To Ireland! Once Again!

murphy · Guru

To Ireland! Once Again!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Glad to hear that you are heading back! Have you considered renting an apartment in Killarney? I've had some good experiences doing so for 4-5 day periods.

We did the SNN to SE one year with a Self-Catering in Glendalough, but it was only a one bedroom cottage. Michele will doubtless have some good recommendations.

There's been some bad flooding in the Millstreet, Mallow and Killarney area (and elsewhere, as well!) of late, but I'm sure they will have it under control by the time you visit.

In 2010, we rented a car in Cardiff (but spent most of our time in the Cotswolds) and found the Car Hire cheaper, easier and less complicated than in Ireland, but I suppose nothing goes unchanged. I used my AMEX card to waive the insurances there.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

PS -- NOT that I have a say in the matter, but . . .

My vote is to include the Grand daughter again, too! biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Judy · Guru

Dan,

As I was reading your post I was wondering if you were going to take your GD along this time. Then there is was, her request for a return trip in paragraph 4. You do know that your reply of "we'll see" means YES.

We get that same thing from our GD requesting a 4th trip. We have concluded that if we go without her we would feel guilty the whole time in Ireland. So my advice is take your GD if you want a guilt free trip.

We stayed in a great 3 bedroom house in Killarney that sleeps 7 (just in case you add that 7th little tourist).

Judy

tony2phones · Guru

Can't help with accommodation in the South East but we generally opt for using http://www.shamrockcottages.co.uk/ or https://www.imagineireland.com/

As to Wales, ask away about North Wales spent every September there for the fist 16 years of my life and the locations haven't moved although it was dark when we drove through last week.

As always the door is always open here but mass catering might need a bit of notice smile

murphy · Guru

Bob,
As for renting an apartment, two considerations: the main one being location. Wouldn't rule it out if it were really close to the downtown restaurants, pubs shops etc. The other being, with only one week, the B&B (breakfast furnished) option seems more appealing. Not too interested in grocery shopping, cooking, and all that goes along with it. However, if we could find a three bedroom house or apartment in the right location, we wouldn't rule it out. We could still eat all our meals out, but still have other options....As for Wale, have not ruled it out. Looks like I need to do more research.

Bob and Judy,
As for our GD, you know we would take her along in a heartbeat! The "we"ll see" part involves getting Mom and Dad to agree and how her grades, attitude, etc are progressing during her first year in middle school. The transportation logistics would be a little more complex since she won't be able to spend the whole 4 weeks in Ireland with us. She would go with us outbound. Her Great Aunt and 2nd cousins have agreed to accompany her from SNN back to DEN. From there she would have to fly as an unaccompanied minor to the West Coast. She has done so once before a few years back when she came to visit us in AZ for mid-winter break. So....we'll see...!!!! And Judy, she is not such a "little" tourist anymore! For quite a while I was measuring her growth spurts on the buttons on my shirt. Now we are within 3 to 4 inches of seeing "eye to eye"! My, they grow up fast!

Tony,
Thanks for the 2 links for accommodations. I will check them out. As for mass catering, you need not worry! After the masses leave SNN, DW and I just might check in with you if we get near your stomping grounds on our way eastbound.

One other update: the Denver relatives have just notified me that they are willing to open up the trip to other family members and friends. I like their thinking: "the more the merrier".

regards

Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 10th of January 2016 12:42:37 AM

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 10th of January 2016 12:44:27 AM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Great to hear another trip is in the works. I think a week in the SE will be enough. I have had my eye on the Old Boley self catering just outside Wexford but have not seen it or stayed there yet. What is your budget for B&B in Killarney? There are two guesthouses that I like that are walking distance to town: Killarney Lodge and Earl's Court. They are pricier than the B&Bs though. Take a look at Larkinley Lodge, Robeen House & Applecroft also.

murphy · Guru

Michele,
The web sight appears to be down for Killarney Lodge, both thru your link and directly. Thanks for the other suggestions. They do look good, and am asking for price quotes/availability, although we want something smack in the middle of town with a 2 min walk or less. I have gotten nervous and nailed down Scott's Apartments on booking.com as I mentioned in the thread about "increased tourism". No fees involved up until a week before. Murphys, our old standby was down to 5 twin rooms. We want at least 1 triple room!

Scott's apartment lists the same price for anywhere between 2 to 5 people. It was 1/2 the price/person, but of course there is no breakfast included at the apartment and hot breakfast is available across the courtyard at their Hotel for $13.00 An optional breakfast might be ok if we decide to depart early on 1 or 2 day trips.

Bob, was curious which apartment(s) you have used?

