June 5-June 14th - SW Ireland - skip Dingle?

dougiefreshhh · Member

June 5-June 14th - SW Ireland - skip Dingle?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

Welcome to my forum.

If it makes more sense to be in Dingle during the Bank Holiday with your itinerary, why not fire off a few emails to see if anything is available? If they are full-up, then rearrange things.

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

Thanks Michelle. We can find nice accomodations, rather, I'm thinking of waiting to deal with less crowds.
The anaology would be spring break in Florida.....definitely better to wait for the holiday crowds to die down.

Melissa5 · Guru

Dougiefreshhh: Michele is the Ireland expert and with her guidance you will have a wonderful trip!

Here is my 2 cents worth of advice. In 2006 we took our first family trip to Ireland. I carefully planned our 3 nights in Dingle to avoid all holidays, and to avoid the weekends. We visited Dingle on weekdays. I thought that I should avoid the crowds, as you are thinking. However, avoiding the crowds did seem to cause one unexpected problem... During our nights in Dingle, I was disappointed that we didn't really hear any great music in the pubs...I love Irish Trad music... But all we could find was some "touristy" music, and a pub that was full of young people around college age listening to quiet folk music...we were the only people in the room who looked old enough to be drinking, and for some reason all the young people stared at us as if we didn't belong there so we left! That was the only pub in Ireland where this happened. In other pubs in Ireland, various age groups mingled very well.

So...the next time I visit Dingle, I'm going to purposely plan on being there when there are lots of locals and a lively music scene that isn't just for the tourists!

There is plenty of room on the Dingle peninsula for you to take a drive and get away from the crowds, I am thinking. I'm only guessing about this, but the major crowds will probably be mostly noticeable in Dingle town itself. Perhaps you can stay at a quiet b&b that is walking distance to Dingle town?

Don't miss the Blasket Islands visitors center on the Dingle peninsula! It was great and even my older teen daughters were inspired by it.

Have fun in wild friendly Ireland. I don't know if its in your budget, but my favorite breakfasts in Ireland were at Heaton's guesthouse in Dingle...it was quiet but still walking distance to the pubs.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

You will not find spring break crowds in Dingle. Instead make advance reservations for your lodgings and for dinner each night. Then you will be just fine. The town may be bustling at night but (as Melissa suggested) book something within walking distance so you don't have to drive in and find parking.

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

Thanks Michelle, Thank you Melissa! Great Advice.

We have 2 nights reserved from 6th - 8th at Gormans which is still a drive from Dingle (12km).

We arrive on the 5th, but will overnight someplace along the way to Dingle.

Any thoughts on places near Tipperary? Must see's? Dont' see's?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

Gorman's is a drive from Dingle and a bit isolated. Are you sure you don't want to be closer to town? If you do try Emlagh House, Greenmount House, Tower View or Castlewood.

How about overnighting in Cashel? It has more to offer than Tipperary town. You could see the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle and Swiss Cottage from there.

If you want to head south instead of east you can overnigt in Killarney.

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

Thanks Michelle.

We were thinking driving more westerly towards Dingle. You had suggested Adare as a good place for the drive between Shannon and Dingle. Maybe do afternoon Tea at Adare Mannor?

I had Cashel on my list....any B&B suggestions in that area?

We have our reservations fixed for Gormas...so cant really back out now, can I?

Many thanks,

Doug

dougiefreshhh · Member

Hi Michele:

One other question regarding Beara penninsula. Castletown, other must see's? Suggested B&B's?

After Dingle, we want to head south, Kilarney park, (don't plan on driving ROKerry), Beara, then over to Kinsale, then up towards Mallow, Tip, Cashel, with last overnight at Bunratty. Essentially a loop of the So.West.

Weather permitting, I'm hoping to a few hours of kayaking (Lough Guhr). There is also a mountiainbiking place near Bruff that we might try.

Doug

Monty · Senior Member

There would be no reason I could think of to stay 10 miles or so from Dingle, when you could stay right there and be within walking distance of all the great pubs, restaurants, and music.

Unless there is something about staying that far out that we aren't aware of, I think that most would advise you to stay in or near the village. Michele has given you four great options there, and there are certainly more.

