14 night Itinerary, making myself crazy...need help

Linda RH · Member

14 night Itinerary, making myself crazy...need help

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome Linda. Two weeks is a good amount of time for a visit to Ireland. But as you are finding out, there is so much to see and do in that small country. I suggest you make a list of things you want to see and do. See where most of them cluster. If there is just one or two that are far distant from the others, strike them off the list. Once you see where the clusters are leading you, break out your map to see places that might be good for day trips and multiple-night stays.

As for the bike race, I have been in areas where that has happened before. Be prepared for slow driving, closed roads and other annoyances in the area.

I think you will be surprised at how good, fresh and innovative a lot of Irish food is.

Since Croagh Patrick is near Westport you might enjoy a day at Westport House.

Feel free to post and let us comment on any proposed itineraries. Sometimes seeing it through other eyes and brainstorming helps.

Linda RH · Member

Thank you for your response. After much consideration and discussion, husband is going to forgo Bike Race and Croagh Patrick with the promise of a return trip. This is the Itinerary I have come up with. I have not achieved my initial desire of staying in fewer places for longer times but it still feels doable without rushing.

Day 1 Arrive Dublin, take bus from airport to Belfast, relax, Possible Hop on/Hop off to acclimate

Day 2 Private guided tour of Northern Ireland incl Giants Causeway and other notable sights. Never watched Game of Thrones so that part is lost on me.

Day 3 Morning, eclectic walking tour, Titanic, Crumlin Gaol. Scheduling all prior.

Day 4 Bus to Dublin then Bus or Train to Galway. Stroll around Galway, pubs, music, etc... Overnight

Day 5 Innis Mor and Cliffs, Poss day hike Overnight

Day 6 Pick up Car for hire, Drive to Lisdoonvarna, Clare. Explore. Overnight

Day 7 Drive to Tralee, Explore Dingle, ROK, Sneem and Killarney Overnight

Day 8 Continuation of day 7 with another overnight

Day 9 Cobh, Cork, Tipperary, Blarney, walking tour, Hike, Overnight

Day 10 Continuation of Day 9, Cashel Overnight in cobh again

Day 11 Wexford, Rosslare Harbor, Single overnight.

Day12 Drive to Trim, Howth and return car, Stay overnight in Dublin

Day 13 Guiness, Book of Kells, Hop on/Hop off, Kilmainham Gaol, overnight Dublin

Day 14 Dublin, walk, explore more, Dublin Castle, Overnight again.

Day 15 Depart. Hoping I counted this out correctly. Will recheck my calendar.

Any suggestions where to add or take away, looking at it written out now, perhaps too much Dublin, add another night to Wexford?

Thank you so very much!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Day 1 Arrive Dublin, take bus from airport to Belfast, relax, Possible Hop on/Hop off to acclimate

Day 2 Private guided tour of Northern Ireland incl Giants Causeway and other notable sights. Never watched Game of Thrones so that part is lost on me.

Day 3 Morning, eclectic walking tour, Titanic, Crumlin Gaol. Scheduling all prior.

Day 4 Bus to Dublin then Bus or Train to Galway. Stroll around Galway, pubs, music, etc... Overnight

Day 5 Innis Mor and Cliffs, Poss day hike Overnight * Are you overnighting in Galway again? Since you are headed south tomorrow, save the COM for then as the Aran Islands will take most of the day.

Day 6 Pick up Car for hire, Drive to Lisdoonvarna, Clare. Explore. Overnight * Consider an overnight in Ennis instead. Or if you want to see less populated cliffs head down the coast of Clare to Loop Head and possibly overnight in Kilkee or Kilrush. You could then take the ferry across the Shannon next day.

Day 7 Drive to Tralee, Explore Dingle, ROK, Sneem and Killarney Overnight * Start changing the itinerary at this point. I suggest 3 nights in Killarney for ROK, Dingle (each peninsula will take a whole day) and Killarney itself.

Day 8 Continuation of day 7 with another overnight

Day 9 Cobh, Cork, Tipperary, Blarney, walking tour, Hike, Overnight * Too much. You could easily spend the whole day at Blarney for the hikes, gardens, walks, Blarney House, Blarney Castle, etc. You could end in Blarney, Cobh or Kinsale.

Day 10 Continuation of Day 9, Cashel Overnight in cobh again * Too much backtracking.

Day 11 Wexford, Rosslare Harbor, Single overnight. * Skip Wexford and add this day to Killarney.

