County Clare, County Galway, Dublin and Wales

shashie50 · Veteran Member

County Clare, County Galway, Dublin and Wales

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Welcome Back! biggrin

Details, please -- Are you flying into SNN and out of DUB? Ferry or plane to Wales?

In Ennis, Grey Gables http://www.bed-n-breakfast-ireland.com/ gets a lot of high marks, but I usually prefer one of the hotels. If you plan to spend time there, you might see how this: http://www.fleadhnua.com/ affects your plans / interests. Schedule is 17-25 May and accommodations will likely 'Book Up' quickly!

In East Clare (around Lough Derg), my wife and I LOVED our stay at: Hawthorne Lodge B&B. http://www.mountshannon-clare.com/ Noel and Ursula were an absolute delight -- and there was SO much to see and do from the Mountshannon base!

Another handy B&B site for County Clare: http://www.clarevirtually.ie/

Michele will doubtless add her picks shortly -- and I have NEVER been disappointed at any of those.

Happy planning! biggrin

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Thank you!

We are flying from Chicago, in and out of DUB. We wanted to fly into Shannon, but not only was it more expensive, it required a 3 to 5 hour layover in NY or Boston. We will rent a car (not looking forward to THAT process) and head west. Not sure if we should spend a night somewhere in the middle to recover from jet lag, or tough it out and go the distance.

I love Ennis and have stayed there on 2 previous occasions. Have to go back and figure out where, but I like to stay within walking distance of pubs, restaurants, shops, etc., so we don't need the car every time we want to go anywhere. We would probably stay there early in our trip -- we arrive on May 7 -- so we'd be out of there before Fleadh Nua. I have a t-shirt from an earlier trip smile

I know there is a Dublin/Wales ferry and am hoping for a 'superfast' option. I have not looked into flights, thinking the ferry would be less expensive. We are going to want to rent a car when we get there -- have not looked into that either! I need to get busy, don't I? Yep!

Thanks for the recommendations. I will go investigate them now.

Thanks again,

Marsha

tony2phones · Guru

The only fast ferry between Dublin and Holyhead is now the Irish ferries Swift.. You might get me on there again.. in a coffin! take a little longer and a comfortable sailing with Stena Line.. If you check out the web site they have some good offers right now although Rail and sail is a good deal anyway. I am booked on the New Superfast X for next Wednesday returning on the same the following week.

I would second Grey Gables as being the most central B&B for Ennis. I would also suggest Birr as an optional overnight to break the journey from Dublin to the West.. Any guidance you need for Clare and the Connemara is in plentiful supply, for the Arans the popular vote generally goes with Inis Mor but my preference is towards the Cliffs and Inis Oirr combination cruise from Doolin with O'Brien line.

shashie50 · Veteran Member

I was looking at Stena and 3 hrs 15 min is fast enough for me! Do you think the extra for Stena Plus Lounge is worth the price? My husband has a bit of a sea-sickness problem so I think the comfort might be a good investment for us.

I think we stayed overnight in Birr on our last trip. I really need to look at my notes!

Thanks,
Marsha

-- Edited by shashie50 on Saturday 14th of March 2015 01:33:16 PM

tony2phones · Guru

Stena Plus used to be worth the extra but not any more.. we actually qualify to get it free if we wanted (frequent users) but don't. That said I haven't been on the new ship yet so don't know the layout.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Glad to hear you are headed back to Ireland again. Will you check your book order? I see it twice in my Pay Pal account. If that is a mistake I will refund the extra payment back to you. I seem to be having an email problem at the moment with Pay Pal as I usually get email notifications of book orders but some have not come through lately. Bear with me as I figure it out.

There are so many nice places to stay in Clare and Galway. Do you know yet where in those counties you are interested in?

shashie50 · Veteran Member

I think I was careful when ordering, but I did immediately receive 2 emails from PayPal. I was concerned that it meant 2 orders went through, but since both emails had the same order number ... well, I hoped it didn't mean the order went in twice. If you have 2 payments, I guess I was wrong! So, yes, I only want one book.

Just checked my credit card account and there is only one charge for $30.49 pending (plus the $1 charge for PayPal). Hmm... Confusing.

Our plans are pretty loose at this point, but it sounds like we will really be taking it easy. We arrive DUB on May 7th and depart DUB on May 28. I'm thinking 2 weeks in Ireland and one week in Wales. We are on the frugal side -- not looking for any castle stays but don't want to 'rough it' at our age (all over 60). We don't like to relocate a lot. Brian is inclined to believe we can just find a place as we go, but that stresses me out and it is important to me that we can walk to a pub or restaurant from our lodgings and for this reason, I like to plan ahead. There are times when we don't all want to do the same thing, plus, I want to relax in the evening and not worry about having to get in the car and drive after enjoying a Guinness or two. For the right place, of course, I am willing to make an exception. There will be a lot of daylight hours so at least we won't be driving in the dark.

