lss
Unregistered User
(2/29/04 8:58 pm)

Ist trip to Ireland Beg of April

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Please comment on this intinerary:

4/2 Arrive Shannon airport at 10:40. Drive to Galway to pick up my daughter (she is studying at the University). Drive to Cong see Ashford Castle and Kylemore Abbey then on to Clifden. I don't know if we should stay in Clifden or if we could make it back to Galway that same day
4/3 Spend the day in Galway
4/4 Drive to Dingle
4/5 Spend day in Dingle
4/6 Ring of Kerry
(Don't know if we should stay in Killarney as a mid point or stay in different B&B's in each area. I would be interested in your opinion's)
4/7 Drive through Bantry, Rose Carbery,Clonakiky, Kinsale and on to Cohb. Perhaps sent the night in Youghal. Don't know if it is worth a stop at Blarney Castle or not?
4/8 Drive through Waterford-take the tour and on to Glendalough and in to Dublin
4/9 Hop on hop off tour in dublin
4/10 Back to Western Ireland. Stay at Bunratty Lodge and go see Cliffs of Mohr
4/11 Flight back to states at 1:00pm.

If feels like we are packing a lot into this trip. I just don't know if it is realistic?

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2207
(3/1/04 1:27 am)

Re: Ist trip to Ireland Beg of April

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Hi lss,

You are trying to pack too much into your trip. Ideally you would skip Dublin since you are flying into and out of Shannon. Or else you would try to change flights so that you depart from Dublin. As it is you waste most of a day driving from Dublin to Shannon.

Generally, I recommend trying to fit in a mix of two or three night stays along with one night stays. It can get very tiring to have to pack up and move on every day. But that depends on your traveling style. You may be young, energetic and eager to fit in absolutely everything possible. My day-by-day comments are below.

4/2 Arrive Shannon airport at 10:40. Drive to Galway to pick up my daughter (she is studying at the University). Drive to Cong see Ashford Castle and Kylemore Abbey then on to Clifden. I don't know if we should stay in Clifden or if we could make it back to Galway that same day. * Michele's Answer:  Are you arriving off a trans-Atlantic flight? If you do and have jet-lag to contend with then this day is much too much. Remember in Ireland you don't zip anywhere. Generally you will average 35 mph on small roads. Spend this night in Galway.

4/3 Spend the day in Galway. * Michele's Answer: Instead use this day for Connemara, Cong and Kylemore Abbey.

4/4 Drive to Dingle. * Michele's Answer: See the Cliffs of Moher along the way and take the ferry across the Shannon.

4/5 Spend day in Dingle. * Michele's Answer: Fine.

4/6 Ring of Kerry.(Don't know if we should stay in Killarney as a mid point or stay in different B&B's in each area. I would be interested in your opinion's). * Michele's Answer: A very long day. Get an early start and end the day in Killarney. Given your itinerary you don't have time for more than a night in Killarney, which is a pity because there is much to see and do in the area.

4/7 Drive through Bantry, Rose Carbery,Clonakiky, Kinsale and on to Cohb. Perhaps sent the night in Youghal. Don't know if it is worth a stop at Blarney Castle or not? * Michele's Answer: Another very long day in scenic west Cork. Small winding roads, interesting towns, but you won't have much time to see the sites except as you drive by. Kinsale would ideally be your stop. If you are planning on seeing The Queenstown Story at Cobh you may arrive too late for the museum. There is a ferry across the river to near Cobh that would avoid Cork City traffic. I doubt if you will be able to see Blarney Castle on this schedule.

4/8 Drive through Waterford-take the tour and on to Glendalough and in to Dublin. * Michele's Answer: Another long driving day.

4/9 Hop on hop off tour in dublin. * Michele's Answer: Fine.

4/10 Back to Western Ireland. Stay at Bunratty Lodge and go see Cliffs of Mohr. * Michele's Answer: Forget the Cliffs of Moher today. See them on your way from Galway to Dingle.

You can probably do a lot of what you want but you will be experiencing the dreaded "green blur tour" of Ireland. It all depends on what you want your trip to be like. Everyone has different ideas of that.

Michele

lss
Unregistered User
(3/3/04 8:00 am)

Ist trip to Ireland Beg of April

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Thanks for the good advice Michelle.

Would we be able to use Galway as a home base for our trip to Cong and Clifden. Are there other sites we should see in that area? I have heard Clifden is very beautiful but I'm not sure what else we should try to see (my parents are elderly so hiking will not be an option). Is it reasonable to be able to go from Galway to Cong to Cliften and back to Galway in the same day? If so, what would your recommendation be for a place to stay in the Galway area? Is an apartment something we should be looking at for 5 people or are we best to stay with a B&B? If getting back to Galway is not feasible, where would you recommend we stay?

You had mentioned that there is so much to see in Killarney. What should we be considering? Do you have recommendations as far as B&B's in this area? Should we stay in Killarney and see Dingle, Ring of Kerry and any other sites?

Is there a B&B you would recommend for Kinsale?

Thanks so much for everyone's help. I am so glad I came upon this site. It is so informative and everyone is so helpful.


Thanks again!

garyvol
Unregistered User
(3/3/04 12:26 pm)

Killarney

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I like Killarney. Can't recommend a B&B for five though. If you home base their, you can first stop at Agadoe Heights while beginning your travels around the ring of kerry (if going counter clockwise). Great scenic view, check out the majestic cemetary statues to the left.
After all that you can then visit the beginning of Gap of Dunloe. Have a cup of coffee at the cottage, buy some post cards, take a walk in about a mile, people watch. You'll need lots of time if you opt for the whole tour.
Then continue your journey around the ring. upon reaching Ladies View, have a visitor take a group picture while standing in front of Ladies View.
Now if time permits, take a $$$tour of Ross Castle.
Then back in town, have a meal at the Flesk restaurant and then pub it at Danny Mann's.
I'll stop for now. Other's will jump in and help.
enjoy your trip.
-gary

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2222
(3/3/04 11:28 pm)

Re: Ist trip to Ireland Beg of April

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Hi lss,

Gary has given you some things to do in the Killarney area. There is much to keep you busy there including day trips to Dingle and the Ring of Kerry.

Galway would make a good base. You can see Cong, Connemara and Clifden as a day trip from Galway. But you need an early start since it will take all day. Your parents will enjoy the village of Cong, Cong Abbey, perhaps a stroll around the gardens of Ashford Castle. Kylemore Abbey and Gardens are a must on your tour. And if the weather is good I love the drive out to Roundstone and nearby Dog's Bay. My book describes this day trip in great detail. Most self-catering apartments rent from Saturday to Saturday though some can be rented for long weekends. So it all depends on your schedule. Marless House is a B&B that I would recommend.

As for Killarney you would probably want a minimum of three days if you are going to do day trips from there.

In Kinsale I would recommend Fernville B&B.

I really think that my book would be of great help to you. Take a look at this page to read more about it and see if it will suit you: www.irelandyes.com/book.html

If you haven't done so yet call Tourism Ireland and get your free info kit and map: 1-800-223-6470.

Michele