What towns to stay in ? (SW & Western Ireland) HELP! Leaving soon!!!

Linda M · Member

What towns to stay in ? (SW & Western Ireland) HELP! Leaving soon!!!

tony2phones · Guru

welcome.

Day one fine Bunratty then Adare, maybe a side trip to Lough Gur? We stay at the Woodlands which is just out of town but good prices and food.

Day two down to the south coast, personally Cobh rather than Kinsale, Blarney is worth a look just for the grounds?

Day three The ferry cuts the need to go back through Cork if you overnight Cobh, from Kinsale fine

Day Four either Beara or Iveragh (ring of Kerry) Kenmare fine for 2 nights

Day five, no problem driving round Dingle as a detour from Kenmare to Ennis round Slea head from Dingle and off over the Connor.

Day six for Clare (which is a lot more than 1/2 mile of Cliff) would move up to Kinvara just over the Galway border for the night.

Day Seven and Eight for the Connemara maybe Clifden for the overnight seven

Last night Oakwood arms Shannon?

For days 7&8 http://ireland.activeboard.com/t50055177/n59-galway-route/ & http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu

Linda M · Member

Thanks Tony! I had emailed you off Fodors website several days ago, maybe had wrong email address?

Day 5, can you explain "off over the Connor" ?

Also, recommended stops on N71 between Cork and Kenmare?

Should we stay in Kenmare the night after ROK, or stay in Killarney to be closer to Dingle the next day?

Thanks!

Linda

Green Dragon · Guru

He probably means up over the Connor Pass, which is a fantastic view - when the mists aren't covering it. It is the pass to the north side of the peninsula, Brandon Point and various lovely, less traveled areas.

Linda M · Member

Thanks Green Dragon! Any other advice on my posting?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Day 1 Arrive Shannon 9 am. Bunratty Castle? Adare - overnight? * Fine.

Day 2 - Cobh & Kinsale. Overnight Kinsale? * Fine. There is a ferry from Cobh across the river to Passage East and easy access to Kinsale.

Day 3 - Drive Kinsale to Kenmare on N71, stops at Skibbereen, Mizen Head, Bantry, Glengarriff? Overnight Kenmare. * Were you planning on seeing Ilnacullin Gardens on Garinish Island or just a brief stop in Glengarriff?

Day 4 - Drive Ring of Kerry (or Beara?) (or Dingle?) Overnight Kenmare again? Or is that backtracking? Overnight Killarney? * If you do Beara instead of ROK you won't be backtracking if you stay in Kenmare again.

Day 5 - Dingle Penniinsula. Ferry Tarbert to Killimer (sp)? Overnight Ennis? Too much in 1 day ? Suggestions? * Overnight in Dingle.

Day 6 Cliffs of Moher. Overnight Doolin? * Galway.

Day 7 Cong (a must do for my sister - Quiet Man house). Kylemore Abbey? * You can do Connemara, Cong and Kylemore on one day. Galway.

Day 8 Overnight close to Shannon for flight home next day. * Bunratty and maybe do the castle banquet or Irish Night at Bunratty?

Linda M · Member

Thank you!!!!
Linda :)

Judy · Guru

Just some notes on Cong. The original Quiet Man Cottage is long gone, however there is a replica of the cottage which is also a museum for the movie. The cottage/museum closes at 5 PM, so if your sister really wants to see it plan accordingly.

Inside Pat Cohan's Bar is a replica of the original bar from the movie. The bar was for sale at the beginning of 2013, so I don't know if it is open or not. My guess is that it is still open.

You can also take a walking tour of the town and view Rev. Playfair's house and the dying mans house, among other places which are recognizable from the movie.

For fans of the Quiet Man movie, Cong is well worth a visit.

Linda M · Member

Thanks Judy!!!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

You could save the cliffs for your last day on the drive from Galway to Bunratty.

tony2phones · Guru

Sorry Linda, have some strict protocols on my email so you possibly went straight to spam and with over 20 a day in there I just tend to clear the lot without too much attention to who they are from. Having been away there were 200 cleared out of there the other day.

GD answered the Connor for me, Thanks,

There is only 30 minutes between Kenmare and Killarney, I am amazed at how many people do actually have a night in each either would do for a two nighter.

Another option for day 5 after driving round Dingle might be to take the Ferry and stay on the sw Clare coast around Kilkee or anywhere else south of and including Ennistymon. give a possibility to see Loop Head area. Stay in Ennis with lots of options for your last night.. Or as Michele says Bunratty but only if doing the Banquet and away to bed..

What time of year? rough dates?

Linda M · Member

Michele, only a brief stop in Glengarriff, not planning on Garinish Island, unless it's a "don't miss". Tony, we are going the last week of Sept. Should we skip Bunratty if not doing a banquet? Is it worth touring?

Thanks to all !

Judy · Guru

For a first time visitor I would not skip Bunratty. Of special interest, aside from the castle, is the Folk Park behind the castle where the reconstruction of a 19th century village street lets you experience the lifestyle of the people inside and outside of the various buildings. There is also an area of rural farmhouses showing what life was like in the past. On your way to Adare you will be passing right by Bunratty, so if weather permits, do stop at Bunratty and enjoy this outdoor museum.

Also, I would skip the Garinish Island when in Glengarriff. It's nice, but not worth the time. There are so many more interesting places in Ireland.

Linda M · Member

Thanks!
Linda

Michele Erdvig · Host

The reason I asked about Garinish Island is because I don't think you have time to do it properly along with everything else on your list. So the advice to skip it is good.

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park are worth seeing.

Linda M · Member

Thanks again!
Linda

tony2phones · Guru

I like Bunratty for the Castle and Folk park but for my nature a choice of bars and eateries is a necessity.. I may chose to stay in one particular establishment but need the option to move on if the mood takes me. Bunratty fails on those grounds as a nights stay.

Last week of September includes Clifden Arts Week, (maybe catch you there)

Linda M · Member

I'm wondering now if doing the ROK AND Dingle is too much driving?
Should we only pick one?
Thinking we should instead focus on time in little towns?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Each is a complete day trip. If you don't want a lot of driving do one and save time for meandering on another day.

Linda M · Member

Thanks, Michele, we've decided to skip ROK and do either Dingle or Beara. We want some "town" time in Kenmare.

CowboyCraic · Guru

If it were me with a choice between those two, I would choose Beara... Rugged beauty, small villages, lots of gems along the route...Plenty of archeological sites, stone circles, wedge graves, etc

Linda M · Member

Thanks so much!
Linda

Faoicheilt · Member

Perhaps I am a little biased because it is my native place, but I would choose Dingle over Beara if I had to. Both are beautiful but I always feel that the Dingle peninsula is somehow more "alive" (and I don't mean "lively" , although it is that too. But don't fret too much over it, because whichever choice you make, it is not one you will regret