I am interested in seeing the Burren. Only previous visit was on a tour, so I am looking forward to exploring a bit, especially since it will be spring. Even so, I realize that is probably a one-day goal. I would like to visit one of the Aran Islands, and it seems like leaving from Doolin is appropriate. Generally, we like to visit ruins and often find ourselves in cemeteries. We like history and scenery. Brian does some sketching, and we take a lot of photos. In the past, I have not had much luck getting the others to stay up late enough to hear much music, so I see no point in making that a priority -- still, it would be nice, and I think Clare is a good place for it! We've stayed in Ennis on previous trips and enjoyed it very much. We took the Tarbert ferry and drove Loop Head. Other than that and bus tours to the Cliffs, I think we've neglected Clare. Suggestions welcome!

Karen requested a couple of days in Galway. I really want to spend time in Connemara, and would not mind staying a couple of days each in two different locations if the locale or character of the place was special. Well, I know most places in Ireland are special, but you know what I mean.

Then we all want to spend time in Dublin. I have been working on genealogy online with a 3rd cousin there and look forward to meeting him in person. Plus, we all just love Dublin. Gasp! Yes, we do.

If anyone has advice on Wales, let me know. Brian's ancestors came from towns in Montgomeryshire. Still researching!

Thanks,
Marsha

tony2phones · Guru

As has been said Ennis is a great touring base for all county Clare. My preference for a Connemara base is always Clifden. Galway I see as a base to be in and out of and only recommend staying in the city for night life and then only if there is Not an event/festival on.

There are places on the edge of the City, Kinvara, Oranmore, Moycullen, Oughterard, Spiddal which I much prefer.

see also http://ireland.activeboard.com/t50055177/n59-galway-route/

For Montgomeryshire, it might pay to rail and sail to Chester or possibly Shrewsbury and pick up a car there, unless you have an interest in driving the north Wales coast? (better views from the train unless you explore off the A55) Enterprise car rental have offices in both those given towns..

Michele Erdvig · Host

Just checked Pay Pal again and see only one order now. It is possible it was pending and once it cleared was only listed once instead of twice.

In Doolin I always enjoy staying at Cullinan's. Great guesthouse and restaurant combo. In Galway I like Marless House and Sea Breeze Lodge or Park House Hotel.

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Thanks, Michele! Looking forward to receiving the book.

I spent time over the weekend, attempting to develop more of plan / schedule / framework for the trip. I will research all of the suggestions I've received to this post, and then come back with more specifics.

Thank you all!
Marsha

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Bob -
We booked our first 3 nights in Ireland at Hawthorne Lodge B&B in Mountshannon. I found a travel guide on TripAdvisor titled "Lough Derg Drive" which offers descriptions of the towns and villages (and RUINS!) around the lake. Very much looking forward to our stay there. Thank you for the recommendation!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I think you will really enjoy Hawthorne and Mountshannon. Tony lives just up the road a bit and will have some excellent suggestions, I'm sure.

The newly-opened Portumna Workhouse tour is very interesting and Ger Madden's boat trip out to Holy Island is a very enjoyable / interesting experience!

http://www.portumna.net/irishworkhousecentre/ http://irishworkhousecentre.ie/

http://www.clarevirtually.ie/holyislandtours.php

http://www.mountshannon.com/index.php/local-features/lough-derg/holy-island/

General, East Clare Tourism info: http://www.visitclare.net/

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I've got pictures of Hawthorne, our room there, and the vicinity of Mountshannon from July 2013, here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itallian_chauffeur/sets/72157634845427539/page8/

That same album also has pix from Clifden and Roscommon.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Marsha, I mailed your book today. Look for it soon. Hawthorne Lodge is one of my "Quick Picks".

tony2phones · Guru

Just to come back to the Stena Plus option.

I did the journey out on the Superfast X. It had only done six trips and was not fully open and din't even have the wifi sorted.. I wasn't impressed with the layout or comfort although the lounges were not open which will make a big difference. Based on the bits that were open I would say take the Stena Plus option.

The return journey had to be rescheduled so I returned on the Adventurer and was given the complementary Plus option. Knowing the ship well I would say that Stena Plus has been made very comfortable in last years refit but If it wasn't free I wouldn't have paid the big difference for the sake of complementary drinks and padded arm chairs.

