Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Advise on where to base in Ireland for 2 week trip

Advise on where to base in Ireland for 2 week trip

Old Aug 29th, 2015, 06:27 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Advise on where to base in Ireland for 2 week trip

Our family of 5 (kids are 9, 17 & 18) are planning to visit Ireland for 2 weeks. It looks as if we will most likely go in early July based on the kids school and our jobs.
I am just starting to plan, and have read quite a few posts and looked over travel books. We really like hiking, picnicking, some historical sights, and just generally exploring new places. It is too expensive for us to fly to Shannon (live in Canada and with 5 people the extra $300/ticket adds up, also we would like to see Dublin) so I have come up with the following:

Dublin 3 nights
Kilkenny 1 night (would like to see Glendalough, Wicklow on the way), then Cashel on the way to..
Kenmare 4 nights (Killarney Nat Park, Ring of Kerry)
Dingle 2 nights (Slea Head drive, Connor Pass)
Somewhere near Ennis/Galway for 3 nights (for Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Galway City for a day, maybe Connemara, Loop Head peninsula, the Burren...)
Dublin 1 night before we fly home.

I am not sure where to base after Dingle, I have read Ennis, Doolin, Lahinch, or Galway recommended. We would like a scenic town where we can walk to dinner and a pub for music, and is accessible to the sights for day trips.
I haven't worked out details of where exactly we will visit each day, but wanted to get the bases sorted out. Wonder if this itinerary sounds too exhausting? I chose the Kilkenny 1 night so we could break up the journey to the south after Dublin and find time to see the Wicklow mountains.
Thank you in advance for any comments or suggestions.
Waterloo12 is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2015, 10:56 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would say turn that over, start by getting the bus straight from Dublin airport to Galway. have 2 nights there. see the City on day one and take a Connemara trip on Day two.

Day three the driver can pick up the car/van/minibus in Galway or you can get the bus from Galway to SNN and collect a car from the Airport. see either Loop Head or the Cliffs and Burren before spending the night in Ennis/Limerick/Adare either Ennis or Adare would get my vote. as you have saved a night you could have 2 nights. if so then Ennis would be a great base.

Dingle always gets the tourist vote, I will leave that for folk that like the town.

Kenmare for 4 nights gives you chance to explore Beara and then wonder what all the fuss is about Dingle. After Kenmare via Wicklow and Glendalogh. Drop the transport and enjoy your time in Dublin.
Tony2phones is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2015, 02:41 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Waterloo -- Did a solo trip to Ireland last month for 3 weeks (with a car). Tony's got some good ideas, especially since he's a local. Here's my 2 cents:

I LOVED Dingle and the whole peninsula. I was there 3 nights and wished I'd booked 4 or 5 (the sun came out the morning I left). There's traditional music in the pubs every night in Dingle... The kids would probably enjoy a boat trip to Great Blasket Island - and there are 3000 year old beehive huts along Slea Head drive (which is also gorgeous!).

I was in Kenmore one night. Two would be max for me. Mockross house was just okay IMHO. Ross Castle worth a look if you're into photography.

I didn't stay in Clare. Drove straight from Dingle to Galway and stopped at Cliffs of Moher (which was a touristy zoo). The two towns that stood out during that day that would be worthy of a visit next time were Lahinch (seaside town) and Kinvara (home of Dunguaire Castle). I stayed at Galway Bay Hotel because I had a ticket to see Trad On The Prom, which is performed there (and brilliant -- not to be missed). Aran Island Ferries will also pick you up in front of the hotel and take you to the ferry launch.

I also liked Connemara.

My second favorite place after Dingle was the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland. On a return visit, I would spend one week in Northern Ireland (beautiful) and one week in Dingle.

You can view my trip summary with photos here: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...lo-journey.cfm
susan001 is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2015, 06:45 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you both for your replies, I really appreciate it.
Susan, your photos are beautiful! I can't wait to go!! I would also like to see Northern Ireland but will save for another trip.
Tony, do you mean straight to Galway from flight and rent a car after 2 days of exploring Galway (i.e. book a tour for Connemara on day 2?). I hadn't thought of that, I had originally thought of 4 nights in one spot so we could rent an Airbnb or VRBO place which is less expensive for 5 and we can have meals in. I wanted to find somewhere central to all of the sites: the Cliffs, Aran Islands, Connemara, Galway etc. that is scenic but interesting to visit. Not sure if that would mean too much driving from the base each day? Would Doolin or Lahinch be a good base?
I seem to go round in circles with this trip since there is so much to see, and we don't want to spend huge amounts of time in the car each day.
Waterloo12 is offline  
Old Aug 29th, 2015, 09:17 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the kind words, Waterloo. With 2 weeks, I would actually skip Dublin (my least favorite place). Yes, you could take a bus straight to Galway and spend 3 nights there - one day to explore the town, and another to do the Aran Islands (look up Aran Island Ferries in Galway -- They launch from Rossaveal to the largest island, which is supposed to be the most interesting, and you can take their shuttle bus from Galway). You can also buy your tickets in advance on their website.