In Cashel, I would recommend Joy's Rock House, a place literally just down the hill from Rock of Cashel. A great location.

Monty

-- Edited by Monty on Friday 27th of May 2011 03:58:50 PM

stewh · Guru

I would stay in Kenmare to tour the Beara peninsula as we have done before. O'Donnabhains is a very good B&B with Pub and food and very well located in the center of town. Beara is a great scenic area.

Stewart

dougiefreshhh · Member

Thank you for the information. Very helpful.

Stewart - any other suggestions for touring the Beara peninsula?

stewh · Guru

Doug

We have always toured the Beara counter-clockwise from Kenmare, enjoyed Derreen Gardens - not small and groomed but big and beautiful. Beara is a good place to get a bit lost. The scenic Healey Pass is a must. I have not visited Glenichaquin Park but it is on my list. The little villages of Eyeries and Allihies are quite scenic. I haven't taken the cable car to Dursey Island but it looks interesting. have a great trip.

Stewart

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

Since you have reservations at Gorman's, of course you can't cancel them. It is a lovely place but is farther from Dingle town than most people want. In Cashel I like Joy's Rockside House, Ard Ri House and Dualla House. Which one you choose depends on how close to town you want to be.

I don't have any B&B suggestions on the Beara Peninsula but do have plenty in nearby Kenmare. See my Lodgings page for more.

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

Stewart, Michelle:
Many thanks for the tips.
For Gormans, we have a two night special, where one night, dinner is at the house. The other night, they provide free transport to and from Dingle town at night. Gormans also offer bike rentals....so we are hoping to possibly utilize that option...weather permitting.

One other question please. Since we are arriving early into Shannon on Sunday morning, I'm wondering about places to get a breakfast. I hear the cafe at Adare is open early Sunday am. Would the Oakwood Arms be another option? Suggestions/experiences?

Thanks in advance. Only 5 days until departure!
Doug

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

We have been having a discussion about breakfast near Shannon here: http://ireland.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=65127&p=3&topicID=43032804

Mary at Bunratty Lodge is doing breakfast but only if her B&B is not full. There is a cafe at the airport. The Oakwood Arms does a buffet breakfast starting at 7.

Hope you have a fantastic trip to Ireland. Bon voyage & safe travels. Looking forward to hearing back when you return.

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

Thank you Michele. I will look into those options!

Will report back upon our return!

Doug

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

Always happy to input my 2 cents worth of advice!

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

Hi All:

We just got back from our 10 day trip.

It was our first time visiting Ireland and everything was exciting and wonderful!

Michele - thanks so much for yours and everyone elses suggestions/comments regarding our itinerary.

Please keep in mind, than for the 2 nights in Dingle, we had NO hotel b&b RESERVATIONS anywhere. We just wanted to see where the roads took us!

In summary:

Sat June 4 - Depart Boston - Aer Lingus - Direct to Shannon. Flight was 1/4 full at most - I got to take a 5 seat row and get some sleep!

Sun 6/5 - arrive Shannon ~ 6am local time. Collected Budget rental car, stick shift (we brought our own Sat nav), and we were on our way to Adare.
6/5 - walked up to Dunraven Inn to inquire about a room. Success! ...and they had very nice buffett breakfast...including full Irish.

***NOTE - for those arriving into Shannon on a early Sun morning, and you want to head southwest for about 30min drive, Dunraven Inn does a full Irish breakfast buffet starting at 7am. They start early, even on Sunday, as there is a big golf course across street (part of Adare Mannor)...so they need to feed the golfers!

6/6 - drove to Dingle via Listowel (where we had lunch)...through Tralee...and then to Gormans Cliftop B&B..which is about 10min drive north of Dingle Town.

6/7 - Dingle - OFlaghertys for Trad

6/8 - Dingle to Killarney via Inch. Great drive. Overnighted downtown Killarney...right above Dan Linehans pub. Great location. Very clean room. Danny Manns & Grand Killarney for Trad.

6/9 - Killarney to Kenmare with 1/2 day in Killarney State Park. Overnight Kenmare in LISSYCLEARIG THATCH COTTAGE about 2min drive from town center. PC. McCarthys Pub for an INCREDIBLE night of Trad.

