Hi everybody. 1st time user. Love reading all your posts. My two daughters (21 & 31) and I will be arriving in Shannon (our first trip to Ireland and first trip overseas) on the 8th (my birthday ) around 12:30 pm. I guess we will drive through Limerick to get to our first night at Adare Country House. Would love to find a nice place to eat out our first night, maybe in Adare or pretty close. Anything between Shannon and Adare we should stop to see? On the 9th, the next morning we drive to Dingle to Pax Guest House for 2 nights. I was thinking of driving down through Tralee and into Dingle. Again would there be anything we should not miss going down? We plan on seeing Dingle the day we drive down and the next day The Ring of Kerry. Leaving out on the 11th, we go back up to Ennis for 2 nights at Glenomra House and I was thinking of driving back up through Ballybunion and across the Killimer/Tarbert ferry, into Kilrush and on into Ennis. Then the next day we can do the Cliffs. Our final night we will be staying in Newmarket on Fergus at Cahergal House for 1 night and back to the airport to fly out on the 14th. I've been racking my brain for 6 months planning all this and I'm still worried I am missing something important. I think I am satisfied with all of my choices on lodging, I just don't want to pass anything important on the way to our destinations. I have put on my list of places: Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Dingle coast, I gotta get any Aran Sweater, some Irish Whiskey , a piece of Irish Sod for my irish mother, Murphy's pub in Killarney, Durty Nelly's, Puffins!!, Torc waterfall, Oh La La in Ennistymon, Murphy's Ice Cream and Out of the Blue in Dingle. Whew, I know that is a mouth full, but like I said I've been working on this for 6 months! My husband said he can't wait for me to go, so he doesn't have to listen to me anymore. Thanks ahead for anyone taking the time to read this long post, I appreciate it.
Welcome to the forum. Glad you are enjoying reading all the different posts.
You may want something special for your birthday dinner. If so, check out:
Oak Room at Adare Manor Dunraven Arms Hotel Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge The Wild Geese The Blue Door
If you take the toll tunnel to Adare you can avoid Limerick City.
Adare to Dingle: Connor Pass & the beach at Castlegregory
Since you want to take the ferry to West Clare if the weather is nice consider going down to Loop Head and then to Ennis. There is a nice cliff walk in Ballybunion.
Ennis and Newmarket-on-Fergus are very close to each other. I don't know that I would change accommodations for one night. You could even spend your last two nights in Ennis and have an extra day for Killarney. But perhaps you cannot change anything at this late date.
Aunty Lena's is great but consider the Arches for a decent meal at a decent price. Listowel would be my choice for a walkabout rather than Tralee. Do the Cliffs cruise maybe the combi with Inis Oirr possibly see the Puffins from the boat. I am not sure what you gain on the last night move apart from 15 minutes. Brogans is our point of choice for food drink and music in Ennis, Tattler jacks and O'Connors in Killarney but Murphy's is fine. Dirty Nellies is the place to go if you want to avoid locals but the Blarney mills outlet over the way will sell you a sweater if you decide against Inis Oirr. Bunratty sells their own brand of Poitine and some good Whiskeys
__________________
Two rules for Ireland, Take your time & bring a sense of humour
Thank ya'll so much for your quick reply. Michele, thanks for the recommendations for the birthday dinner. Can't beat a birthday in Ireland! And the toll tunnel sounds like a good idea. And yes my reservations are set for ennis, they didn't have another day, but Cahergal House looked so nice and is a little closer to the airport. tony2phones, I love reading your posts! The Arches looks great...I think it will work out great. I'm glad you told me about Durty Nellys. I don't want to be with a bunch of Americans...I can do that at home...and believe me, it's not that fun :0) . My mother wants this whisky that has Heather in it??? Does anyone know what she is talking about?
If you have time the day you plan to drive the Ring of Kerry, you might want to consider the Sheep Dog Demonstration. Last year we found it to be truly fascinating and well worth the money (5 euros I believe). You can learn more at http://caitins.com/sheep_dog_trials.php. Have a wonderful trip!
Thanks suetvlnut! My oldest daughter is a vet tech and would love the Sheep Dog Demonstration. That's why I chose the Cahergal House. It looks like a great farm house.