Since our group may grow in size, I went out on a limb and booked 2 apartments. (That only left them with 1 on inventory at booking.com)

Now I am getting nervous about booking the rest of our self catering cottages!

regards

Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Monday 18th of January 2016 05:43:22 PM

tony2phones · Guru

Killarney Lodge web site is working from here (east Galway)

contact details

TELEPHONE: +353 64 6636499

FACSIMILE: +353 64 6631070

E-MAIL: KLYLODGE@IOL.IE

Michele Erdvig · Host

I see the Killarney Lodge website back up now. It is not smack in town but on the edge. Maybe a 3 - 5 minute walk to town but pretty close.

murphy · Guru

An update on plans: our group of 5 has now become 6. Another cousin is now booked! We booked the 9 passenger people hauler (group M VW Caravelle diesel manual or similar) from Easy Tour Hertz franchise for 409.63 Euros; base rate and with CDW and excess SCDW it comes to 697.43 Euros for Sept 28 pickup and Oct 5 drop off. There is an additional 7 euro fee payable at the counter at pick up for wheels, tire, and glass. We will opt for that coverage. We have opted for 3 double rooms (twin) at our old favorite hangout in downtown Killarney: you guessed it Murphy's! Have the room only option since we will probably be leaving early (before hot breakfast is served) 3-4 days when we do the Ring of Beara, Ring of Kerry, Dingle Penninsula, and Dromtarriff Parish/cemetery/ancestral farmland. Hot breakfast is available for 8 Euros. Since we have opened this up to numerous family members, we will hang on to the extra reservations for a couple 5-person apartments for 2-3 months in case more add on.

That is part 1 of the trip! For part 2 we have invited friends, a couple who have never been to Ireland. They will arrive Oct 6 and stay on with us for the duration departing Ireland Oct 25. Since DW and I have spent very little time on the East and SouthEast coast, that is our plan. The other couple are content to do that, but may take 6-7 one day "day-trips" to see some of the other bits we have already seen. For part 2: We have also secured a 4-door diesel J class VW Passat (or similar) for 844.29 Euros base rate and it totals up 1065.61 Euros with CDW and SCDW also from Easy Tour. Tires and glass also available for 7 Euros day. On both reservations, I have been given a download/printable coupon for a FREE "neverlost IRELAND GPS"!!! Now we will have a GPS for the front seat AND backseat biggrin DW and I will spend one night at Tullamore (2 whiskey distillery tours-Tullamore & Killbegan) and what ever else we can fit in before we pick up the other couple at DUB on the 7th at 12:00 noon.

From there we head north and spend 4 nights in or near Dundalk. North of Dublin. They will do a day tour to NI taking in Belfast-titanic-black cab tours as well as Giants Causeway and Rope bridge. It is an 11 hour tour out of Dublin and hopefully they can join the tour in Dundalk. Another day we will drive the Coastal route to Torr Head then back down to Dark Hedges, and on thru the interior. Another day we plan to take in everything ST. Patrick etc. They want to do Newgrange one day and we will do Howth and Knowth at the same time. Also plan to do Trim castle (and any other castles in the above routes) as well as Hill of Tara.

From there we head to Kilkenny 2 nights (they will see Kilkenny and we will do Carlow and surrounds). Then 4 nights in Youghal. From there they have an option for a bus to Jamison Dist, Blarney Castle, Cork City etc. DW and I plan to explore the south coast.

Next will be 3 nights Wexford, we will hit Waterford Crystal, Hook Head Lighthouse, Kennedy stuff etc in the SE corner.

From there we have booked 5 nights Wicklow. We will do Glendalough surrounding area etc. This will also allow them to bus or train into Dublin easily for a couple days of HOHO sightseeing or other day trips, while we further explore the east coast/interior.

Somewhere in the above 2 schedules, we plan to see: the Irish Stud/Jap. Gardens, Clomnicois, Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Swiss Cottage, St Johns Castle Limmerick, as well as the little village of Adare. Most of this DW and I have yet to visit, or if we were there, it was only a brief visit.

The lodging on phase 2 will be mostly B&B's with one hotel at Youghal. We had considered 2 one week self catering cottages, but were not able to find anything close in to towns for the night-life. All of our lodging is able to be cancelled with no penalty, so if a self catering option comes up....we still could do that. We are open to suggestions esp. on Part 2!

Now the hard part: 5 months and counting......

Regards Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Friday 1st of April 2016 02:26:49 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Good thing you are a pro at traveling in Ireland because that is a lot of juggling with various people and itineraries.

