10 day/9night trip advice for western Ireland

pearl · Newbie

10 day/9night trip advice for western Ireland

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Welcome to Michele's Forum!

Actually, what you propose is pretty reasonable relative to most 'First Draft' plans. biggrin

All four locations are well suited for either walking or driving tours. Were it ME, I would opt for Killarney, Galway, Clifden and THEN to Ennis -- Assuming that you are flying out of SNN. Killarney is a SLIGHT stretch on Day 1, but do-able.

Since you would be visiting County Clare later, the drive from Killarney to Galway is manageable -- even with a few, nicely spaced stops along the way.

Some ideas for the Clare/Galway portions, courtesy of tony2phones: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t50055177/n59-galway-route/

https://maps.google.ie/maps/ms?msid=215571892271980732006.0004dee244e22029c7879&msa=0&dg=feature

Michele Erdvig · Host

I will second the welcome. You actually have a good plan. It is very sensible to spend more time in each area rather than try and cover too much. You will enjoy Ireland much more by doing so.

There is falconry available at Aillwee Cave and Ashford Castle. Sheep herding at Caherconnell Fort and Kissane Sheep Farm. You might consider a day trip to the Aran Islands from Galway and bike around the island. And the castle banquets are in Bunratty, Kinvara and near Quin.

You can do Dingle as a day trip from Killarney.

tony2phones · Guru

Thank you IC.. a better map for Clare (well west Clare) might be http://goo.gl/maps/e4gVk

Personally I would play with those locations..

Ennis 1 night on Arrival, shake off the mist and maybe a little sightseeing,, depending how you feel.. Killaloe/Ballina and up Lough Derg to Mountshannon and back via Tulla? http://www.visitclare.net/ More likely though a trip to the Cliffs and Burren..

Clifden for the Connemara lots of options for great walking, Falconry and Sheep Dog demonstrations. You will miss the Pony Show but can catch the Oughterard Show. more than enough for 2 weeks let alone 2 nights..

Galway. get in late enjoy the evening then the mid Day maybe Inis Mor or if you didn't fit in the Cliffs and Burren then drop down there.

Galway to Killarney is a long haul so maybe Adare/Limerick using the spare Ennis night?

If you split the trip drive round Dingle and end in Killarney You have 3 nights noted, I would make that 2 with the last night in Shannon (Oakwood Arms) checking in Late to make the most of the last day if you went Galway/Killarney use this last long day to Drive Killarney to Shannon via Dingle?

In respect of Area, Dingle is 1/3 the size of Killarney National Park, 1/2 the size of just the Burren and Cliffs "Eco Park" so about 1/10th the size of Connemara which to be fair covers a lump of Galway, most of Mayo and touches Sligo. The area on my map is just the southern more tourist half.

There are lots of options.. and you have time to cover a lot of ground, how you cover that ground is your choice, all we can do is help a little..

markan · Senior Member

"a couple of breweries/pubs. "

A couple of recommendations for you if you are interested in visiting a couple of local brewpubs:

Since you are staying in Galway I recommend you check out this website: galwaybaybrewery.com/

This Galway local brewery has 4 pubs in the city of Galway and Salthill like the Salthouse and the Oslo where you can try there beers as well as a variety of other Irish craft beers. You can find out more about the brewery and these places on the website linked above.

In County Clare you've got the Roadside Tavern/Burren Brewery in Lisdoonvarna. I know you're staying in Ennis but while you're out and about sightseeing in Co. Clare you might happen through Lisdoonvarna and if you do this is a really nice pub with excellent food and their own beer brewed in town. Also the Burren Smokehouse is nearby.

pearl · Newbie

Hello!
After taking ALL of your great advice into consideration I have decided to edit our plans to.... Land in Shannon drive to Ennis (2 nights), then Doolin (2 nights), then Dingle (2 nights), then Killarney (2 nights) then Shannon (1 night), fly out of Shannon in the morning.

Maybe do a day drive through Galway if we are feeling spunky. See where the wind blows us.....

Would you guys recommend doing just 1 night in Ennis and 3 nights in Doolin instead of a 2night/2night split? I haven't researched Ennis much yet, but I decided to do 2 nights there because it seems centrally located to places that we may want to go to. But Doolin seems to be "calling" to me more. (the music, the cliffs, the islands, the trails!!!!! ahhh I think I've just convinced myself!!! Oh I can't wait!)

I would like to thank you all for all of your help. When your planning a "Once in a lifetime" vacation it really helps to have the advice of people who have been there before. Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)

Pearl

Michele Erdvig · Host

I suppose it depends on what you want to see from Ennis. But if you were to spend only one night there I would add the day to Killarney. So much to do and see from a Killarney base.

tony2phones · Guru

Personally I wouldn't stay in Doolin but I'm not a tourist.. You will get more music in Ennis which has 7x as many bars and 7x less visitors packing into them.. Clare is not about 1/2 mile of Cliffs there is also here in East Clare by Lough Derg with the Slieve Aughty on this side and the Silvermines across in Tipperary lots of trails.. Kinvara would be the second location for the North Burren and south Galway 3x more bars and eating options than Doolin and great music from local locals..

Dingle is of course compulsory because St Rick made it famous, it has 1 dolphin (so does Doolin) and an American lad has set up an Ice cream parlour.. To be fair the peninsula is worth time and I will be down there next month but in Castlegreggory not the jam pot.

Killarney I like and would use one of the Dingle nights for there as the better touring base..Beara is the same size as Dingle peninsula but far more scenic mile for mile and would be my recommended must visit over and above the other two main attractions... If you want Trails then Sheeps Head and Mizen further over the Cork border would be well worth time..

Pic · Veteran Member

I like your idea of 2 nights in Dingle. It will take you some time to get there from Doolin and staying 2 nights will give you a chance to see a lot. We did the Slea Head Drive the last time we were there and it took most of the day - so much to see and take in. And I think you will want to spend time walking around the beautiful little town and meeting the people. I've been to Dingle on two of my trips to Ireland and look forward to returning on my next visit. Oh and the ice cream parlor Tony mentions - delicious! I like Michele's idea of taking a night from Ennis and adding it to Killarney. I've never been there - on my agenda for next time. But it looks like there is so much to see and do there.

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Enjoy!!

francomcdaddy · Member

haha so many options don't confuse Pearl! All of the above will give you a great holiday. Here how I would play it.

Arrive in Shannon and Head down to Adare. Use this as your base and take in Killarney, Dingle, Limerick or North Kerry. (whatever takes your fancy on the day). Then Base yourself anywhere in Clare. Everything is a short Drive.
Ennis is great base for southern clare activities, Bunratty Castle etc...

When I did a week in County Clare last summer i based myself in Lahinch and everything was close to travel too. Definately do a day trip to Innisheer from Doolin taking in the cliffs of moher on the way back by sea. The view from the ocean side by boat is way better in my opinion.

Just book your accomodation and a car and all the rest will fall into place !