Base for 3 days between Galway and Dublin?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Base for 3 days between Galway and Dublin?

geodog · Member

Middle aged man and teenage son are in Ireland for 10 days starting August 14. I like to find a base, then explore and do day trips from base. Interested in the hiking the outdoors, scenery, history, theatre and music. Don't like spending a lot of time in cars/buses.

I have us spending the first 3 nights in Dublin, doing history walking tour, taking in some theatre, and doing NewGrange tour, then renting a car and heading straight across Ireland to Ballyvaughan, spending 3 nights there exploring Galway, the Aille caves, and maybe doing a day trip to one of the Aran islands. Last night have a hotel at Dublin Airport.

Can someone suggest a base for the 3 nights in between somewhere roughly between Galway and Dublin for hiking the outdoors, scenery, history, and music? Not a big city. Killarney seems popular, maybe much too popular? I read nice things about Dingle Penninsula, but same applies. Would it make sense to go north?

Suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

geodog · Member

Wow, that is a superfast and interesting response. I think Achill Island might be a little isolated, but Westport looks interesting. I'll check it out. Thanks so much.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Achill is isolated but beautiful. You could do a day trip to Achill from Westport. BTW, Matt Malloy's Pub (the Chieftains) is in Westport. If the weather is good you could climb Croagh Patrick.

tony2phones · Guru

Clifden for the Connemara and Westport for north Mayo are options to the North West. Over here in East Galway/Clare by Lough Derg there are options between Portumna at the north bridge to Killaloe/Ballina at the southern bridge on either bank although I am biased to the west bank. It will be quieter over here than the west coast but there would also be less accommodation options.