wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 10
(1/8/02 2:22 pm)

May 2002 Itinerary

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Hello all!

I thought I would get some input from people on my plan for my May 2002 trip. As a precursor, I've been to Ireland twice before, once for a very short time the other a bit more extended. I've never been to the North and only slid by the South. The bulk of what I have seen was the very popular central west coast. Of course there is a reason that it is popular....It's spectacular. The goal is to see the North and then slide through the west coast and down to the south. I realize I am going to a lot of places, (granted I have 19 days) but I'd tried to be careful in not making for any long drives. In the future, what I would like to do is make several trips that would complete this same loop in segments, with much more time in individual locations. So.....tell me what you think.

May 8 - Leave Denver
May 9 - Arrive Dublin, Stay at "The Reefs" (thanks Kat) - Take a nap and visit Newgrange. Collapse and sleep!!
May 10 - Antrim Coast. My wife is dying to see Carrickfergus because of the song, and then up to Carrick-a Rede, Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle. We'll stay somewhere around there.
May 11, 12,13 - Donegal. One or two nights in Dunfanghy and one or two further south, either Ardara or Killeybegs or Bruckless. Slieve League, Glenveigh Nat'l Park, Inishowen Peninsula and Fanad Head.
May 14 - Strokestown area -Stay in Boyle at The Abbey House. Visit my GG Grandmothers grave and try to find the townland of Toberpatrick. That's where the family home was, long since gone.
May 15, 16 - Connemara - Maybe stay in Clifden, maybe stay on the south coast nearer to Galway. Probably stop in Galway on one of the days.
May 17 - Doolin. Cliffs of Moher and maybe the caves, Gus O'Connors and probably stay at the Sea View House.
May 18 - Bunratty. Believe it or not, I've never been here. I figured I should do a banquet eventually. I found a few good B&B choices. I'll pick one eventually.
May 19 - Dingle - I would dearly love more time here, but I've been here before so I'll stop by for some nostalgia, drive up the coast and stay a night.
May 20 - Kenmare - See Killarney Nat'l Park
May 21 - Ring of Beara - maybe go back to Kenmare, maybe stay on Beara, maybe head on to Mizen.
May 22 - Mizen - Stay at the Heron's Cove in Goleen, Out to Mizen head, Crookhaven, soak up some local flavor.
May 23 - Head to Cahir (or Caher) Stay somewhere around there. Probably go by Blarney Castle on the way. Never been there either, believe it or not, but I won' bother the blarney stone. I've heard some strange stories from the locals.
May 24 - Glendalough - Go through Kilkenny on the way.
May 25, 26 - Dublin. See some sights in the big city for the 1st time. Get rid of the car when I get there.
May 27 - Leave sobbing and weeping

I'm pretty happy with the schedule though I wouldn't mind another day in the North. I'll probably find a way to squezze it in. I never manage to keep to my plan, but it's good to have a skeleton picture.

Thanks to all and sorry for the long winded itinerary.

Bill

mickey
Unregistered User
(1/8/02 6:53 pm)
Re
May 2002

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I can see why you never keep to your plan, I got tired just reading about it and I'm not the one driving it!!!!! LOL!!!

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 332
(1/8/02 11:51 pm)

Re: May 2002 Itinerary

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Hi Bill,

I'm a little exhausted by the proposed itinerary too! But of course it is just in the planning stages at the moment and you have plenty of time for fine-tuning, which is why you need some input now.

These are my suggestions:

1. You are trying to do too much and cover too much territory. The old "green blur syndrome".

2. Only one night in Northern Ireland? Impossible. You must go to Mount Stewart House and Gardens my favorite gardens in all of Ireland. In May they will be fantastic. It is outside Newtownards on the Ards Peninsula. It would be easy to spend your whole first day there. Stay the night nearby and then proceed to the Antrim coast.

3. Skip Doolin and proceed to Bunratty. If you must you can make a stop in Doolin.

4. Try to break up the one night stays with spending two nights at places you can do day trips from. Try alternating them so you aren't exhausted.

5. Skip Dingle since you have seen it before and proceed to Kenmare.

6. Do Beara & Mizen Head as day trips from Kenmare. I did this last year and it worked out perfectly.

7. See Blarney & Cahir on your way to Cashel. This will kill three birds with one stone.

If you need some great places to stay in each area you should consider getting my book "Best Little Guide to Ireland", which has only the best accommodations, pubs, restaurants, sightseeing, etc.

Anyone else want to add their two cents worth?

Happy travels,

Michele

wojazz3
Registered User
Posts: 12
(1/9/02 1:59 pm)

Re: May 2002 Itinerary

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Michele:

Ok, I'll take another shot at it. I've already started the re-write. I'm sure I'll spend more time up north. I've been to the Connemara before so I may cut that out. My attraction to Dingle is that my camera malfunctioed while I was there and all of the pictures over exposed. Apparently one of the one of the connectors in the lense was slightly bent....well, I have two new cameras now.

I've been to Kenmare before, but I like it because it's great jumping off spot and there are great places to eat and stay in such a small town. I want to stay in Goleen because it's a romance thing for my wife and I. That's where we stayed at our first B&B. There is a tale of terror attached to getting there, but that's for another time.

Here is another question. Are floppy disk drives in Ireland the same as they are in the US? I have a Mavica digital camera and I want to torture my friends back home when I run across an internet cafe. You don't need software to vies the pictures. Instead they are stored on a floppy in the camera.

Ok, off to re-think the itinerary.

Thanks for the help. I'll be in touch Love the site.

Bill

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 333
(1/10/02 7:45 pm)

Re: May 2002 Itinerary

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Hello Bill,

I'm glad that the comments here are helping to plan your trip and thanks for your comments about my site. It's always great to get feedback.

I can certainly understand the need to return to Dingle since your camera was broken. And since you have seen Connemara once that would be a place to cut from this trip. I too love Kenmare. It is my all-time favorite small town. If you're up for a splurge try Sallyport House - fantastic!

Since Goleen is a "romance thing" you should definitely go for it. Be sure to visit the Mizen Head Light (lovely scenery, interesting tour and a nice walk over a pedestrian suspension bridge). There are some wonderfuly scenic beaches, also. Would love hearing your tale of terror some time or your tale of romance upon your return -- just not too specific!

Yes, floppy disk drives are the same in Ireland. When your friends see your photos they will be "green" with envy!

I'm glad you are re-working the itinerary. I often think that the planning stages of a trip are as enjoyable as the trip itself (or almost). I will be here to help when you have the next one ready for review.

Michele

P.S. My husband had a camera, camcorder and binoculars around his neck at the Cliffs of Moher and a tourist told him he was a "camera glutton"! We had a good laugh over that.