Did you see the summer camp program for young people that Ireland is offering? Perhaps your GD would be interested. Once in Ireland everything for the kids is free.

tony2phones · Guru

Any reason for Dundalk and not actually over the border? Belfast or around might be a better point.

murphy · Guru

Michele: don't feel like a pro! Just practicing fulfilling the role of a "wan-a-be" tour guide! Tony: DW and I have already spent 4 days in the Belfast and Portrush area. Except for Torr road and Dark Hedges, we really want to spend these the other 3 days in the area from Howth/Malahide on up to Belfast coastal area as well as adjacent in-land bits. And according to Conn at Easy Tour, the exchange rate is much better for Euros than pounds/Stirling at this time (correct me if I'm wrong!) and so wanted to eat/sleep/play south of the border! Dan

tony2phones · Guru

Quite correct getting more E than £ for your $'s

murphy · Guru

Michele,

I finally got around to checking on the summer camp for kids. Unfortunately, it states on the web sight that it is for children of Irish heritage who have never been to Ireland before.

Update on our GD. Since she has nearly straight A's in her first year of middle school, she was allowed to be a candidate for the semi-annual 7-8th grade trip from her school to Washington DC! So that will be her emphasis for the next school year. As much as we would like to take her on this trip, we just think that she should not miss an opportunity like that. There will be other chances to go to Ireland, but maybe not another chance to take in all the history that our nations capital offers. She needs to raise $2400 plus spending money, so we will be employing her 2-3 days a week during summer break selling fish and chips!

Since our group has grown to 6, my cousin booked 3 twin rooms at Murphy's B&B in Killarney. We will hold onto the apartments for another month or so in case our group grows some more.

Still working on all the attractions that we may want to see between Torr Head in NI all the way down to Youghal.
Tony has worked up a scenic route for us after we drop the relatives off at SNN and head for Tullamore. It would involve Quin Abbey, Wilde's chocolates in Tuamgraney, (that will be a hit with DW!), and Birr Castle! We may meet for late breakfast or early lunch in Portumna or at the very least tea and scones!

Dan

murphy · Guru

Looking at my calendar and we are getting close to that two month mark!

An update: We were able to meet with my Aunt and 3 cousins at our family reunion last weekend. They are really excited! (So are we!) Arranged some minor revisions in the schedule.

We were able to cancel the final night at Killarney Scott Apartments (we have decided to use both apartments) putting 3 and 3 in each. It is a less expensive than the 3 twin rooms at Murphys and will afford us a lot more space and privacy. Scott Hotel and restaurant is across the courtyard and it is still smack in the center of Killarney.

Instead of departing Killarney at 5-6AM on the 5th and making a mad dash for SNN to get there 3 hours early for their 11:30 flight, we will leave Killarney the day before on the 4th and head for Cliffs of Moher, then on to Bunratty. We Have booked our final night at Bunratty Manor (stayed there with our GD in 2014). They are planning to do the late seating at the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet.

I gave them my proposed itinerary and asked them if there was anything they wanted to add or delete. They repeatedly assured me it was all in my hands and they were happy to just be going and looking forward to seeing Ireland.

We also tweaked our phase 2 itinerary. Changed lodging in Wexford to Riverbank House Hotel. Better ratings, price, and closer to downtown. We have also taken 2 nights off the 5 night Wicklow reservation and will spend the final 3 nights at the Dublin Premier Airport Hotel.

Our friends want to spend the last few days in Dublin and we want to do some day trips into the interior west of Dublin and the suburbs north and south of Dublin. Premier has parking for guests and it is easy in and out being on the North side near the motorway. Our friends will get the three-day pass so they can bus in/out of downtown Dublin as well as use the green HOHO bus to tour downtown with that same pass.

We really like the Premier Inn and we will also have an option to bus in to Dublin one or two evenings as I have a few pubs/music I need to check out! Would also like to see the botanical gardens and the cemetery where the 1916 heros are buried.

It seems to be all coming together but still open to advice/suggestions if anyone cares to chime in!

Regards, Dan

-- Edited by murphy on Sunday 24th of July 2016 02:48:58 PM

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan --

I think you'll like Riverbank House. We stayed there during our 'Scenes From A Wedding Tour' http://ireland.activeboard.com/t49038325/scenes-from-a-wedding-april-2012/ It has a few recommendations for the town. We stayed on the other side of town on our subsequent June Visit: http://ireland.activeboard.com/t44203126/abbeying-ireland-again/

Rather than shuttle bus from Premier Inn to the Airport and then Express Bus to Dublin, there is also a City Bus ( #101 ??) that connects the Swords Airpark to the Busarus in City Center. Might be worth checking out.

murphy · Guru

Bob,

When we were stranded in Dublin during the east coast hurricane a few years ago, we caught a city bus on the street out in front of the Premier. It cost 1.85 one-way if I remember right, to go downtown. However, we bought the three-day pass that included most all the city bus routes AND included the green HOHO bus. Was handy as you could just swipe the pass and get on. Didnt have to fiddle around with coin. Our friends will do that, but not sure if we will get the pass or feed the machine as we get on. It was convenient, about a city block to the street then down about a block. We really liked the Premier and are looking forward to the Riverbank house.

