day 5: Kenmare: Explore Killarney and relax. Michele's Answer: Fine. Near Kenmare is Reenagros Park, which is a lovely walk along the river.

Day 6: Kenmare - Cliffs of Moher: Drive directly to Cliffs of Moher (how long a drive?) then return to Shannon (how long a drive?) - stay at either Headley Court or Bunratty Castle (checking availability). Michele's Answer: If you take the main roads (through Limerick) drive time to the cliffs is about 4 to 4 1/2 hours. If you take the ferry across the Shannon perhaps 2 1/2 to 3 hours. But this depends on if you get right on the ferry or must wait. Cliffs of Moher to Bunratty 1 1/2 hours.

Please enjoy your trip and let us know how everything goes. It was 82 yesterday in Shannon!

Michele