CAPH52

At least a couple of the guide books I've read have highly recommended getting a Heritage Card. But when I check their web site, they really don't seem to have many sites in the part of Ireland we'll be visiting during our 5 day stay. We're going to be in Galway for two nights, two nights in Wesport and our last night in Ennis.

We'll be doing driving tours in between and day tours out of the places we're staying. Because our kids are older (16 and 20), I doubt we can get a family pass. Is it really worth getting the Heritage Card? At this point, I don't know of a single place we'll be visiting that takes it. But I'm wondering whether those of you who are more experienced Ireland travelers think that it would be worthwhile.

chip

for the time and areas that you will be visiting, it doesn't seem to be worth it for you...

but do check out the heritage site for entire list...it could help with planning (check sights west and south)
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/HeritageCard/

we used the heritage card while in ireland and found it to be a great value...I figured it up and the card cost 20 Euros(then) and without the card it would have been over 65 Euros (a savings of 90Euros for 2!), plus if you show the card at some places like Powerscourt, which is private, they gave us a discount!

It covers 23 counties and many major sites like Charles Fort in Kinsale, Kilmaniham Gaol in Dublin, Muckross House/gardens/farm in Killarney, Jerpoint Abbey and Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, Bru na Boinne Centre/Hill to Tara in Meath, Clonmacnoise in Offaly, Rock of Cashel , Cahir Castle, and Swiss House in Tipperary, Glendalough in Wicklow.

plus we saw more because we were more likely to stop and look at some places that we didn't have a lot of time since it was free

CAPH52

Thanks, chip. That's exactly the kind of response I was looking for. As I said, the lists on the web site don't show much for the area where we're going. But I just wondered whether Ireland veterans would know that there are things, say in Galway City, that we're likely to want to see once we get there.

I especially appreciated your point about seeing things you wouldn't have had you not had the card. And your mentioning how often you used it. Just looking at the areas where we'll be, it doesn't seem to cover much. But I guess we're just not going to the right areas!

Obviously, I don't want to spend the money if we're not going to use it. But hate to wind up getting there and realizing we'd have saved a lot of money if we'd had one!

yesiree100

You can purchase a Heritage Card at any heritage site...so if you end up at one of the heritage sites around Connemara, you could look over the Heritage Sites West map they provide and decide if it will be worth it for your family. Many of the sites only cost 1-2 euros p/p (some are even free), so if you're only there for a short visit, it might be more cost effective to just pay as you go.

The Heritage sites I've visited over the years have all been worth the stop. So even if you don't have a card, you should consider any heritage sites that might be en route.

CAPH52

Thanks, yesiree! Sounds like we should definitely just wait until we get there.