Are you taking the main road or the Portaferry ferry? I assume you are taking the direct route and not the coastal route up to the Ards Peninsula?

Lisburn is very near Hillsborough. Have you been there before?

Are you spending a couple of days in Co. Donegal? You will need most of a day for Glenveagh.

Just trying to get my head around this one.  

Well, let's start to break this down and see how to fill in the blanks.

Friday: Dublin to Lisburn via Ards Peninsula * This is doable but you are right about getting into Lisburn late considering all your stops, etc. From Newry there are a couple of different approaches. I think I would take the road through Hilltown and the Mountains of Mourne. It is a pretty straight shot and not much traffic although a good secondary road. Nice views from up there too. Might be best to avoid getting sucked into Belfast by taking smaller roads rather than motorways.

You lost me now. Do you only have another 3 days? Or do you have another week?

Bob,

It is always more difficult to plan your own itinerary than to offer advice on someone else's. I plan itineraries for people all the time yet when it comes to my own, things get complicated. I always want to cover more ground than I have time for even if I have a month in Ireland. I feel your pain!  

I guess you need to decide on what is more important and cut out one stop such as Donegal. We need to take our own advice that "less is more" and you won't miss what you don't see. Plus, there is always another trip on the horizon. Talk to your wife and get her input.

When is your book on Irish round towers coming out?  Or at least an article. I would love to have you do one for my Blog. 

Michele

Bob,

Sounds like things are coming together. Now you just need a few more accommodation confirmations. Last time I was in Lisburn they were building the Premier Inn there. It is outside town in the Sprucefield shopping area. There is a coffee shop nearby with free Internet access. Can't think of the name of it at the moment. I do remember that they had Thornton's caramel shortcakes in the Sainsbury supermarket. Yum!

Michele

If I find them on sale for 99p, I'll try to remember to pick you up a few ...

After a week waiting for a response from Sea Mist House, I booked us into Al**** and Brown Hotel for 1-3 July.  A little pricier, but I like the in-town location.  They have a Writer's Workshop  on offer, but it begins on 30 June and costs 499 Euro, so I'll NOT be doing that ...

Bob

Good to know, Tony.  Anything going on in Clifden, or nearby, those two days?  I see that I managed to miss the Rugby set for the following weekend.

Likewise, any doings around the Lough, the next two nights, whilst we are in Mountshannon?  Other than my Round Tower at Inishcealtra (and the one in Roscrea) I really don't have any specific agenda ...

Bob

Michele -- This makes 17 (or, 18 -- if you count Oct as TWO, since we "Interrupted" our month with a 'Side-Trip' to Paris, Bruges and Brussels...)

I'm not even CLOSE to 1/2 of what you've accumulated ---

But, then again --- You DID get a 'Head Start' ...  

Bob

Bob,

Bon voyage! Have a wonderful time in Ireland (again).

Michele

Checking in, after a LONG day, from Enniskillen -- taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi at our B&B at Dromard House. 

Our time with the kids and kidlets went well -- despite THEIR horrific flight problems via USAIR (Delayed landing in Charlotte, due to weather -- which APPARENTLY was not so severe that the DUB flight could not take off --   ).  This necessitated an over-night hotel stay (USAIR gave them a DISCOUNT voucher!!! -- so, it still cost them $60), followed by a morning flight to Boston (and a rainy, 8 hour lay-over), and terminated with an Aer Lingus flight into Dublin -- on Wednesday morning -- one, whole day late ...

Insult to injury, one of their two checked bags DISAPPEARED -- and failed to reappear, until the morning of 27 June -- just in time to fly BACK to the US.

Ah, well ... The kidlets LOVED Ivy Bridge Lodge, David and the critters -- particularly the two ponies that they had the opportunity to ride.

Other highlights included the Kerry Bog Village, Kissane Sheep Farm, the Gap of Dunloe and time spent with the Cousins.

On the way to the Dublin, on Thursday, we stopped in Cashel, for lunch and in Kildare, where we climbed the Round Tower.

Friday AM, after dropping off the family at the airport (To news of an announced, 1.5 hour flight delay, 'Due to Traffic', the wife and I set out for the North, to 'Iffy' weather ...

Visited Nendrum AND Drumbo Round Towers and toured the Northern half of the Ards and STILL arrived in Lisburn -- before 5 PM.  Saturday, we FAILED in our attempt to visit Ram's Island -- as the ferry only operates on a PRE-BOOKING basis ...  Day started iffy, but improved, as it progressed and we made our way West.

DID see Antrim's Round Tower, though.  Arrived in Enniskillen early enough to do some sight-seeing, too:  Monea Castle and some nice views of Lower Lough Erne and the Countryside.

Today started nasty, but improved in the afternoon.  Visited White Island in steady rain and toured Castle Archdale under dry-ish, but dark skies. Took the MV Kestrel cruise (1.5 hours, but includes 45 minutes on Devenish Island).  Climbed my SECOND Round Tower!

About 4 PM, we set out on a scenic drive that included visits to Portora Castle, Tully Castle and Lough Navar Forest Scenic Drive.

Tomorrow, it is on to Oran Round Tower (a stump), just outside of Roscommon Town, followed by a 'ZIG' to Knock and then on to Clifden, via Cong ...

Bob

Checking in again -- This time from Mountshannon.  Arrived after another long day, driving from Clifden -- via Roscam, Galway (Round Tower), Seir Kieran, Weatmeath (Round Tower) and Roscrea, Tipperary (Round Tower)!  Also spent a GOODLY amount of time at Celtic Crystal, were we were treated to a Grand Tour AND a cutting demonstration, by Sean.

I was shown a one-of-a-kind, Round Tower vase, cut by Sean that is to be shown next week, in Brussels -- after which, Sean will sign it and it will be shipped to my home, in Florida!   Yeah, Me! :cheer:

It wasn't even particularly pricey.     

Tomorrow, I'll ring up Ger Madden and make my way to Holy Island for another Round Tower.  That should be IT -- for THIS trip -- A total of EIGHT (8) new ones!

Weather was fairly nasty on Tuesday, but improved, late in the day.  Wednesday was dull, but MOSTLY dry.  Tomorrow is predicted to be cool, with scattered showers -- But, there-after, warm (70-72) and only partly cloudy ...

Bob

Bit -- About the only two things that the grands STILL talk about is the ride through the Gap of Dunloe and the two ponies (and dogs) at Ivy Bridge.  David was wonderful with them -- giving each a riding lesson --

We may have to compete for Lodge time NEXT year!

Tony -- Dunno how I messed up the Tesco number???? The Vodaphone had a fairly weak signal in Mountshannon, but it WAS working... Unfortunately, the weather on Thurs started rather dodgy and Ger suggested we wait an hour or two, to see if it would clear.  We drove down to the East Clare Heritage Center, to 'Kill' the time and spent about 2 hours or so, inside the old, stone church, chatting with the three delightful ladies working there.  That must be where we lost the service.  After, with BLUE skies and sun, we spent an hour on the Holy Isle and caught the last tour of the day at the Portumna Work House.  THAT was well worth a visit -- even though it is very much a work-in-progress...

As you said, perhaps NEXT visit ... ??? ...

Bob