Yes, starting to plan a fifth trip! August 2013 with friends.

Green Dragon · Guru

Yes, starting to plan a fifth trip! August 2013 with friends.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Glad to hear you are going back to Ireland again with friends. The place to start is where they are flying into and out of. Then after the first week and their departure you can plan your second week to please yourself. Is any particular area "calling to you"? Have you ever explored Sligo, Fermanagh, Down?

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

I've driven through Sligo - can't say we actually explored. It was the day we drove from Ardara to Westport. We did get to stop and explore Carrowmore, and promptly twisted my ankle on the flat grass :) I've not yet been to Fermanagh or Down. We will probably be flying into Shannon, and out of either Belfast or Dublin. Kim has no interest in seeing Dublin again, but Carla and Robyn haven't been. Perhaps the three days in Killorglin, head up the coast to Galway/Connemara area, and then across to Drogheda - and who ever wants to go home can, and we go up from there?

Michele Erdvig · Host

That sounds like a plan. Start researching the other areas to see what appeals. I spent a couple of days in Down last time and enjoyed it. Mount Stewart, St. Patrick Center, Ards Peninsula, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Castle Ward and more. You could easily fill three days there or more.

Green Dragon · Guru

Excellent, thanks for the suggestions! You've mentioned Mount Stewart before, perhaps in one of Corey's podcasts... I'm intrigued :)

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mount Stewart is one of Ireland's most beautiful gardens. The historic house is interesting as well.

Wellsley · Guru

Christy,

My suggestions are not what I've seen but rather what's on my bucket list.

Mizen Head, Beara penisula, blasket islands, Donegal, Antrim coast, giants causway.

One of the places I have been to that you didn't mention is Connemara. And it is beautiful and well worth the trip.

Frank

Michele Erdvig · Host

So many great places, so little time. That is why we return!

Roy · Guru

That's why we adopted the strategy of visiting two areas each trip and setting up a base from which to make day trips. Less time in the car, and less time packing/unpacking.

Green Dragon · Guru

Wellsley, those are all places that I've been to, but none of my friends have been to - and that does take in the entire west coast :)

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

I have always found the Sligo area a rather mystical place. Besides Carrowmore there are a lot of other interesting prehistoric remains.

Michele

CowboyCraic · Guru

Christy, Mo Chara,

You will find that it is more expensive to fly out of Belfast if you are first flying into Shannon. That is because, as much as it pains me to type this, Belfast is in a different country. You will have different tarriffs, transport fees, etc. You might find that the car rental is more expensive, as well.

As to special places:

Inishowen peninsula comes to mind in the Northwest. If you do the Inishowen 100, you would get a good overview of Inishowen.

In the Northeast, I could fill a whole week BEFORE you reached Belfast, so I will just share one of my favorite areas, The Ards:

Strangford Lough, GreyAbbey's Mount Stewart and the Priory, Newtownards Scrabo Tower, Ballyfounder Rath, Kirkistown Castle, Portaferry Castle, White House in Ballyspurge outside of Cloughy, St Cowey's Well on the Cloughy to Portaferry road, the Derry churches just Northeast of Portaferry. There is a whole loop that you can drive.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bit,

I love the Ards Peninsula. It is so rural, nice, quiet and yet not too far from Belfast. I found a new B&B in Greyabbey last time and spend two nights there. It was a lovely experience.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Bit, when I priced out itineraries for last year's trip, I didn't find appreciable differences between landing in BFS and flying out of SNN vs. the other direction, either in car rental or in airfare. It was a little more than flying in/out of Dublin, but for our purposes, it was worth it. Perhaps $40 more in car?

We enjoyed Inishowen, but only had one very rainy afternoon to enjoy it last trip. I would like to explore it more. We didn't know what the Inishowen 100 was. We thought it was a place, so we kept following the signs, looking for it :)

We didn't get a chance for Ards last trip - sounds like a good addition to the suggestions, thanks!

