Returning in March

bdokeefe · Veteran Member

Returning in March

Michele Erdvig · Host

How wonderful that you are returning to Ireland again.

I know how exciting it is once you book your trip and it is written in stone. We will be here as your plans progress to give whatever help and advice we can. I think your family will have a great trip and make memories to treasure for the rest of your lives. Maybe one of your daughters will show promise as a navigator...with a few tips from her mother. smile

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

That time of year (and considering the ages) you might find Ennis or Bunratty more to your liking for a final night. Both are much closer to the airport and offer more entertainment options than Doolin.

bdokeefe · Veteran Member

Thanks to you both. Good call on Ennis, close enough to explore the Cliffs the last afternoon, yet closer to SNN for a 0930 flight.

I know I have to be patient with the weather. We usually prefer smaller towns and outside walks. Unfortunately it looks like a lot of the Heritage Sites (castles, Muckross Farms) will not be open yet.

We land @ 0600, so pick up the car and head down to Dingle for 2 nights- stay @ Quayside, in a 3 person and 1 single. The girls will enjoy wandering the town, and I will see how a few of them do with the twisty roads on the peninsula drive. Dramamine only does so much.
Then 3 nights in Killarney. Visit Muckross, wander the paths along the lakes, hopefully take the Gap tour via bike/boat, Molly Galavin's and Bonane Heritage site...and the girls can enjoy wandering the town.

Make the longest drive of the trip, up to Westport. Stay either 2-3 days...this would let me be in Galway for the farmers market...I believe they have craft one on Friday and Farmers market Saturday.

My one concern is for how much will be closed for Easter, between Good Friday and the Monday Bank Holiday. I wasn't planning on heading to Dublin, but I will if it looks like other places will be completely shut down. Otherwise I could add a day here and there and stay on the West side of the island.

I usually like to stay in one spot and avoid one night stays...we rented a cottage outside of Bantry for a week last time. I just don't think that the girls would be happy to stay in one spot, especially if the weather cuts down on outside time. I'm fine w/ a pub and some chowder, so's the wife. The girls, not so much.

tony2phones · Guru

The only things closed on Good Friday are Pubs, you cant get a drink unless resident in accommodation with a bar, or on a train with a bar. Everything else practically business as usual..

No need to go over to Dublin unless you like the drive or need to see something over there?

I might suggest starting in Killarney its the same distance as Dingle if you are happy with that drive of a flight. If you had one night in Dingle you could cut the long drive from Kerry to Westport with a night in between and see some of Clare on the way up.

bdokeefe · Veteran Member

Tony- I'm going to 'take' a day I had planned to spend around Sligo up north, after Westport, and use that between Killarney (nights 3-5) and Westport (now nights 7-8).
I think we'll stop at Bunratty castle and then find out where the day takes us. Maybe towards the cliffs if the weather is promising.

So now I'm looking at landing in SNN @ 0600.
Dingle 2 nights
Killarney 3 nights
?? after Bunratty 1 night
Wesport 2 nights
??? 1 night
Galway 2 nights
Ennis 1 night, then fly out of SNN

Car rental Through Dan Dooley, mid size sedan, diesel, automatic, coverage through WMC, $370 12 days.
I usually don't get an automatic, but it only added $80 or so, and I thought that w/ the 3 girls I'd limit the distractions.

-- Edited by bdokeefe on Tuesday 18th of November 2014 08:25:34 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Only $80 more for an automatic? Way to go!

After Bunratty you are right that going to the Cliffs of Moher would be a good option. I also really like Loop Head. Both are best seen in decent weather.

Have you been to Achill Island before? Perhaps a consideration after Westport. I know a lovely guesthouse right on the beach.

bdokeefe · Veteran Member

OK, that's changed up a bit.

Still 2 in Dingle, followed by 3 in Killarney.

My previous route up to Westport would have involved some eventual backtracking to Galway, then Shannon. I dislike that, maybe it comes from riding motorcycles so much, but I like circuit routes if I can.

I was also concerned about keeping the girls going if the weather crashes. Not a lot of indoor activities in Westport/Clifden area.

