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Post Info TOPIC: What's so great about BALLYVAUGHAN?
Melissa5


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What's so great about BALLYVAUGHAN?
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I like to think up provocative titles for my questions.    Michele, please allow me to re-state my question more politely.  I notice that you recommend Ballyvaughan as a good base in County Clare for exploring The Burren/Cliffs of Moher area.  I would love to hear why you like Ballyvaughan as a base.


I have been driving myself koo-koo (the usual obsessing) over which is the best village to stay in for 3 nights in County Clare.  Our objective is to have great walks on The Burren, especially for hubby the biologist.  The closer to our B&B, the better.  Also would like to see The Cliffs of Moher a couple of times in the afternoon/evening when I hear it's lovely and make it back to our B&B before dark.  And after dinner we want to head to the pubs for some traditional Irish music, and hopefully a nice chat with the locals.  Then, it's either a nice safe walk or else a short safe drive back to our B&B for sleeping.


So, in order to accomplish all that, I stay in: Ballyvaughan, Doolin, Corofin (or Killinaboy), Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Ennis?  I have investigated them all and bought way too many guidebooks and B&B guides including of course Michele's great book!  (Fergus View in Killinaboy, Corofin looks intriguing, but so do places in Ballyvaughan, and Lisdoonvarna looks like it is well-located though I'm not sure if it has character?  


Now it's time to get serious and buy those airline tickets (for June 2006) and book my B&Bs.


So, I am curious, Michele, you are undeniably the Irish guru, I would love to know why you like to stay in Ballyvaughan in particular?  And if anybody else wants to share which is their favorite place to stay in the area and why, I have just an insatiable curiosity on the subject! 


Thank you Michele and everyone for putting up with me.  Where else can I come at 2:30 in the morning and obsess about Ireland?


Looking at our calendar it looks like we will be in County Clare on weekdays in June, so one of my concerns is how hard is it to find trad Irish music in the pubs on weekdays?  Probably Monday/Tuesday/Wedesday or possibly Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday? 


Michele and Ireland "Yes-ers"...thank you for being there and goodnight.


 


 


 


 


    


 


     



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Dude


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You might consider Rocky View Farmhouse, just outside of Fanore and actually in the Burren. The husband drives a tour bus so is a wonderful source of information.

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Slán go fóill, Judy
Michele Erdvig


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Melissa,


Decisions, decisions! On a weekday you will be assured of music in Doolin since they do it 7 nights a week. Doolin is also very close to the cliffs and in the Burren. Music may not be on in the other towns mentioned all week. Linnane's Pub in Kilfenora is home to the famous Kilfenora Ceili Band. You may want to contact the owner to see what's on when. Gerald Linnane can be contacted via his guesthouse Grovemount House in Ennistymon (don't have the website available at the moment).


As you might expect different towns are good for different reasons. Ballyvaughan is in the Burren, on the coast and has a nice village for dining and pubs but might not have music on weekdays. Doolin will have music and is in the Burren. The others are more inland and not as scenic. Ennis is definitely not in the Burren and a bit too far from the clliffs.


Your husband might enjoy taking a walking tour of the Burren with an expert. Give me a day or two and I will dig out my files on that and give you some links.


BTW, love the provocative titles. It spices things up.


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Maggie L


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You might want to look at a couple Burren websites, especially for your biologist hubby. 


 http://www.burrenpage.com


http://www.burrenwalks.com


Burren Walks offers guided hikes of varying lengths and various parts of the Burren. They're based out of Ballyvaughan, I think.  I have not yet had a chance to sign on for one of their hikes, but hope to do so sometime. 


 



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Melissa5


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Thanks for the simmering debate on Burren area villages
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Thanks everybody for the great info on the Burren and nearby areas to stay! 


It's true hubby might enjoy a walk through the Burren with an expert...since we only have 3 nights there, an expert could take hubby right to the most interesting spots.


Michele, your description of the pros and cons of the various villages in the burren area is very enlightening.  You do have a magical way of capturing and condensing a lot of info and picking out the most important points!  Based on your info, very nicely laid out, it seems like Ballyvaughan or Doolin would be best for us.  (Actually Kinvara sounds good too but too far from the Cliffs of Moher unfortunately.)


I have read everything I could get my hands on about the various villages near the Burren, but nobody quite illuminated the subject like your brief comments.    


Anybody else want to share where they stayed near the Burren/Cliffs of Moher and the pros/cons of staying there?


As usual I know I can anticipate there will be a steaming hot debate here on 'Ireland Yes', and we might end up with some black eyes, but we'll still be friends in the end.  (kidding!  love the good vibratons here!) 


 


 


  


 


 



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Michele Erdvig


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RE: What's so great about BALLYVAUGHAN?
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Melissa,


Maggie has given you some good Burren links. This is also one to look at: http://www.burrenbeo.com/ It has a a good interactive map on it. Your husband will have fun clicking on all the different areas.


For Burren walking tours:


http://homepage.eircom.net/~burrenhillwalks/


http://www.heartofburrenwalks.com/


http://www.burrenwalks.com 


http://www.burren-tours.com/


The Burren Way might also be of interest: http://www.shannonregiontourism.ie/individual_results.asp?sID=13038


http://www.doolin-tourism.com/tour1.html


http://www.doolin-tourism.com/tour5.html


Just a thought, but if you stay in Doolin you will be very close to the cliffs. It is possible to walk along the cliffs out to Hag's Head for the adventurous. However in bad weather or windy weather it is not advisable.


I'm just back from Ireland. Thanks to everyone for there patience in awaiting answers while I was away! There is nothing like having only one hour at the library or internet cafe (every two or three days) to answer emails, questions, etc. It really makes you condense everything pretty quickly.


Michele


 



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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Melissa5


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thans for the burren links
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Michele and Maggie, thanks for the great links on Burren info...now we have lots of fun homework to do!

Michele, I hope your trip was full of old comforts and new discoveries.

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Anonymous

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RE: What's so great about BALLYVAUGHAN?
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Michelle's right (of course ), Doolin is really close to the Cliffs (and you had mentioned wanting to return to the Cliffs at sunset).  Also, Doolin is like the unofficial mecca for trad Irish music.  If you're there around lunch time, O'Conner's serves great seafood chowder!  I get hungry just thinking about it !


 


Welcome home, Michelle.  Can't wait to hear all about your trip!



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Maggie L


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Oops, forgot I hadn't "signed in" before posting (see above) 


Thanks for the Burren links, Michelle. 



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Melissa5


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To: MaggieL Re: Hungry
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MaggieL, now I'm hungry too! Aren't some of the best memories always centered around food?! If I'm near O'conner's at chow-time I'll have a bowl for you...





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