jenmike
Unregistered User
(11/5/03 10:50 am)

itinerary advice

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I got my plane tickets and we are flying in and out of Shannon the last 2 weeks in June. We are renting a car because there will be 5 of us (3 adults and 2 kids). I have a basic itinerary sketched out, and would love feedback on it. Is it realistic with children (ages 7 & 9), any things not to miss in areas we will be? Great places to stay, etc.

Here goes:
Day1: Land in Shannon 6am get car and drive to Kilrush area. Relaxing day, night stay.
Day 2-4: Drive to Galway area, stay 2-3 nights at Cregg Castle making day trips in area (ideas??)(maybe the Burrens and the Cliffs of Moher?)
Day 5-6: Counties Mayo & Sligo
Day 7-8: County Donegal including Inishowen Peninsula
Day 9-10: Giant's Causway and Bushmills, maybe Ulster folk park
Day 11: Marble Arch Caves
Day 12: Newgrage, Tara, Castle Trim
Day 13: Dive through midlands staying ?
Day 14: Back to Shannon

Thanks for any and all advice.
Jen

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 1936
(11/6/03 11:32 pm)

Re: itinerary advice

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Hi Jen,

You have daylight on your side in June and can accomplish a lot. Of course with the kids you won't want to spend all day in the car. Here are my comments below:

Day1: Land in Shannon 6am get car and drive to Kilrush area. Relaxing day, night stay.  Michele's Answer: Good.

Day 2-4: Drive to Galway area, stay 2-3 nights at Cregg Castle making day trips in area (ideas??)(maybe the Burrens and the Cliffs of Moher?) Michele's Answer: Fine. Connemara and the Aran Islands might also be possibilities here.

Day 5-6: Counties Mayo & Sligo. Michele's Answer: You won't get to see a whole lot with one day in each place. But you will be slowly moving closer to the north. The kids might enjoy Westport House (there is a zoo and fun park there) in Westport. In Sligo there are boat trips on Lough Gill, Parke's Castle and lots of lovely beaches.

Day 7-8: County Donegal including Inishowen Peninsula.Michele's Answer: This is a very large county with lots of meandering roads and slow going. The Inishowen Peninsula will take a good part of one day. You could easily spend a week there and not even scratch the surface.

Day 9-10: Giant's Causway and Bushmills, maybe Ulster folk park. Michele's Answer: Okay. I recommend the Ulster Folk Park and the Ulster History Park (both in the vicinity of Omagh). Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge might be fun (but it depends on your kids).

Day 11: Marble Arch Caves. Michele's Answer: The caves are liable to flooding in rainy weather and are closed if that happens, so have an alternative in mind for this day. Try to move as close to Newgrange as you can for the night. The earlier you get to Newgrange the next day the better.

Day 12: Newgrage, Tara, Castle Trim. Michele's Answer: Fine.

Day 13: Dive through midlands staying ? Michele's Answer: I would add this day onto the Northern Ireland portion and just drive across the country to Shannon on your last full day, perhaps stopping halfway for sightseeing.

Day 14: Back to Shannon. Michele's Answer: Fine.

Michele