Get your car in Galway and head south through Clare. Lahinch is near the Cliffs of Moher -- you could do one night there before heading off to Dingle Peninsula - where you might consider staying 3 or 4 nights. Kenmare would be a good overnight if you're planning to do the Ring of Kerry (leave before 9am to avoid bus traffic).
susan001 is offline  
Old Aug 30th, 2015, 07:04 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To answer your larger question about a "central base" I think it's more practical to move your luggage and stay in a variety of places. Otherwise, you'll be doing too much driving.

Here's an alternative:

After you've picked up your car at Dublin airport, drive to Glendalough. You can easily spend several hours here, so you might want to consider booking a stay at the nearby hotel in the village. I found that I ran out of time, and was then trying to get to Kilkenny after that. I arrived in K at a horrible traffic time. It's not a quaint town, it's a city. I would skip Kilkenny.

From Glendalough you could drive to see R of Cashel and then on to Kenmare. That will be a long day, but doable. Stay in Kenmare 3 nights so as Tony mentioned, you can visit Beara, and R of Kerry. Dingle, 4 nights: one day to explore Slea Head and all the settlements there, one day to take the boat to Great Blasket Island, one day to enjoy the shops. Live traditional music every night either pubs, music store, or church. From Dingle you could drive to Lahinch, a lovely seaside town for one night -- Cliffs of Moher. Then Galway, 3 nights: one day to ferry to Aran Islands, one day to enjoy the town.
From there, Connemara: take your pick of lovely towns. Roundstone, Clifden, Leeann.... Visit Kylemore Abbey while there.
susan001 is offline  
Old Sep 1st, 2015, 12:08 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Waterloo -- You could stay in Kenmare 2 nights -- from there visit Beara or Muckross/ Ross castle. You can do the Ring of Kerry en route to Dingle. I wouldn't stay less than 3 nights in Dingle. I drove from Dingle to Galway in one day (taking the car ferry from Tarbert to Killimer - saves time and miles) -- I stopped at Cliffs of Moher for about 90 minutes, then visited the Poulnabrone Dolmen, stopped for photos at Dunguaire Castle, and still arrived in Galway with daylight left. This will save you a night. In Connemara, Leenane might be a good central town from which to explore the area. I hope this helps.

Everyone has different ideas about what to see. My impressions and experiences are recent -- and during the same time of year that you will be going.
susan001 is offline  
Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 08:57 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Susan, your suggestions have shaped our trip somewhat. I like the route you suggested from Glendalough, Kenmare, Dingle, up to Galway & Connemara (and the suggestions for sites). The day itinerary from Dingle to Galway was also a helpful detail, thanks again.
Waterloo12 is offline  
Old Sep 4th, 2015, 09:24 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm sorry Susan but 3 days in Dingle makes no sense even if I liked the town, it isn't a touring base and once you have done Slea Head and Connor pass that takes the tours from town all of 4 hours you can still see fungi and fit in a trip to the Blaskets before supper time.

https://goo.gl/UtW24m covers some of what's available from the Shannon estuary to Galway.

Clifden makes the best town as a touring base for the Connemara area https://goo.gl/UL09QA
Tony2phones is offline  
Old Sep 4th, 2015, 04:01 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Tony -- it's a matter of personal taste I guess. My recommendation largely has to do with the music goings-on in the evening. And Dingle Peninsula is the greenest & most beautiful area I saw. I met other Americans who were staying longer in the area than I did – they felt the same: the beauty of the area and the music are both compelling. It's a wonderful place to unwind.
susan001 is offline  
Old Sep 5th, 2015, 06:50 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Next time your over give me a shout, there are lots of places that have music every night in summer and the other 99.4% of Ireland has many places to more than equal Dingle peninsula when it comes to scenic beauty. I took the drive home from SNN the other morning via Quin, Clooney (Spancill Hill) and Feakle with little detour just to look down over Lough Graney from the upper Flagmount Rd. Then over through the Forestry and Lough Attorick rather than by Lough Derg. no sea, no dolphins, only 4 other cars all 52 miles from leaving the N18.
Tony2phones is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cag2087
Europe
5
Jan 15th, 2016 06:42 AM
tidy
Europe
12
Nov 11th, 2013 02:29 PM
Cattail
Europe
16
Oct 30th, 2013 06:43 PM
meriberi
Europe
8
May 7th, 2011 03:45 AM
billo1409
Europe
4
Jan 18th, 2007 01:37 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -