Help! Ireland Itinerary

travel4us · Member

Help! Ireland Itinerary

Michele Erdvig · Host

travel4us,

Welcome to the forum! Since you are leaving very soon you will probably want to get some sort of a general plan in place. You can wing it in Sept/Oct in most places.

On your first day plan on going no farther than Glendalough. Look at my Lodgings page for some accommodation suggestions. It wouldn't hurt to have reservations for that day and for your time in Dublin at the end of your trip.

It is getting rather late for finding self-catering places. However, some good places would be Killarney & Galway. If you do B&Bs and choose central locations you can stay for several days and do day trips from there. For instance from a base in Kilkenny you could see Kilkenny, Cashel, Wexford and Waterford. Just get out your map and choose some places like that. You can check driving distances here: http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/ Get the mileage and divide by 35 for the time.

If you don't yet have my book, consider getting it as it will be a big help. You can view what it is all about here: http://www.irelandyes.com/book.html

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is taken down in mid-September so you will have to miss that. But there is a scenic overlook nearby that will give you a glance anyway.

Michele

travel4us · Member

Michele,

Thank you very much for your advice and insight. After a spring and summer of taking care of elderly parents with health problems, we decided to take a much needed vacation. We decided to go to Ireland and celebrate my 55th birthday. Even though our trip was a last minute decision and circumstances has not allowed me to research and plan our trip as I would have liked to, we enjoy being spontaneous and we will have a wonderful time experiencing Ireland.

I will check out the driving distance website.

Thanks, travel4us

Shawn · Senior Member

I agree with Michele on going only as far as Glendalough from Dublin. We went from Dublin to Powerscourt, to Glendalough and landing in Kilkenny....yup. Though we did it (by getting an early start) I would not do it again!

Shawn

travel4us · Member

Thanks, Shawn, for you advice. We arrive in Dublin at 8:40 am and I was thinking of doing the exact same thing you did.

After reading what Michele and you said, I think we will take both of your advice and stay around Glendalough.

Thanks, travel4us

travel4us · Member

Michele,

I passed your thoughts along to my husband and he asked me a question I could not answer.

Why do you feel that finding a self-catering is getting rather late? Is it because they will be all booked or they need to be booked way in advance?

Thanks, travel4us

Michele Erdvig · Host

travel4us,

It depends on where you want to do self-catering. Some may be booked. But what I really meant was that you are leaving in two weeks. That is not much time to research the various self-catering facilities and make a choice before departing. But maybe you are very quick on the Internet!

Michele

stewh · Guru

hi travel4us,

sounds like you're in the right frame of mind to have a great trip. Just a thought on booking self-catering. as you saw in my very brief trip report I hesitate to recommend specific lodgings but would certainly make an exception in the case of the Burren Holiday Home in Corofin, Co. Clare http://www.doonbeg-ireland.com/clare/burrenholidayhome/index.html . Mary Carmel Carroll and her husband Michael have a beautiful well-equipped and meticulously clean home in a great location to tour the Burren. The village of Corofin has one excellent (fairly expensive restaurant and several food Pubs (Our favourite was Campbell's Inchiquin Inn) that also have music.

The Irish tourist board www.ireland.ie has extensive listings of self-catering, many of which can be booked online. I have found it important to make sure of exact location with respect to walking distance to shops, pubs etc. Have a fun time.

stewh

Michele Erdvig · Host

stewh,

Thanks so much for your self-catering recommendation. There is nothing as good as first-hand info from someone who has stayed in a place. I'm sure it will be a big help for those searching for a good place to stay.

Michele

shashie50 · Veteran Member

As I have read and researched for my upcoming trip, Oct 17-Nov 8, I have noticed that some museums, gardens, etc., close in October or at the end of September. Also, at least in the west, some B&Bs close too. Just something to keep in mind as you read -- so you don't plan a drive and find the tour you wanted to take is done for the season. There will, of course, still be lots to see and plenty of places to stay. Have a great time!

travel4us · Member

A huge "THANK YOU" goes out to all of you. As a first time visitor to Ireland, all thoughts, suggestions and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

It is unbelievable how much I have learned from reading the posts and trip reports. Thank you for sharing your experiences. It has only helped us in making our vacation more memorable.

Travel4us

Michele Erdvig · Host

travel4us,

We are only too happy to offer our "two cents worth". You are leaving very shortly. Wishing you a happy journey. Let us know how it goes on your return.

Michele

travel4us · Member

Thanks Michele,

We are really excited about our trip. I have always dreamed of visiting Ireland. We were originally planning to go for my 50th birthday but our plans changed. Now we are going for my 55th birthday. What a wonderful way to spend one's birthday.

The weather in Minnesota the past couple of weeks has been conditioning us for Ireland.....overcast, rain off and on, cooler temperatures for this time of the year. Even our Fall colors are ahead of schedule. We thought we were going to miss it. We are looking forward in seeing the flora and fauna of Ireland. We love the Fall season, taking long walks, enjoying nature, watching wildlife, soaking in beautiful scenery, and adventurous road trips. What better place to do it than Ireland! The plus will be all the wonderful folks we will meet along the way.

I am from Irish ancestry. My father is a full blooded Irishman. His parents were born in the US. His paternal and maternal grandparents were born in the US. His paternal and maternal great-grandparents were born in Ireland. Unfortunately, that is about as much information as I know. My Dad is now 84 and his memory is not very good. Why I didn't quiz my grandparents when they were alive, I'll never know. My understanding is that our surname is not a common name. I am a Webb and my grandmother was a Boland (which I think her surname is more common). In checking with the Irish Geneaolgical Society International in Minnesota, I did find out that 33 Webb's were born in 1890: 12 in Leinster, 5 in Munster, 13 in Ulster and 3 in Galway. With having limited information, I do not plan to do much ancestral research. My plan is as we travel Ireland, I will checkout the phone books and look for any Webb's or Boland's. You never know what I might learn or what Webb or Boland I might meet in my travels.

Travel4us

Laoghaire · Senior Member

Hi Travel4us..Your post re:Irish ancestry caught my eye. My paternal paternal great grand parents came from Ireland, and tracing them is a real chore! We are Leary/ O'Learys and Hands. We have found Leary/O'Learys in Inchigeelagh, County Cork and visit there every trip we take (7 times, come next May). Perhaps you are a distant relative to Harry Boland, the "buddy" of Michael Collins (1921 Uprising). They are both buried in Glasnevin Cemetary, in north Dublin. It's really worth a visit!

Have a wonderful trip!!

Helen

travel4us · Member

Hi Helen,

Thanks for your post. Just your few words gave me inspiration and I just told my husband that we should go to Glasnevin Cemetary, when we are in Dublin. If nothing else, my family would love to have a picture of Harry Boland's headstone from the cemetery.

Thanks, Travel4us

Laoghaire · Senior Member

Travel4us..By the way, get the movie, "Michael Collins" starring Liam Neeson (AH!) and I think Aiden Quian sp?portrays Harry Boland. Lots of Irish history.

Helen

Michele Erdvig · Host

travel4us,

You know what they say: "Better late than never". There are a lot of late bloomers on the forum who waited to go to Ireland and now can't wait to get back again. I hope you have that sort of experience too.

Genealogy can be fun, frustrating and time-consuming -- all at the same time! I hope you find some clues on your trip.

Michele