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Flying Girl


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2 of us going to Ireland for the 1st time!!! Help us :)
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Dear all, especially Michele! smile

Time has come for 2 of us to visit Ireland - tickets are booked airport SNN, in and out - 17th to 27th June.

Please be so kind and advise us on itinerary - we are very willing to see everything, to include 2 days around beach, all the sights in south ireland (we know they are too many for only 10 days...) and bear in mind we like good food (not top class, we want to eat what ordinary Irish eats!)

I am particulary interested in small villages and maybe even a good place (family home/farm) to do some fishing (he likes it a lot and new river is a challenge!)

Small note - my boyfriend has reduced mobility (bad car crashno) so we will not do heavy hiking! Horse is very welcome but only with a carriage biggrin

We will rent a car (this insurance thing is making me so confused confuse) and was thinking about Thrifty and Ford Focus - good or not?

 

At the moment I am living and flying in hot Saudi Arabia so I am so looking fwd to "chilly" Ireland!

 

Any suggestions are welcome!

 

 



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Flying Girl


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-- Edited by Flying Girl on Sunday 15th of May 2011 01:45:02 PM

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Flying Girl


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Plan for now:

17th - landing to Shannon, picking up car and off to Conemarra area
- 2 days - enjoying Conemarra, Kylemore Abbey, relaxing, visit to the beach and praying for sunny days en route :)
* overnight where? - Clifden or better suggestion 2 nights - Dolphin Beach House?

19th - 2 days - Galway city - Aran islands, visit to the Cliffs and Burren region
* overnight Galway 2 nights -still checking and thinking LOL

21st - 2 days - Killarney - Ring of Kerry & Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe
* overnight 2 nights still searching for a nice village B&B to be close to everything
* and plan B Ballyseede Castle!!! - my only concerne is that we will stay on the castle grounds for whole two days LOL

23rd - 1 day - Kinsale
* night at Rivermont House or Actons Hotel

24th - 2 days - Kilkenny - Blarney castle, Kilkenny castle - and a bit of Waterford to see another Flying girl :)
* Rosquil house

26th - Adare manor, Bunratty castle
* overnight Bunratty - of course Bunratty Lodge & Mary, unfortunately without famous Bfast as our flt leaves 6.30am


Pls, if anyone has a suggestion on a small, not touristic village to do a day of river fishing and a nice B&B leave a comment and suggest which day to let out to do a day by the river with a small blanket and picnic,of course :)



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Michele Erdvig


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FlyingGirl,

Welcome to my forum. You might want to consider Oughterard for your river fishing. It is not too far from Galway. Maybe in place of Clifden and then spend a few days in Galway.

For your time in Killarney I recommend you actually stay in Killarney. For a close in guesthouse try Killarney Lodge (easy walk into town) or just a tiny bit farther is Earls Court House. Both are lovely with very nice hosts.

Michele

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Flying Girl


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Michele tnx a lot for good advice!

Did my 47 hours of Ireland research :D Dead tired but overwhelmed, travelled all over world but never read so nice and positive, in love, reviews of any country... now cannot wait to depart...

Living in this sandpit I crave GREEN!

You also think we will stay in that Castle for 2 days?? hihihihi

Ana

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Flying Girl


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Any suggestions for proper farm accommodation - place in the area of county Kerry, but a bit more secluded from all touristic hustle of killarney?

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tony2phones


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Dolphin Beach House is down on the lower Sky Rd not a bad location but if you are planning on a drink in town its a drive out rather than a walk.  Can't give any information apart from the location sorry.   I use the Arch which is right in town but might not meet 3* standard so the Sea Mist Guest house might be an option within walking distance on the edge of town.

http://www.seamisthouse.com/

There are lots of options in Galway but it would depend how close into the city you want to be, many chose to stay out in Salthill.  But if you are considering the Burren and Clare coast to split the trip down to Killarney then Doolin is a regular destination.

Adare can be taken in on the way down but Adare Manor is a Hotel and nothing special.

Killarney has lots of accommodation and we stay either in one of the upgraded rooms in the Eviston Hotel, The Killarney Court Hotel or Sunnybank Guest house. If you are looking for somewhere quieter how about Tara Farm just out from Kenmare. They may also be able to arrange a bit of fishing

http://www.tara-farm.com/

Kinsale is not on my list for a return visit but lots of folk like the place.

Rosquil House is a good choice in Kilkenny and possibly take in the Trad Trail if the nights match.

http://kilkennytradtrail.net/

 



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Flying Girl


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Tony,

tnx a lot for nice accommodation suggestions, I was checking Tara Farm even yesterday but was not sure how far it is from all the Killarney sights...

Would You recommend to just do visit to Kinsale without actually sleeping there?

Tnx for the Tradtrail suggestion!!!

Open for more of ideas :)

Ana

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tony2phones


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Kemmare in general is a better option for some of Kerry and 10 minutes down the road from central Killarney, plus it's handy for west Cork. 

I am not a big fan of Kinsale, It has developed reputation for good food due to a couple of decent chefs and recommendations from travel reporters and TV.  Personally if I pay over the odds for reasonable but nothing special food I don't expect to be looking for a late night chipper before bed time.  The castle is worth seeing and there are lots of shiny boats but other than that?  I might be wrong lots of people love the place.