So, from Killarney we'll head over to Kilkenny for a few days, then over to Galway for 2 nights, with the last night in Ennis or Bunratty. We'll make the farmers market in Galway on Saturday, followed by Easter w/ mass @ Cathedral. The last day spent walking along the Cliffs of Moher trail (I thinks it starts outside of Liscannor, @ the end of a small road?, we walked it when we went last time, and caught a gorgeous evening), and visiting the Bunratty folk park, flying out the next morning.

I spent a part of a day in Kilkenny back in '07, and I think the girls will enjoy wandering the old parts of the city. Has anyone stayed at the Bridge View B&B? It looks nice w/ a great location for wandering about. They also have a single room/triple room available, which is what I've been shooting for.

In between Kilkenny and Galway, would you stay in Birr or Athlone if you wanted to explore the midlands for a day? Is Castletownroche an interesting place to stay in between Killarney and Kilkenny?

I was thinking that Dingle/Killarney/Kilkenny/Galway are all pretty touristy spots, with enough to keep everyone interested for multiple night stays. Castletownroche and either Birr or Anthlone would be one night stops; they're smaller, different kind of towns, less traveled than the other spots. If this were my wife and I, we avoid one night stops....but I think the girls would want to keep the feet moving a bit more.

Make sense, sound plausible?
Thanks

-- Edited by bdokeefe on Saturday 13th of December 2014 05:50:15 PM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

As to the Cliff Walk, here's one that one of Michelle's Irregulars has Highly Recommended: http://www.doolincliffwalk.com/walk.html

As to your choices of Birr or Athlone, MY personal favorite would be Athlone, given the ages of the girls and the various options nearby, but Birr has a lot of promoters, as well. A LOT would depend upon the weather, though. If you opt for Athlone, I recommend driving along the Western edge of Lough Derg, whereas, for Birr, Roscrea and the Eastern shore would be the better route.

Castletownroache is an attractive little town, but I don't know how interesting or exciting the girls would find it in the evening. I think Cahir or Cashel might have more appeal for their ages and neither are all that much further -- time-wise.

There are LOTS of monastic ruins, castles and even, Round Towers in the area surrounding Kilkenny. The girls might really enjoy the panoramic views afforded from climbing to the top of the Round Tower at St. Canice's, next to the Cathedral: http://www.stcanicescathedral.ie/ . There are only two other Towers in all of Ireland that can be climbed, so the experience is pretty unique. Plus, you get really nice aerial views of the nearby brewery! biggrin

http://www.smithwicks.ie/index.html?redirect=SMX-Today.html

Michele Erdvig · Host

More decisions. confuse Birr is very small however Birr Castle Gardens are beautiful but weather dependent. Athlone is larger and Clonmacnoise is just south of it. Sean's Bar (reputed to be one of Ireland's oldest pubs) might be fun and they have music on some nights.

Kilkenny is a great town and there are no shortage of things to see and do in the area. Besides Bob's suggestions I like Kells Priory, Jerpoint Abbey, the cute town of Inistioge and Woodstock Gardens. A little farther is Castlecomber Discovery Park.

bdokeefe · Veteran Member

Thanks for the quick responses...Smithwicks tour starting up in Kilkenny is a definite plus for me. I love Smithwicks, and the 2 girls of drinking age are more into wine, so I should be able to finish their pints that come with the tour. The B&B is a close walk away.

I would like to stop in Cahir, I like that you can climb all over and around in the castle. I thought I saw that it was closed due to repair, scheduled to re-open in March. If it re-opens on schedule great, I can just imagine that those projects run long due to more damage being found once you tear into the old bits.

Regarding Castletownroche being small w/ little to do at night, that could be just what I want for a night! Silly question, but does it have a lot of farmers fields with sheep or cows? We live in farm country and a night wandering along a small lane w/ the critters going about life would be nice. Sharing the Cliffs of Moher trail with the nearby cows just added to the experience.

Glad to hear that there are options in whichever way we wind up. This crew should be pretty good at stumbling across some craic!

-- Edited by bdokeefe on Sunday 14th of December 2014 06:57:15 AM