New user, first trip, suggestions appreciated!

Cindyo · Member

New user, first trip, suggestions appreciated!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome to the forum! Glad you are finding it useful. Are you renting a house in Clonbulloge?

Here are some resources for you:

http://www.irelandtravelkit.com/

http://www.offalytourism.com/

http://kildare.ie/tourism/

http://www.meath.ie/tourism/

Weekends tend to be more crowded than weekdays so plan accordingly. The Giant's Causeway is too far to do as a day trip so concentrate on the areas closer to you.

Cindyo · Member

Thank you for the welcome!

Those links are wonderful and exactly what I am looking for.

We are staying at Cloncrane lodge. My mom's cousin lives right near there, so we will have relatives nearby which will be wonderful.

I was afraid that Giants Causeway was not going to be doable. Hubby looks at maps and thinks things do not look so far... All my research is telling me that the roads there are not as fast and extensive as we are used to here in PA/NJ. I think anything under a two hour drive would be reasonable to us, we are early risers and like to get up and go. And we are planning most outings on weekdays so we can visit relatives on the weekend.

Thanks again for the links!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Well, the AA Route Planner says 4.5 hours. If you use my formula (divide miles by 35) it is more like 6 hours to the causeway. Then you have to drive back again. Sorry to say hubby is wrong. He will have to save it for another trip.

tony2phones · Guru

If you want to do the causeway then I would recommend a night up there so you can see more than one sight and catch a little of what lies between..

Map for things along the M4/M6 route http://goo.gl/maps/FDZCV

Irish National Stud/Japanese Gardens could be a possibility irishnationalstud.ie

Rock of Dunamase from the Ireland Travel Kit site http://www.irelandtravelkit.com/conquer-the-rock-of-dunamase-aghnahily-co-laois/

Donagmore Famine Workhouse http://www.donaghmoremuseum.com/

Glendeer pet farm might interest the youngsters http://www.glendeerpetfarm.ie/ might fit into the Clonmacnoise trip.. Have you considered parking up in Athlone and taking a boat trip down http://www.vikingtoursireland.ie/ possibly too much for the 5yr old?

I am sure your family can give other little gems in the close area

-- Edited by tony2phones on Monday 7th of April 2014 05:47:45 AM

markan · Senior Member

Since you're staying in Co. Offaly you're not to far from one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe the Slieve Bloom mountains and also a region with quite a few castles. Mountains are a bit of an overstatement as they are not very big but they are very old and there is lots of nice scenery and small villages and castles to see around there. It's a short drive southwest of where you're staying. I've stayed several times at Kinnitty Castle and have done some hiking in the Kinnitty forest. Even if you're not an overnight guest of this castle hotel you can still stop in for a lunch or dinner and walk around the grounds. It's worth a visit.

You might find this site interesting to peruse. Lots of good info here about the region:

www.slievebloom.ie/