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Thanks, Tony. We will have been in Ireland 2 weeks before we head to Wales. How far in advance would you recommend making the ferry reservations? For the Sail & Rail, is the train station at or near the dock?

Michele - Your book arrived in time for me to take out-of-town with me. Home now and serious planning should begin again ... or maybe AFTER Easter.

I think this trip will be a very special and relaxing visit. Appreciate all your help. More questions soon, probably... definitely!

Marsha

tony2phones · Guru

The station is at the Dock in Holyhead as it was at Dun Laoghare, Dublin you have to get a shuttle or a taxi from the city. Tickets are E5/£5 cheaper purchased 24 hours in front at any Rail station either side the water or you can buy on the day at the dock. You can also pre order your tickets and collect them at the port office. You could actually buy your tickets from Galway/Limerick to say Chester and drop the car in Galway/Limerick

Briefne · Member

I often pay extra for Stena Plus, but priority boarding with my car is the main reason for that.
There is equally comfortable seating in the TV lounge area of the boat, a little noisy, but they have a TV blaring in Stena Plus as well.
In Stena Plus you are not guaranteed a comfortable seat either, so my advice would be not to bother, unless you can drink enough coffee/wine and snack enough to cover the admission fee lol

You can pay 'at the door' for Stena Plus, assuming you cannot find seating to your liking and there are spaces available in the lounge, but I would be surprised if your crossing in May would be particularly busy

Another shout for the Park House in Galway, in Doolin, Atlantic View B&B was fine, have had an over night on Inis Oirr, staying at South Aran House, Inis Oirr is a really relaxing place when the day trippers have departed

-- Edited by Briefne on Friday 10th of April 2015 04:57:18 AM

tony2phones · Guru

Briefne, Not sure when you last travelled by Stena but the Adventurer has just been fully refitted, the Nordica sold (unfortunately) and the Explorer laid up with the closure of Dun Laoghaire. The SFX (not going to call it Superfast, it isn't) I await to use in a fully open state. Both ships do have a "quiet lounge" in Stena Plus if you want to avoid Sky News and both have free cinemas (not in +) if you fancy whichever movie they have on offer.

Briefne · Member

Hi Tony
Last travelled over for the New Year, on the Adventurer, or slow boat as I call it lol. Have travelled on most of the Holyhead route boats over nearly 50 years (gulp!) on both Stena, B&I and Irish ferries, both using the train and Car. You could say we've never had it so good

Was never a big fan of the Explorer, value comfort over speed, and always preferred sailing into Dublin port, for ease of access from the port to the N4 (even better now with the tunnel and M50)

Apart from priority boarding and disembarking, I would struggle to justify the additional expense of Stena plus. Not sure if the refurbishment has happened very recently, but there were certainly very comfortable areas on the boat which compared with the Stena Plus lounge.

Next visit will be flying into Belfast, onwards to Leitrim/Cavan for a long (lost) weekend in July, with another longer 2 week stay in September, using the Holyhead - Dublin route, be interested to see if there are any improvements with the Adventurer

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Tony,

Any suggestions regarding currency for the Wales visit? ATM at Holyhead?

Bob,

Thanks for sharing your photos and recommendations. Our trip will be off to a great start, I'm sure.

Tony,

I have copied your N59 Galway Route. That should keep us busy (and out of trouble) during our time in Connemara.

Thanks!

tony2phones · Guru

There is an ATM in the waiting area at Holyhead just to the left of the ticket office. Now. if you plan on spending on the boat I recommend you change some Euro into Sterling before getting on.. The exchange rate on board is scandalous and everything is geared to £ prices.

shashie50 · Veteran Member

Okay - this is the plan so far...

arrive Dublin, pick up car

3 nights, Hawthorn Lodge B&B, Mountshannon, Co Clare

3 nights, Oceanville B&B, Ballyvaughan, Burren, Co Clare

2 nights, Ivy Rock House B&B, Roundstone, Connemara, Co Galway

3 nights - unknown! awaiting inspiration smile

return car

4 nights, George Frederic Handel Hotel, Temple Bar, Dublin (meet cousins!)

Stena Adventurer, Dublin to Holyhead, Wales

3 nights, Rhyd Hir B&B, Llanfyllin, Powys, Wales

1 night, Conwy, Wales (to be determined)

Stena Adventurer, Holyhead to Dublin

2 nights, Dublin City Inn

home again - reviewing photos and typing trip report biggrin