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Flying Girl


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I understand u totally, was searching for "true" Ireland even in accommodation... small and cosy b&bs, good reviews and still searching for something in the Cliffs area but no luck to fall in love with something :D

Liked Your suggestions for Connemara area and still waiting for responses ;)



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tony2phones


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If you want somthing out on the Burren then Furgus View at Killinaboy might fit your criteria but a couple of miles from the pubs.

http://www.fergusview.com/



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CowboyCraic


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You might give a look at Half-Door B&B in Doolin. It is a favorite of mine. In easy walking distance of the three pubs with trad on a nightly basis, McGann's, McDermott's and O'Connor's.

In Oughterard, you could look to Waterfall Lodge B&B. They offer fishing on their own private run and are about a five minute walk or less to the restaurants and pubs.



-- Edited by CowboyCraic on Monday 16th of May 2011 02:48:52 PM

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Flying Girl


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Picture is folding slowly... :)

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Flying Girl


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http://pancakecottage.com/ found this one by accident :) love pancakes!



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Itallian Chauffeur


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I've been there a couple of times and loved it, but ...

Think European Pancakes -- more like crepes --- rather than US style.

Another option for the Killarney area ... http://www.carrigleahouse.com/    Views of Lough Leane, cows next door, gracious hosts and 1/2 way between Mucross House and Ross Castle -- SO, it's in Killarney -- but not IN it!  biggrin biggrin

In 2004, we stayed upstairs, in the Carraige House -- a two room suite -- for 70 Euro per night.  Current prices are about the same.  WELL worth it!

Bob



-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Monday 16th of May 2011 05:27:01 PM

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Help Us to Help You.  The more you tell us about your plans (dates, interests, budget), the better we can tailor our advice to suit!
Flying Girl


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Love Crepes! In Croatia we eat them with Nuttela or walnuts with sugar and called them Palacinke, yummi... ;)

Will try to post final decision today :)

Tnx guys!

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Flying Girl


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Is there a working farm with accommodation close to Killarney area?

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tony2phones


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A few enquiries have come up with Valley view farmhouse about 3 miles from Killarney. I have no personal knowledge of the place but I am told by one of the locals here that its a really good place.

http://www.valleyview-farmhouse.com/



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Flying Girl


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Do u have any experience with  www.errisbeglodge.com  - this one is very close to the thing that I wanted in Connemara area - beach, green grass and house biggrin



-- Edited by Flying Girl on Tuesday 17th of May 2011 09:30:12 AM

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tony2phones


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No experience but Roundstone is a very nice traditional village with a couple of good pubs on a small peninsular below the N59 the beaches around there are wonderful. My taste is more for Cliffden with a bit more going on but it's only 10 minutes away. The Old Bog road runs parallel to the N59 above Roundstone and is one of my favourite short drives on the Connamara.

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Flying Girl


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Even the owner mentioned Old Bog road :) will drive that one for sure!

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Michele Erdvig


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Ana,

I have been to Errisbeg Lodge. It is nice, clean but spare lodgings. No TV in the rooms but overlooking wonderful views of the ocean and beach. It is not walking distance to Roudstone. Waterfall Lodge in Oughterard is nice. Have you looked at my Lodgings page yet?

Michele



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Flying Girl


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Tnx, Michele will check page just now. Waterfall Lodge looks nice, but was looking smtn close to the sea and beach?

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Michele Erdvig


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Ana,

Most fishing in Ireland (except deep-sea fishing) is done in lakes and rivers. They are generally not near the sea. Would you consider skipping the fishing?

Michele

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Flying Girl


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Left out his proper fishing this afternoon already :P
- was just thinking on something close to the beach in Roundstone or somewhere in the area... to have a day by the beach for me cause at the moment I am working in the desert and would like to relax that first off day by the sea, no matter even if it rains... he agrees on that :D



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Flying Girl


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Plan for now:

17th - landing to Shannon, picking up car and off to Conemarra area
- 2 days - enjoying Conemarra, relaxing, visit to the beach
* overnight where? - Clifden or better suggestion 2 nights

19th - 2 days - Galway city - Aran islands, visit to the Cliffs and Burren region
* overnight in the area for 2 nights - still checking and thinking LOL

21st - 2 days - Killarney - Ring of Kerry & Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe - have to save time for pancakes as well :)
* overnight 2 nights - Friars Glen - Mary got me with best e-mail reply ever written heart.gif will be 3 nights!

23rd - 1 day - Kinsale - wonder to make it day visit and sleep longer in Killarney area

24th - 2 days - Kilkenny - Blarney castle, Kilkenny castle - and a bit of Waterford to see another Flying girl :)
* overnight 2 nights - I started suffering from B&B blur!!!

26th - Bunratty castle and area
* overnight Bunratty - of course Bunratty Lodge & Mary, unfortunately without famous Bfast as our flt leaves 6.30am






-- Edited by Flying Girl on Tuesday 17th of May 2011 01:22:13 PM

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tony2phones


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If you want something a bit Quirky outside Clifden then see if you can get 2 nights self catering in the Tower at the Coastguard Station. I know he does et it short say sometimes.

http://www.coastguard-station.com/history.htm

   coastguard75@anu.ie.





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Flying Girl


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Hillside Lodge?!?!

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Flying Girl


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Things gettin together bit by bit - Hillside Lodge in Clifden, and Twin Peaks in Doolin...

Renting car - pretty much the same with who if CDW is in the price or not?

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Michele Erdvig


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Ana,

Have a look at my Car Rental page and the sticky topic about cars on this forum. CDW always bumps up the price. But unless you have an American issued World MasterCard (not all of them cover CDW) or a Canadian issued Visa card you will have to purchase insurance.

Michele

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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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