Regards,

Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

The countdown begins! Wise choice to be in Bunratty the night before departure. It makes getting to the airport so much easier. Last time I was at Premier Inn I was on the top floor and could see the Irish Sea from my room.

murphy · Guru

I agree about being at or near the airport the night before. With Murphy's law in play I always worry about a flat tire, car trouble, or an accident that may have the road blocked. It sure takes the stress out of it. And we have a big day planned after we drop the cousins/Aunt off at SNN airport.

It eliminates the "down day" in Killarney I had planned or the other option was a day trip to Blarney/Midleton Distillery/Cobh/Charles Fort. We may decide to slip down to Blarney on the Sunday when we are visiting Dromtarriff Parish Church.

How did you land a top floor in Premier? Request it? Sounds interesting, not that we are going to be there in the room that long. We tend to always be on the move.....but with a 4 week trip..... we may have to make some adjustments!

Dan

Michele Erdvig · Host

I just asked for the room I wanted at Premier Inn when I arrived. It was early afternoon before a lot of other people had checked in.

murphy · Guru

I'm looking for advice!

Our day trips from Killarney are all pretty well set in my mind, except for Beara. It revolves around the Dursey Cable car and it's running schedule and how that might fit into our day on Beara. The June-Sept time schedule on the web sight says running continuously 9:30 am to 7:30 pm. The web sight also says that the Sept-June schedule is 9:30-10:30 AM, 2:30-4:30 pm, and 7:00-8:00 pm.

So not sure when in September, the schedule changes? At any rate, I have two thoughts about how we may approach this. If we want to be assured of going on the cable car, it says try for early morning through early afternoon. It appears the drive from Killarney will take minimum of 2 hours with no stops. Would I be safe enough to allow 2 1/2?

Plan (A) If we wanted to make the 9:30-10:30 crossing we would have to leave Killarney around 7am. If we did that, and came back off the island at 2:30, that would leave us on the island around 4 hours. That seems like a long time. Is there enough to see/do on the island for that length of time?

Plan (B) A more leisurely departure from Killarney, see Healy Pass from the north side, maybe brunch at Josie's (web sight doesn't say what time they open) or take a picnic lunch, and plan to arrive at the cable car at 2:00 to get in line to get the 2:30 crossing, spend 90 minutes exploring and return by 4:30. If we had not stopped at Josie's on the way, we could possibly have our evening meal there on the way back, but that would put us back into Killarney kind of late. Or we could just have late afternoon tea/scones at Josie's, then a late evening meal back in Killarney.

Maybe I'm over thinking this whole thing. We missed the cable car ride on two previous trips to Beara, so it's a kind of selfish "to do" on my part. I'm wondering if it is really that important of an activity for my relatives, or should we just do all the other sights on Beara and skip the cable car.....

regards

Dan

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Dan --

Are you sure everyone along is "UP" for it? confuse biggrin biggrin

I love Beara, but have never done the cable car. The website says "Exact Dates TBA ( To Be Announced)", so I guess you'll have to check closer to the day.

I also found this: http://www.durseyisland.ie/faqs---frequently-asked-questions--local-services.html

"How long does it take to walk to the end of the island?
Depending on your walking speed, it will take 4-5 hours to walk to the end of the island and back. Please remember to bring food and water with you as there are no shops on the island. The gradient is easy to moderate on the roads and moderate off the roads."

I'm thinking that probably means Toilets might be a difficulty as well?? confuse confuse

http://www.bearatourism.com/bwdursey.html says there IS an on-island shuttle bus, though. That MIGHT make the 90 minute scenario possible?

Michele Erdvig · Host

The cable car closes for lunch so that is why there is a gap in the crossing times. I've not been but I wonder if there is much to do on the island besides hike? Take a look at the TA reviews. Evidently there is a blue bus you can take around. For more info call Tommy: 087 206 0809.

Dursey has a website: http://www.durseyisland.ie/

Interesting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSvFoQM5Kqo

murphy · Guru

Thanks to both of you for the help. I had already checked out most of that information, however I was hoping to hear from someone who had actually spent some time on the ground on Dursey island and compare that to the rest of Beara Peninsula. My three cousins and I might be up for a hike on a semi deserted island, but not so sure about my Aunt and DW. Will play it by ear! Weather may play a big factor!
Regards
Dan