2nd trip

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

2nd trip

Michele Erdvig · Host

Go NORTH! Spend some time on the peaceful Ards Peninsula. Zip into Belfast for a quick look around and to see the new Titanic Center. Drive the Antrim Coast. See the lush Fermanagh lakelands.

Michele

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

My other half does not want to venture anywhere that remains under the Queens rule. Still go North? Can you suggest 2 or 3 hub rural cities where we spend a couple of nights in each?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Well I guess that nixes Northern Ireland! Let me think about it while I'm having dinner and get back to you.

Wellsley · Guru

How about Sligo, Donegal & Letterkenny, definately on my bucket list.

Michele Erdvig · Host

That was a long dinner...but I'm back.

The west & NW. Definitely see Connemara. If you don't like Galway City think of smaller places like Clifden, Oughterard or Roundstone. Westport is nice. Sligo is highly underrated and has dramatic scenery. Although Letterkenny is a good central point from which to see Co. Donegal it is urban. Just a little north is Ramelton or west to Ardara or Killybegs. That's more than three places but gives you something to work with.

Can you sneak across the border without your other half knowing? biggrin

Michele

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

She is terrible with directions-sure i can. I just wonder if we can do NW and SE in the same trip. We covered a large area last time, Cashel, Cork, Kenmare & Doolin and I am sure it will be more challenging this time because of the lack of major hwy's.

-- Edited by UNI4MER on Thursday 5th of April 2012 12:11:00 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

No - definitely choose either the NW or SE. Your one week time allowance will not allow both.

Michele

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

I was afraid you were going to say that cry and knowing me if I chose one area to explore I will always have in the back of my mind "what about the other". Anyway weather wise between the two which would be more favorable during the end of May as when we went last Sept (first week) it was one of the wettest on record.

Michele Erdvig · Host

The weather patterns go from the western seaboard of Ireland to the east. Consequently, Ireland's SE is known as "the sunny southeast". Whether that prediction comes true is anyone's guess. You don't go to Ireland for a suntan. You just make your best informed decisions and go.

tony2phones · Guru

Tell the wife that we in the Republic had a vote and decided the Queen could come on a visit last year, provided she relinquished sovereignty of the 6 counties for the days of your visit.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Good one Tony! biggrin

Wellsley · Guru

UNI4MER wrote:
I was afraid you were going to say that and knowing me if I chose one area to explore I will always have in the back of my mind "what about the other". Anyway weather wise between the two which would be more favorable during the end of May as when we went last Sept (first week) it was one of the wettest on record.

You know what that means don't you? It means another trip to Ireland. Now thats not to bad is it?

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

From the sounds of it NW seems to be favored huh?

Michele Erdvig · Host

It's more dramatic. The SE is gentler.

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

AHHHHHHHH! Gentle Schmentel. If I had two weeks I would be able to navigate so much more. We had such a great time last September with 1 night in Cashel, 3nights in Kenmare and 2 nights in Doolin. Loved them all! But I feel we really rushed the Cashel area and I loved that region. My thinking is that the region of the North West is very like the area of Doolin, and that was a lot of driving. If I had my choice I would spend 1 week in the South East and 1 week in the North West. We are leaving Northern California which is rainy right now and looks very much like the grassy coastal areas of Ireland. I would love to visit Cong and Galway and many surrounding areas, but I think the endless driving would be a burden this time around. I would like to stop more and explore the flora without having to make it back to base before dark. No way that I will drive those rural roads on the opposite side of the road after dark!!!! But I really liked the music in all of the pubs last trip and I hope we can experience some of this in the South East? I
don't know,On the edge here.....
Leslie

Michele Erdvig · Host

The west and NW are wilder and more wide open. Lots of cliffs, pristine beaches and rugged coastline framed by mountains. You are correct that you can drive long distances without encountering other tourists and with just unadulterated scenery. You wouldn't necessarily do endless driving unless that's what you want.

There is some dramatic scenery in Co. Wicklow and that is considered the SE.

Read up a little and see what you think.

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

The Burren is unique to itself and few tourists take the time to explore more than the coast road, Donein and the Cliffs of whatsit. The Connemara Is also unique, wild and desolate. Then on to north Mayo and Sligo rugged but gentle enticing lost soul's to the vast expanse of Donegal. The North striking fear into the minds of those still living in troubled times but displaying endless wonder to those willing to enter the land of the wicked wizards from the East.

Then there is the South West mostly the haunt of the tour bus brigade and some of us who sneak off the main road to find the best bits of untrodden land. Ah the South East, Somewhere I really should have another look at sometime.

Seriously Its your Holiday and provided you take time to interact, stop to smell the shamrock and enjoy the places you visit there is lots on offer. Ireland isn't going anywhere and you can always revisit be that physically or through the vision of your thoughts.

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

Looks like we are leaning west and NW. Pubs and nightly music are a must for us. Is that readily available like the places we visited on our first trip?

Michele Erdvig · Host

You will never find music on every night in Ireland. It depends on where you are and what's going on. Sessions are more common on the weekends than mid-week.

Michele

Wellsley · Guru

UNI4MER wrote:
Looks like we are leaning west and NW. Pubs and nightly music are a must for us. Is that readily available like the places we visited on our first trip?

I know you said you wanted rural area's, but if you want nightly music Galway is the place to be in the NW. Taaffes pub, Tig Coili pub are a must see. They Are great pubs with great music.

murphy · Guru

The Crane Bar, a couple blocks Northwest of the 2 just mentioned is awesome. 2 floors of music going sometimes...but the upstairs one is where I heard some of the best music in Galway! Dan

tony2phones · Guru

Who moved Galway to the NW???

Just work a rough Itinerary, need any help for the Shannon north and I will do my best.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tony,

Google maps must be at it again! wink

Michele

Wellsley · Guru

tony2phones wrote:
Who moved Galway to the NW???

Just work a rough Itinerary, need any help for the Shannon north and I will do my best.

My bad, I took the North out of Northwest. But Galway would be a good stop for the northwest if your flying in or out of Shannon airport.

tony2phones · Guru

I know, the west of Ireland ends at Dingle wink and anything above the Shannon is the North West blankstare . Sligo is sub Arctic aww and Donegal is practically a polar region hmm .

No one ever gets confused about the East coast confuse , everything above Dublin is in the North evileye and anything below Dublin has to be the South East biggrin .

Wellsley · Guru

Maybe we should draw a line from Dublin to Galway. M6 everything above M6 is north and everything south of M6 is south.

UNI4MER · Veteran Member

Ok here is the preliminary itenarary. Night one Galway, nite 2, 3, Clifton, night 4,5 Sligo, night 6? night 7 Dublin. Comments?

-- Edited by UNI4MER on Sunday 15th of April 2012 10:03:24 PM

Judy · Guru

You will also need a vertical line from Letterkenny to Youghal. Then no one will be confused. confuse

tony2phones · Guru

Can I suggest somewhere in Clare on the 1st night and move the Galway night to night 6, that gives a straight 2 1/2 run over to Dublin.

I suppose the next question would be where in Clare? Personally I like Ennis for being a genuine Irish town not a mass tourist haunt unless its festival time but plenty of pubs and eateries. Killaloe/Ballina is another non too tourist option. Then the usual suspects of Doolin or Ballyvaughan on the coast but you could look at those on the way to Clifden (Clifton has a suspension bridge over the river Avon near Bristol in the UK nice place for your next trip?).

Irelands Regional map

http://www.iro.ie/regional_authorities.html

There is a lot of information available if anyone wants to delve into the regions they might be visiting. (if a little out of date)

-- Edited by tony2phones on Monday 16th of April 2012 08:19:24 AM