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oopsy


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the best laid plans
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Hello all,


The week after posting that my lodging reservations are all made, I have a possible shake-up in plans. Just looking for feedback/ideas here...


Background: My mom's grandfather is from Leitrim (near Ballinamore). As our trip stands, I was going to do a long day trip there with her from Galway (6 hours round trip plus a walk in the streets, visit to church...) while my sig other got a break from us and explored Galway. This was all planned because we had no more specific info on our ancestors.


Fast forward to today...I am chasing a lead on more specifics on the ancestry. If this goes any place, it could actually lead to where family lived, where family are buried...I imagine if this happens Mom might be up for a longer visit in the area. My problem...how to fit that into our trip?


The current plan is: Roundstone, Galway, Dingle, Kenmare, Bunratty


I'm trying to think of how to adapt if Mom requests longer time in Ballinamore area. Here are a couple of possibilities:


Ballinamore-Galway-Dingle-Kenmare-Bunratty: perhaps doable, but I would miss lovely, lovely Roundstone and have to settle for a day tour of Connemara instead of several days there...insert pouty emoticon here


Roundstone-Donegal-something here-Ballinamore-Bunratty: this closely mirrors our first trip (without Mom), and obviously ignores the southwest which we have not yet visited. Not that the west/northwest aren't stunning/amazing/begging for months of our lives, but it feels odd to run basically the same route.


All this, of course, depedendent on this latest lead leading to something, so perhaps the post is for naught. Still, just looking for ideas from y'all.


Thanks--oopsy


 



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Melissa5


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oopsy, where exactly are Leitrim and Ballinamore? Don't have my map handy...Can you drop Dingle and Kenmare, since they are out of the way, and include a stop in Westport, County Mayo? Westport is supposed to be great for music pubs like Matt Malloy's. We'll be staying 3 nights in Westport on our first trip in July.

Good luck with the ancestry tracing. I've done some ancestry research and hope to have time for more before we leave. I think if you do get some specific info it makes sense to drop the southwest and concentrate on the west and the northwest. That's what I would do.

We are including the north because that's where my favorite Irish grandmother was from (near Belfast).

You can do a second trip which concentrates on the southwest.



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Michele Erdvig


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oopsy,


Why don't you wait to see what happens first? If you spend a few days in Leitrim you will obviously have to rethink your itinerary. (Melissa: Leitrim is between Sligo, Donegal & Cavan).


If you do stay near Ballinamore let me know because I have a good B&B to recommend in Bawnboy, Co. Cavan that is not too far away.


Don't panic yet. We are all here to help.


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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wojazz3


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Hi oopsy:


If it helps, I've never taken a trip that I didn't wish I had just one more day to do .....


Since you haven't been to the SW before, I would consider dropping Roundstone from your itinerary. The area is certainly lovely, but so is the SW and you won't have a hard time finding wonderful things to do. I don't think that you'll regret the decision.


Bill



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oopsy


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Thanks all.


Bill, I know you're right about dropping Roundstone if I get more ancestry info. I'll just have to put my extended stay in self-catering back on the list for a future year. Anyway, I've decided to leave it up to my mom. If she opts for Ballinamore area, we'll go Ballinamore--Galway--Dingle--Kenmare--BUnratty, and we will have a lovely trip.


Michele, the only reason I didn't want to wait completely to see how the newest lead pans out is because I wanted to have some idea of options should we make the change. Is the accommodation in Bawnboy in your book?


Melissa--Michele has given you a general description of where Leitrim is. Let me add that it is a beautiful area, just so very different than the coastal areas. We spent a few days in Manorhamilton and Carrick-on-Shannon in 2002 and were quite taken with the area. Beautiful walking, absolutely incredible arts and crafts communities. We happened upon the Creevelea Friary quite by accident and couldn't pull ourselves away. Glencar (which IS in Leitrim, not Sligo) is breathtaking. Had some incredible produce (Leitrim is increasingly known as an organic farming center). Had our quintessential Ireland magical moment. Hey--I guess life could be much worse than heading back to Leitrim for a few days rather than Roundstone!


Thanks again all. I'll keep you posted, by way of more questions!


oopsy


 



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Michele Erdvig


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oopsy,


I agree that Roundstone should go if you do Ballinamore instead. The place in Bawnboy will be in my 2006 book under "Quick Picks". It is Lake Avenue House: http://www.lakeavenuehouse.com/


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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oopsy


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Thank you for the link Michele. It looks lovely. A couple of other questions...How near to town is it? (i.e., can we walk back after a pint or two). Second, are there some decent dining/pub options in Bawnboy? Finally, I couldn't find rates on the website. Can you give us a range?


Thanks!


oopsy



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Michele Erdvig


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oopsy,


Rates for Lake Avenue House are 28.50-32.50 euro. They are about 2 miles from town. There are pubs and restaurants in Bawnboy but I have not eaten there so have no personal recommendations. I'm sure that if you stay at Lake Avenue they will have recommendations for dining.


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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oopsy


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Thanks for your help Michele! Mom has not officially weighed in but seems kind of excited about spending more time in the "homeland".


oopsy


 



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Michele Erdvig


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oopsy,


I'm always happy to help where I can. There are a few B&B in Ballinamore but I have no personal knowledge of them. Check out: www.townandcountry.ie


Michele



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"Ireland Expert"  Michele Erdvig

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