Gayle
Unregistered User
(9/24/01 1:00 pm)

Back from 3 weeks in Ireland

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Just back from 2 weeks driving around Ireland on vacation and 1 week stranded in Dublin waiting to fly home via Aer Lingus/British Air/Alaska Air. Spent 2 afternoons walking around Dublin in quite warm weather and enjoyed Temple Bar and shopping. Had a free upgrade to a BMW from Hertz and took off from their south rental location to tour Powerscourt and Glendalough. No problem driving over the Wicklow Gap and down unclassified roads toward Kilkenny. Didn't tour Kilkenny Castle as the traffic was heavy and although we could see the castle walls, couldn't locate the right road to it. Spent our 3rd night at Longueville House -- one of our favorite stays. Great food and wonderful fabrics in their decor. Kissed the Blarney Stone and had soup at Kinsale. One of prettiest parts of drive was the tiny detour past the stone circle south of Rosscarbery to Leap -- that must be an Irish secret - no tour bus could navigate that road! Loved the scenery along Bantry Bay, Balleylickey and Glengariff. Stayed at Sheen Falls Lodge -- lovely setting. Kenmare was one of the most pleasant little towns we saw. Thought Sneem was overrated. Lakes of Killarney really do sparkle in the sun. Unfortunately it rained on the Dingle penninsula and I caught a cold which has now turned into bronchitis and pleurisy. It did look like a magical place, but we didn't go all the way out to Slea Head. It was sunny the next day however for the Cliffs of Moher. Moran's Oyster Bar was another overrated place. The food was good, but the service was so non-existent it verged on rude. Was great to arrive late that afternoon at St. Cleran's - our absolutely favorite stay. What a beautiful setting and friendly staff. Day toured Connemara via Kylemore Abbey, Leenane and Ballynahinch Castle. My husband would love to go back to that area and do some fishing. Seeing the peat bogs was really interesting. Next day toured Ashford Castle. Saw the outside of Ballintubber Abbey but there was a wedding going on inside. Drove up the gravel cliffside track to Carrowkeel, but I had badly turned and ankle so didn't climb to the top. What a view from that site! Stayed at Cromleach Lodge -- more great food and incredible setting overlooking Lough Arrow. Walked to the dolmen on their property -- eerily historic and celtic. I'm surprised it doesn't show up in more travel literature. Sunday through Sligo and Drumcliff so lots of things were closed. Made sure to sight The Lake Isle of Innisfree though, Yeats' grave, and a walk around Carrowmere. More sports jackets and books in Donegal, a drive through Ardara and Killybegs, and out to Slieve League Cliffs. Those were magnificent -- and not as heavily touristed. No problem with the road and it was surprisingly well marked. Stayed at St. Ernan's - a really unique setting. Back to Dublin only to learn that we would not be flying the next morning. The people of Dublin were incredibly friendly during our next week's stay. They came up to us on the street upon hearing our American voices and talked to us. The staff at both Clontarf Castle and Clontarf Court Hotel made our week more bearable. The odd thing was - on our 3 flights home we didn't feel we encountered any more security measures than usual!

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 254
(9/24/01 11:09 pm)

Re: Back from 3 weeks in Ireland

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Hi Gayle,

Welcome back and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and post your trip report. I too was "stuck" in Ireland during the same time you were there. Lovely place to be stuck! The Irish people are so helpful in an emergency. I even had the offer of a free stay for as long as I needed from the manager of Rathmullen Self-catering Cottages. Now that's Irish hospitality.

I had an entirely different view of the security at the 4 airports I went through on my way home. I thought it was much better than on the trip to Ireland. But my husband is an airport "insider" so perhaps we noticed things the average person might not.

So sorry to hear you got sick on your trip. I hope you get well soon. And thanks for sharing your tips elsewhere on the forum. They are greatly appreciated.

Michele