This has now turned into an all girls trip. Patrick decided he'd rather use his limited vacation time to go to Canada with his dad (which they used to do when he was young). And my other traveling companions don't wish to travel with my husband, so he's grounded again. (he gets a hunting trip to Maine in the fall instead, so he's happy).

So the current roster is me, my friend Kim (who came with me to Ireland in 2006 and Scotland in 2008), Carla (who came with us to Scotland in 2008), Vicki (who came with me to Ireland in 2011), Robyn and Natile. 6 women aged 26 to 44 (next year). Should be a lovely time! I am thinking that, if all of us end up going, two cars will be required. It was when there were six of us in Scotland. Kim needs to drive or she gets carsick. Robyn and I both drive manual, so no worries there. I taught Vicki last time, and she did well, but didn't wish to drive, so I did it all last trip without a problem. I will be teaching Natile before we go - her boyfriend has a manual car.

Kim has decided she would love to do this in August, and attend the Puck Fair, which is always August 10-12. That year (2013), it's on a Saturday, Sunday and Monday, so it should be right madness. That's down in Killorglin, so we will likely fly into Shannon and head right on down to it. That will leave us two weeks to wander elsewhere. I'm thinking a similar trip to what I did in 2011, going the opposite direction - up the west coast, Donegal, over to Antrim, and then down towards Dublin. Carla wants to visit Dublin, and we all want to explore the Boyne Valley some more. That means we likely won't have time for overnights on Inis Mor this time, but perhaps we can fit in some Donegal :) We will see!

I've tasked each of the girls to find out what they want to see - no matter where in Ireland - and we'll see what we can piece together.

Green Dragon · Guru

OK, now there are 7 of us - so I've set up a poll on our private Facebook page. I listed several areas, including some big ones, some small, some I've been to, some I haven't. I set up a picture folder for each location, and the ladies are voting on their wishes. I'll work an itinerary around the top choices, if I can.

Please let me know what else I might add to these choices. Obviously some can be combined or visited if close by other choices:

Antrim Coast
Aran Islands
Newgrange
Cliffs of Moher
Connemara
Glencolmcille
Belfast
Kilkenny
Dublin
Kenmare
Powerscourt
Glens of Antrim
Lough Derg
Waterford
Cork
Ring of Beara
Donegal
Ring of Kerry
Dingle Peninsula
Glendalough
Hill of Tara
Carrowmore
Bunratty
Galway
Kildare
Mount Stewart
Ards

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Things keep changing! Perhaps it would make things easier if you bunched areas together for people. You might get more replies. Like:

Mount Stewart
Ards Peninsula
Belfast
Glens of Antrim
Antrim Coast

Newgrange
Tara

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Fair enough! Sorted in a counter-clockwise rough circle, starting at Belfast.

Antrim Coast
Belfast
Glens of Antrim
Mount Stewart
Ards

Donegal
Glencolmcille

Carrowmore
Connemara
Galway
Aran Islands
Cliffs of Moher
The Burren

Lough Derg
Bunratty

Cork
Kenmare
Ring of Beara
Ring of Kerry
Dingle Peninsula

Kilkenny
Kildare

Waterford

Newgrange
Hill of Tara
Dublin
Powerscourt
Glendalough

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

That is so much easier. I will add my ideas in blue below:

Antrim Coast
Belfast
Glens of Antrim
Mount Stewart
Ards
Carlingford
Mountains of Mourne
Hillsborough
Down Cathedral & St. Patrick's Center

Donegal
Glencolmcille
Glenveagh
Inishowen
Rossknowlagh Beach
Belleek

Carrowmore
Knocknarea
Gleniff Horseshoe Drive
Creevykeel
Connemara
Galway
Aran Islands
Cliffs of Moher
The Burren
Loop Head

Lough Derg
Birr Castle Gardens
Bunratty

Cork
Gougane Barra
Bantry House
Ilnacullin Gardens
Kenmare
Ring of Beara
Ring of Kerry
Dingle Peninsula

