3 Days outside Dublin on the way to Shannon
Sep 25th, 2005, 07:52 AM
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3 Days outside Dublin on the way to Shannon
We are flying to Dublin and will arrive on October 28. My husband is traveling with the Arthritis Foundation Joints in Motion Team and will run the Dublin Marathon on Monday, October 31. On Wednesday morning, the team is taken by bus to the Dublin airport where we will pick up a rental car around 10:00am.
We leave from the Shannon airport early on Saturday morning.
That gives us the rest of the day on Wednesday plus Thursday and Friday to tour by car. Any suggestions for an itinerary? I have read much about Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher, Killarny National Park. What towns would you try to see? If you had to choose between Dingle and the Cliffs of Moher which is better to do on our schedule?
Also any ideas for lodging and restaurants/
We leave from the Shannon airport early on Saturday morning.
That gives us the rest of the day on Wednesday plus Thursday and Friday to tour by car. Any suggestions for an itinerary? I have read much about Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher, Killarny National Park. What towns would you try to see? If you had to choose between Dingle and the Cliffs of Moher which is better to do on our schedule?
Also any ideas for lodging and restaurants/
Sep 25th, 2005, 08:10 AM
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With a limited period like you have, you'ld either have to focus on one of your spots of interest, or move around and skim quickly. Either way, I'd suggest sticking either north or south of the straight line that you could draw from Dublin to Shannon on a map. Keep in mind that days are relatively short late in the year.
For north, you could make it to Galway in about 4 hours. From there you could see some of the Connemara, then head south through the Burren on the way to the Cliffs, ending in either Ennis or Bunratty, nearby in preparation for your flight out.
On the south route, you could head to Cashel - about 2.5 hrs southwest and see the amazing Rock of Cashel. Also the nearby Cahir Castle if you wished. A good base for the night. From Cashel, Killarney is another 2 - 2.5 hrs, give or take and has much to see of a natural variety nearby. I'd say you'd need to choose <i>either</i> Killarney or Dingle to fit in the time allowed. Dingle is more anong the lines of 3.5 hrs from Cashel. Again, there's much to occupy your time there. On the southern route, I'd still suggest using Bunratty or Ennis as the last night base. Personally, I don't find Bunratty particularly memorable, but others really enjoy it.
From Dingle to Bunratty is about 3 hrs-ish. Killarney to Bunratty, I think around 2 hrs.
Sep 26th, 2005, 05:13 AM
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Clifton's advice is spot on.
In Nov, some of the minor sites and some B&Bs close down for the season, so you'll want to check that out before you make plans. Fortunately, the sites you listed are natural beauties and are open year-round.
I'd choose Dingle over the Cliffs (especially this year when the area is torn apart for the construction for a new visitor centre).
I'd say your best choices would be:
North: Dublin-Connemara(Galway/Salt Hill/Spiddal)-Cliffs of Moher-Shannon(Ennis/Bunratty)
South: Dublin-Cashel-Dingle(or Killarney)-Shannon(Ennis/Bunratty)
In Nov, some of the minor sites and some B&Bs close down for the season, so you'll want to check that out before you make plans. Fortunately, the sites you listed are natural beauties and are open year-round.
I'd choose Dingle over the Cliffs (especially this year when the area is torn apart for the construction for a new visitor centre).
I'd say your best choices would be:
North: Dublin-Connemara(Galway/Salt Hill/Spiddal)-Cliffs of Moher-Shannon(Ennis/Bunratty)
South: Dublin-Cashel-Dingle(or Killarney)-Shannon(Ennis/Bunratty)
Sep 26th, 2005, 07:43 AM
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Thank you for the information. I had just read on another site about the construction at the Cliffs of Moher.
Another question for you. We have decided to take the southern route and go to Cashel and Dingle. My sister in law is traveling with us and brought up Blarney Castle. Is it worth going to see? Is it feasible in our trip? It looks as though it is about an hour south of Cashel. As for Bunratty (we have decided to spend the night there since our flight leaves so early) is sightseeing in Bunratty worth a full day or arriving mid day?
Another question for you. We have decided to take the southern route and go to Cashel and Dingle. My sister in law is traveling with us and brought up Blarney Castle. Is it worth going to see? Is it feasible in our trip? It looks as though it is about an hour south of Cashel. As for Bunratty (we have decided to spend the night there since our flight leaves so early) is sightseeing in Bunratty worth a full day or arriving mid day?
Sep 26th, 2005, 10:31 AM
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I wouldn't go out of my way to visit Blarney...that time of year it won't be overrun with tourists, but with such a short stay, I'd skip it. Bunratty has many of the same shopping options (including a Blarney Woolen Mills store), and it has a nice castle (just no mythical stone).
Bunratty offers a decent amount of shopping, a nice castle and a very nice folkpark and you could include the medieval banquet or traditional music night (not sure of their schedule). I'd give Bunratty at least a half day.
From Dingle, you could avoid Limerick traffic and take the Tarbert-Killmer Ferry to County Clare (realize there can be some traffic at peak times in Ennis as well)...you'll be just over an hour from the Cliffs, so you could make an on-the-fly decision to see the Cliffs once you cross the ferry (especially if you are blessed with nice weather).
Bunratty offers a decent amount of shopping, a nice castle and a very nice folkpark and you could include the medieval banquet or traditional music night (not sure of their schedule). I'd give Bunratty at least a half day.
From Dingle, you could avoid Limerick traffic and take the Tarbert-Killmer Ferry to County Clare (realize there can be some traffic at peak times in Ennis as well)...you'll be just over an hour from the Cliffs, so you could make an on-the-fly decision to see the Cliffs once you cross the ferry (especially if you are blessed with nice weather).
