2westie
Registered User
Posts: 3
(12/28/01 6:15 am)

Ennis or Doolin

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Michelle - we would like to use either Ennis or Doolin as a base to visit County Clare. What are the advantages of staying in each town? Could you recommend 2 day trips to cover all the highlights of County Clare?

mairin
Registered User
Posts: 9
(12/28/01 8:08 am)

Re: Ennis or Doolin - my experience

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Just thought I'd give my opinion---my husband and I went to Ireland the first time in May 2000. We flew into Shannon and stayed in Ennis the first three nights (Cill Eoin House) and had a wonderful time. The town was small enough that we could become accustomed to driving on the left, roundabouts, etc. without too much shock, yet it had decent pubs with trad music at night, a beautiful friary, and was a terrific location to use as a base. We traveled all over from Ennis, up to the Cliffs of Moher, out past Doolin to the Aran Islands, all around the countryside (don't miss Dysert O'Dea's castle, high cross, and church ruins if you can help it---it's out of the way and we stumbled on it by accident, but it's one of my fondest places to revisit in my mind). Unfortunately, all I saw of Doolin was when we went to the islands. Personally, I'd stay again in Ennis every time. Hope this helps a little...

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 326
(12/28/01 9:28 pm)

Re: Ennis or Doolin

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Hello 2westie,

I suppose whether you stay in Doolin or Ennis as a base all depends on the time of year you will be visiting Ireland and whether you enjoy staying at small out of the way seaside places or prefer to be in a larger inland town. Why don't you let me know and then I will be better able to advise you?

As for day trips, you could spend all one day doing the coast and Burren, including Cliffs of Moher, Aillwee Cave, Poulnabrone Dolmen. If time permits you could also see Coole Park and Kilmacduagh monastic site. On another day trip you might include the Craggaunowen Project, Knappogue Castle, Quin Abbey and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. How much you can fit into each day will depend on how early a start you get and time of year, which will also determine what is open.

mairin/Jenny has also given you some good info from her first-hand experience of staying in Ennis.

If you can get back to me with a little more info I will try to help you make a decision.

Happy travels,

Michele



2westie
Registered User
Posts: 4
(12/29/01 4:52 am)

Ennis or Doolin

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Our arrival/departure will be from Shannon, but I have not decided whether County Clare should be the first or last area visited. Our vacation will run from 5/15-29 with most of our time spent in Counties Cork and Kerry. I would also like to see some of the Connemara area, but wonder if it would be feasible? Would you suggest spending 2 days in Ennis or dividing our time between Ennis and Connemara? How about using Ballyvaughan as a base to visit both County Clare and the Connemara?


Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 327
(12/29/01 5:12 pm)

Ballyvaughn

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Hi 2westie,

Since you would like to do Clare and Connemara from one base Ballyvaughn would be a good place from which to do both. The tour of Connemara will be a very long day so an early start is recommended. However, in May the days are quite long so you can pack in a lot of sightseeing before dark.

If you do this at the beginning of the trip you might consider three days in Ballyvaughn if you are arriving from an trans-atlantic flight. On your first day jet-lag can slow you down and how much you will be able to see depends on your stamina. At the end of your trip you could possibly get away with two days in Ballyvaughn (depending on where you are driving from) as you can probably see much of Clare on the way.

With two weeks in Ireland I don't see any problem with fitting in Clare and Connemara. Keep in mind that Ballyvaughn can fill up fast on weekends. It wouldn't hurt to have a reservation once you have your itinerary firmed up.

Michele