Kilkenny
Kildare

Waterford
Copper Coast
Ardmore
Cobh

Newgrange
Knowth
Hill of Tara
Dublin
Powerscourt
Glendalough
Russborough House

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Oh, and the new Titanic Center in Belfast, which just opened. I was talking to someone from No. Ireland at a Tourism Ireland event and she said it was fantastic.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Thank you so very much, Michele! I'd not heard of many of these. Off to do some fun research!!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

I have photos of a lot of them in my Zazzle shop. Also descriptions in my book.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Some suggestions that should appeal:

Dublin Area: Four Knocks

You gotta LOVE a place so obscure that the Tourism Web-site says:

"Four Knocks is a Passage Chamber Tomb built about 5000 years ago. It is located 10 miles southeast of Newgrange between Ardcath in County Meath and the Naul in County Dublin. The name Fourknocks may be from the Irish Fuair Cnocs meaning Cold Hills. The key for the entrance door to Fourknocks Passage Tomb can be got from Mr. Fintan White who lives over a mile from the Tomb. Directions are signposted from Fourknocks. A cash deposit must be given which is refundable on the safe return of the key. The key should be returned before 6pm. "

biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Kerry Area:

An Shrone (The City) -- Now that I know how to find it!

Knocknakilla

Donegal:

Teelin -- In particular, keep an eye out for the road side car park at the river, replete with small waterfalls!

Burt: See the Grianán of Aileach

I know a couple of musicians that used to perform at Puck Fair -- Book EARLY, Book Close-In and get LOTS of Rest, PRIOR to .... biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

I'm just sayin' .........

Bob

Green Dragon · Guru

Lots of rest... Ha! We will be heading to the fair as soon as we get off the plane. We will be punch-drunk tired, without a drink! It will be a blast, I'm sure!

Actually, in adding the suggestions above and the ones I had before, there are now about 50 options I've got for my group. And most of them are choosing stuff in Northern Ireland, Donegal, Galway area and Dublin - so it might be a northern 'circle' instead of a Puck Fair trip. We shall see! I'm certainly not upset in the slightest with another NI trip... I'm aching to go back and explore more. But two more of the girls still have to vote, and it IS still about 15 months off, so all is subject to change.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! An Shrone I had forgotten about, thanks Bob! After trying to find it that one time, I'm more determined this time around.

Grianan of Aileach was fantastic, and would love to see it again!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

You have your work cut out for you. Good luck with the plans and the tour.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Ok, we MIGHT actually have a tentative schedule. However, it all depends on who is going and when. I love planning, so if I have to scrap it all over again, I will! Right now, the plan is for the first part of August. However, this is also dependent on my friend, Kim. She is a part-time nurse and therefore has NO seniority on vacation choice. The last two years, her choices were taken by other nurses first. She's put in for three different slots for 2013 - in June, July and August. She won't know until next March which one she gets, if any.

I offered them 6 different itineraries, which were, basically, the following (based on 16 nights) If anyone wants the details of any or all of these itinerary options, please let me know, and I'll post them (with Michele's permission, of course, as this is HER forum!) :)
Trip Option 1 Northeast, Northwest, Midwest
Trip Option 2 Mideast, Northwest, Midwest, Southwest
Trip Option 3 Mideast, Midwest, Midlands
Trip Option 4 Northeast, Mideast, Midlands, Southeast
Trip Option 5 Northwest, Midwest, Southwest
Trip Option 6 Mideast, Southeast, Southwest

I gave everyone the vote, and they voted for Option 2. The details of which are as follows. Driving times are WITHOUT stops, tractors, sheep, pee breaks, or anything. Double for more realistic times!:

Fly into Dublin International Airport

Day 1 Saturday Dublin
Day 2 Sunday Dublin
Day 3 Monday Drogheda (1 hour)
Day 4 Tuesday - Drogheda
Day 5 Wednesday Donegal (3.5 hours)
Day 6 Thursday Donegal
Day 7 Friday Donegal
Day 8 Saturday Westport (2.5 hours) (2.5 hours to/fromShannon for one-weekers)
Day 9 Sunday Westport
Day 10 Monday Westport
Day 11 Tuesday Dingle (4.5 hours) (yes, this will be a rough day)
Day 12 Wednesday Dingle
Day 13 Thursday Kenmare (1.75 hours)
Day 14 Friday Kenmare
Day 15 Saturday Kenmare
Day 16 Sunday Fly home from Shannon Airport (2.5 hours)