6/10 - Kenmare to Glengarriff. Glengarriff inland to Macroom. Stayed at the Findus Farmhouse B&B outside of Macroom. Hospitatlity was second to none. Beautiful views...remote location.

6/11 - Findus Farmhouse drive to Cork. 1/2 day walking around Cork. The English Market was great! Drove to Ardmore via Youghal. Overnight at FANTASTIC B&B 1 block from Ardmore center. Dinner at White Horses downtown Ardmore. Fantastic!

6/12 - Ardmore to Lismore (lunch), quick trip through Tipperary, and then to Cashel. Overnight at Baileys Hotel Cashel.

6/13 - Tour Rock of Cashel in the morning. Drove to Bunratty. Lunch at tea room in Bunratty folk park. Did the Mid-Evil Dinner Show. Great fun! Overnight downtown Ennis at Old Ground Hotel. Trad at Brogans Pub.

6/14 - Depart Shannon 13:30 to Boston.

Drove ~ 1000km...about 1.5 tanks of gas.

We did want to try and get out to the Beara Penn...but that will have to be for the next trip!

Never once were we concerned about finding accomodations. There were so many to choose from, and all reasonably priced for what you got.

Regards,
Doug

Andi · Senior Member

It's been my experience over 3 trips that accommodation is fairly easy to find, as long as you're willing to accept the average. As you say, there are so many to choose from. Average in Ireland has always seemed fine to me, and I can say I've never felt I had a bad experience, but if you need to be at the most popular, well-advertised and reviewed places, you need to be booked well in advance.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

Welcome back. I'm delighted to hear you had a good trip. We were happy to help with your plans. Where did you stay in Ardmore?

Sounds like you are planning another trip already. There is so much to see and do in Ireland. May it be the first of many!

Michele

P.S. Winging it is fine off-season and shoulder season. However, I am working with a last-minute client who is going in early July. He is finding everything booked up, especially in a city that has a festival on.

dougiefreshhh · Member

Hi Michele:

In Ardmore, we found a B&B just around the corner from the Tower on Tower Hill Road.

Seamus & Ann Cashman
Carraigdhoun B&B
Tower Hill, Ardmore, Co. Waterford
Tel: 024-94436
our rate was 70 euro.

We found out they don't advertise...just word of mouth. I don't think they have a web site, but their house is very very nice. Their breakfast setting (china, silverware, etc) was the best of all the B&B's, and the breakfast was great. Seamus does a wonderul fry-up.

All rooms en-suite.

I can send you pictures if you like.

Best,
Doug

ps - When we traveled in Germany/Austria early July with our then 3 children, we found that on occasion, some B&B'close to town were full up, but there were always farmhouse bnb's that could take us in. I agree in that if you want a particular B&B, then best to reserve so as not to be disappointed!

Pss - I'm not sure if its common, but at every B&B, when we asked if they had a room, they all said, "yes, I have a room left"...making it sound like we got lucky to get the last room. In the morning however, often, we were the only car in the lot. Maybe its just the way of doing business?

Andi · Senior Member

The most trouble I ever had getting a room was in a town with a festival. I checked several places, and they were all full. The owners knew other B&B's and started calling around at places. Finally, I got a place with an older man trying to keep up his B&B after his wife had died. It was obvious she had done most of the work, and the place had gone downhill a little. His cooking wasn't great! It was still a fun experience, though.

tony2phones · Guru

Glad you had a good time and hope you stayed a bit in Listowel as well as lunch. Danny Mann and Grand Killarney for Trad? think I will have to show you around next time you come over wink

Michele Erdvig · Host

Doug,

Thanks for the Ardmore B&B info. I have a couple of "quick picks" there but most were not home when I rang their bell so I couldn't look at a lot of them. It is always good to get a personal recommendation.

Michele

dougiefreshhh · Member

We did stay a bit in Listowel. Very nice indeed.

I know, Danny Mann is like "Ireland World" at Epcot Disney! We only stayed for a few songs...
Killarney Grand - Sheehans Pub? Place seemed packed with locals, standing room only. The music was good. Maybe I had had a few too many by that point....