Day12 Drive to Trim, Howth and return car, Stay overnight in Dublin * Drive from Cobh/Kinsale to Cashel via Cahir. Overnight Cashel. Next two nights in Dublin.

Day 13 Guiness, Book of Kells, Hop on/Hop off, Kilmainham Gaol, overnight Dublin

Day 14 Dublin, walk, explore more, Dublin Castle, Overnight again.

Day 15 Depart. Hoping I counted this out correctly. Will recheck my calendar.

Keep in mind that each sightseeing stop, hike, walk, etc will take time.

Linda RH · Member

Michele,

Thank you so much for your revisions and suggestions. Making adjustments now.

Linda

Michele Erdvig · Host

You're welcome. Let us know how the revisions are working for you.

Linda RH · Member

Made Revisions, now due to miscalculation of actual number of nights, we have an extra night. Trying to decide whether to add to one of the locations we will already be at, or a new stay over. A few things are "written in stone" at this point as we have tickets, reservations, etc...
although most are cancelable if need be.

Day 1 thru 6 are good

Day 6 has us picking up a car in Galway then driving down the coast to overnight in Kilrush

Day 7 Shannon Ferry, on to Killarney. Overnight in Killarney 3 nights per Michele's suggestion to spend time on Peninsula's, etc.

Day 8 Reservation for Skellig Island Tour, overnight Killarney

Day 9 Rok, etc. overnight Killarney again

Day 10 Overnight in Cobh?

Day 11 Overnight Cashel by way of Cahir

Day 12 Unsure what to do with this night. Can shuffle in may areas but Skellig is Reserved for day 8

Day 13 Return rental car/overnight Dublin

Day 14 Overnight Dublin

Day 15 Depart from Dublin Airport

Things are falling in to place nicely and we are very excited. Thank you for any suggestions for the additional night. Hope this is not too confusing!.
Linda

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

You might want to add Day 12 to Killarney. Plenty more to see and do there.

On Day 7 after arriving from Kilrush, you can spend the day enjoying some of the 'close-in' sites: Ross Castle, Muckross House, Gardens and Traditional Farms, Torc Falls and the National Park.

Day 8, which includes the Skellig trip will pretty much cover a large part of the Ring of Kerry: https://goo.gl/maps/1v6hSnYyqJC2

Day 9 can be spent on a Day Trip to Dingle, or a Gap of Dunloe Tour. If you add a night (Day 12), you could do BOTH.

Michele Erdvig · Host

There is always plenty to do and see from Killarney, as Bob suggested.

Day 10: Either Blarney, Kinsale or Cobh would be good places to overnight. If you are interested in seeing the Queenstown Story museum of immigration, then Cobh. And I don't recommend Kinsale on a Fri or Sat night. Too crowded.

Geno · Guru

While I agree there is much to do around Killarney, I probably wouldn't stay in the town that long. I have stayed there before and found it to be too touristy, crowded and busy, for me, so I've started to opt for a smaller village in the same basic area. For example, I've become fond of staying in Kenmare instead, which is a wonderful town to the South that is still close to everything you mention. Stayed at sallyporthouse.com/index.html after looking at Michele's book, and it is now my preference for that part of Kerry. Of couse Killarney is fine too. Either way you'll have a great trip.

-- Edited by Geno on Monday 1st of April 2019 02:04:11 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

I think Killarney will be fine in May (with the exception of Rally of the Lakes). Kenmare is a favorite of mine too.

Geno · Guru

In Killarney, a good place to go for dinner is Cronin's on College Street. It's a family business with delicious food and friendly people. I think we went there almost every day we stayed in town!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Geno, Thanks for the restaurant rec for Linda. I always enjoy Mac's. Never had a bad meal there.

Linda RH · Member

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. So very helpful

Linda RH · Member

The Menu for Cronins looks great! The chowder and desserts really caught my eye!

Thank you!

Michele Erdvig · Host

If you are into desserts you must try banoffee and sticky toffee pudding. Yum!

Linda RH · Member

Oh my goodness! Banoffee Pie sounds decadently delicious. We might have to add a few more hikes in to burn off those calories!

I might even try making this one at home!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Also worth a visit in Killarney -- Caragh Restaurant: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caragh-Restaurant/203229599699463?nr

For something a bit 'upscale': Treyvaud's: http://treyvaudsrestaurant.com/

Check out Paul's videos -- https://vimeopro.com/user409034/treyvaud-travels

or, his cooking show on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Treyvaud-Travels/dp/B07DK7TBMZ

And, if French pastry appeals -- https://lovin.ie/counties/kerry/petit-delice-killarney