Now, I am starting to research B&Bs. I have a good idea of where I'm staying for some (for instance, I'm definitely going back to O'Donnabhain's in Kenmare!), but would love suggestions for other places. The places are approximate - it doesn't have to be IN Drogheda, or Donegal Town. However, we prefer our B&Bs to be in staggering distance of at least one pub, preferably one with music, so we don't have to drive after pints. We have only one designated driver in our group of 7!

We prefer charming, old school, with warm hosts/esses. We don't mind sharing double beds, but prefer single beds when we can get them. Triple rooms are great. I realize there will be limited choice that will hold 7 visitors at once.

-- Edited by Green Dragon on Thursday 3rd of May 2012 03:45:55 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Looks good. What time is your flight home from Shannon? If it is early you might want a night nearer to Shannon than Kenmare.

Unfortunately, the really great B&B I used to recommend near Drogheda closed. I've tried to inspect some others only to find no one at home. I do like Trim Castle Hotel in Trim and they have rates comparable to B&Bs.

In Donegal I like Donegal Manor. It is physically in walking distance of town but on a busy road with no sidewalks. If you stay I would suggest taking a flashlight at night if walking to town. Or maybe walk in when still light and taxi back.

My Westport recs are in the Quay area and that might be too far of a walk for you. I guess the closest in the Quay area is Boffin Lodge, then Glenderan, then Cilcomman Lodge. We've had some forum members stay at The Boulevard B&B who have liked it.

In Dingle try Tower View. If you are up for a farm experience but about 8 miles from Dingle town Jimmy Bruic at Coill an Rois is a sweetheart. If you can get him to take you on a pub crawl locally you would have a blast. Drop him a note and tell him I recommended you contact him. But if it has to be near Dingle town, go with Tower View.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

Day 10 needs a single night to see a bit of something on the way down and 3 nights in Westport (which I love) is one too many for this trip.

Green Dragon · Guru

Tony, I'm not a fan of single nights. Truly, I hate them... and with 7 of us, every morning when we leave a B&B is a flurry of confusion... limiting that is GOOD. Those three nights in Westport will likely be spent exploring Achill island, Connemara, and Clare Island... I'm sure we won't be bored. :P I know that's a long travel day, and while I love the Burren and all it's beauty... we can't see EVERYTHING in 2 weeks, though we really want to.

We don't have flights yet, but probably early morning. We came back from Kenmare last time without TOO much trouble (other than my idiotic thought that we had enough gas!)

I'll check those out. We definitely are interested in a Castle stay this trip (a first for all of us) so Trim might be just the place. Or is it a hotel NEAR the castle? I haven't been to Trim yet for a visit, even.

I stayed at the Boulevard, and didn't care for it for a variety of reasons. I will definitely look for some of the other ones. Thanks for the list! That pub crawl sounds delightful...

-- Edited by Green Dragon on Friday 4th of May 2012 11:55:32 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Christy,

Trim Castle Hotel is across the street from Trim Castle. It is a very modern hotel and definitely not a castle. I stayed at Kilronan Castle recently and thought it was fantastic. Rates are good too. Don't know if it will fit into your trip as it is in Co. Roscommon. In Donegal is Solis Lough Eske Castle, which is lovely. I have inspected it. I didn't like the courtyard rooms because they were hot since the whole front of the rooms are glass. Plus they have no windows only big doors you can open. Not exactly a great way to get ventilation. The rooms in the main part of the hotel are lush. Very pricey.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

I have noticed that ventilation seems to be a foreign concept in most UK and Ireland lodgings. No air conditioning, usually (not needed, mostly), but no fans, either. And to get some cooler air in, you must open windows - with no screens, so bugs come in. Very odd.