Fuzzieo
Unregistered User
(9/7/03 11:17 pm)

Late October Trip to Ireland

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Well, somehow the rest of my plan disappeared so I"ll try it again!

Day 2 - drive the Ring of Kerry - end up in Ballybunion??? Tralee? I know this will be a long day... Stay in a B&B

Day 3 - take the ferry across the Shannon River, visit the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Continue around Galway Bay to Clifden??? Westport??? Stay in a B&B Another long day?

Day 4 - explore the Connemara region, Klyemore Abbey.. Stay at Ballynahinch Castle

Day 5 - continue to explore the Connemara - end up at Ashford Castle in Cong (we have a package deal that includes two castle stays and the rest B&B vouchers) I don't know if this was the best day to end up in Cong. I've made the reservation already and don't know if it can be changed...

Day 6 - day 6 is a bit problematic. We'll be heading for Dromoland for our last night and I don't really know what would be a good place in between. Would Galway City be worthwhile? Any other options you can recommend?

Day 7 - head for Dromoland and relax.

Day 8 - leave from Shannon at 1:45pm and it's back to Washington, DC

Thank you again for any suggestions you can provide!

Fuzzieo

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1836
(9/8/03 1:37 am)

Re: Late October Trip to Ireland

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Hello Fuzzieo,

Welcome to my forum. Sorry your first posting got cut off. Before I comment on your day to day itinerary, I must mention that at the end of October the days are short and daylight is quickly disappearing by 4-4:30. I would suggest being at your final destination by then since driving in the dark and trying to find your way around on pitch-black country roads is difficult. You might want to bring along a tiny flashlight just in case.

Day 1 - arrive Shannon around 8am, get rental car and drive to Killarney (see Adare on the way) Go to Muckross House and Gardens and Killarney National Park. (if we are still awake!) Stay at either Cathernane House (anyone know anything about this place?) or a B. Michele's Answer: This is fine. However I do suggest a reservation for your first day in Ireland even in the off-season. You don't want to have to search for one when you are exhausted. Better to choose one that you can go to and if tired take a nap before or after sightseeing. Is the place you are thinking of staying the Cahernane House Hotel? I thought you had B&B vouchers? I stayed there many years ago and it was okay but didn't have a shower in the room only a bathtub. Things might have changed since then.

Day 2 - drive the Ring of Kerry - end up in Ballybunion??? Tralee? I know this will be a long day... Stay in a B&B. Michele's Answer:  You could get to Ballybunion; it just depends on how long the ring takes you and how early you get started. Keep in mind that you will be getting into a bank holiday weekend for October 24-27. It is best to have reservations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Day 3 - take the ferry across the Shannon River, visit the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Continue around Galway Bay to Clifden??? Westport??? Stay in a B&B Another long day? Michele's Answer:  Yes, another long day. You might want to consider stopping in Galway instead for the night. Definitely do not go all the way to Westport. It will be too long a drive.

Day 4 - explore the Connemara region, Klyemore Abbey.. Stay at Ballynahinch Castle. Michele's Answer:  Fine. You do know that Ballynahinch is not an actual castle but a fishing lodge hotel? Also, you mentioned that you had two castle stays and the rest were B&B vouchers. I am a little confused by your wanting to stay at Cahernane House Hotel and Ballynahinch in that case.

Day 5 - continue to explore the Connemara - end up at Ashford Castle in Cong (we have a package deal that includes two castle stays and the rest B&B vouchers) I don't know if this was the best day to end up in Cong. I've made the reservation already and don't know if it can be changed... Michele's Answer: This day is fine too.

Day 6 - day 6 is a bit problematic. We'll be heading for Dromoland for our last night and I don't really know what would be a good place in between. Would Galway City be worthwhile? Any other options you can recommend? Michele's Answer:  Galway is an option if you haven't stopped there previously. You could also spend the night in Ballyvaughan on the coast of County Clare or Ennis or even somewhere along Lough Derg drive like Mountshannon or Killaloe.

Day 7 - head for Dromoland and relax. Michele's Answer:  Fine.

I would really like to see you rearrange things so that you can have a little more time in the southwest. I realize that you have a firm reservation for Ashford Castle but perhaps you can steal a day from Connemara and add it to the front end of your trip. In that case you might spend two nights in Killarney. Also, you are staying in a different place each night. For a more relaxed trip you should consider a couple of two-night stays in between the one-night stays.

Try re-thinking the whole thing and see what you come up with.

Michele

Fuzzieo
Unregistered User
(9/8/03 8:44 am)
 
Late October Trip Ireland

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Michelle,

Thank you so much for responding so quickly. You've definitely given me some good points to consider. As far as the B&B vouchers are concerned, we are staying in Ireland more days than we have vouchers for, so we have an opportunity to choose some other other options.

It is the Cahernane House Hotel that I was referring to. I had read some good things about it, but maybe it isn't so great...

I am aware that Ballynahinch is not really a castle, but I have read such wonderful commentary about it that I thought it would be worthwhile. In that regard, I am also aware of the bank holiday because the prices at Ballynahinch are higher that Sunday than they otherwise would be! Ordinarily they have a reduced rate during the midweek and apparently Sunday is considered midweek except on bank holiday weekends.

Well, now I think I've got a good start. In the meantime, I'll check your B&B recommendations. Also, if anyone out there has any B&B recommendations for Ballybunion, Mountshannon or Killaloe, they would be much appreciated!

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Fuzzieo

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1840
(9/9/03 12:41 am)

Re: Late October Trip Ireland

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Hi Fuzzieo,

Thanks for clarifying several points. It was at least 20 years ago that I stayed at the Cahernane House Hotel. I'm sure they have updated since then. However, I have some wonderful guesthouses listed in my book for Killarney. One is secluded and bounded by Killarney National Park, two others are within walking distance of Killarney. They are definitely less expensive than the hotel and quite elegant and nice.

In Ballybunion I recommend Seashore B&B. I may have some in Mountshannon or Killaloe at the beginning of October. Stay tuned.

Michele