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Ireland in April-Day trips from Galway base

Ireland in April-Day trips from Galway base

Old Dec 7th, 2016, 05:05 AM
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Ireland in April-Day trips from Galway base

My family of 4 will be spending 5 days in the west of Ireland in April. I was thinking Galway would be a good base as we don't want to change B&Bs nightly. Looking for suggestions for day trips from there. Thank you in advance!
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 06:36 AM
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Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher come to mind. On a lark I stopped in tiny Doolin for lunch and loved it. Looked like it would be fun at night. I assume you will have a car. If not, rent one.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 07:37 AM
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Three standard trips from a Galway base.
1, Connemara with either Kylemore Abbey or Cong.
2, Burren and Cliffs of Moher
3, Aran isles, mainly Inis Mor.

There are other options that might focus on your own interests.

Some points depend on your transport, car or public transport. Inis Mor might depend on the settlement of a current dispute between ferry operator and Galway Council? There is the option to fly over.

Doolin is a nice place to visit if you aim to see Inis Oirr and maybe the Combi with a cruise under the Cliffs. wouldn't stay there overnight my self but tourists love the place.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 09:13 AM
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Thank you both for your replies We will have a rental car. I have been to Ireland one time and I did love Doolin--we spent the night near there and loved the music. We will stop into Doolin but not stay long as so many other things to see. We are thinking of doing a day trip to Kilkee with stops along the way. Is that too much for a day?? Also, we will be there on Good Friday. I understand that is a 'dry day' in Ireland. Should we plan just on driving/sightseeing and no dining out that day? Not sure how that will work.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 12:43 PM
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Kilkee and Loop Head from Galway and back is a fair drive, some of it on narrow winding roads that make it seem even further than it is. I might question where Galway fits into the wider itinerary because if that involves Kerry then there might be a better way of working it.

Good Friday means no Alcohol it doesn't mean everywhere is closed, just the pubs. many restaurants will be open as will most café type places. Good Friday being the 14th is the start of the Galway Food Festival so you won't be hungry. http://www.galwayfoodfestival.com/

If planning to do a drive round the connemara avoid the 16th or you might clash with www.raschonamara.ie Cycle race.

Also Good Friday in Galway, Connacht rugby v Leinster in the Pro 12 at the Sportsground so the College Rd area will be busy in the evening. (Tickets are on sale if you fancy watching the match)
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 06:23 PM
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Thank you Tony2phones! I was thinking of Galway as a base only because I love Connemara and my father is a Joyce My Mother's family hails from Scattery Island on one side, so I was hoping to get to at least the general area to show my girls from whence they came. BUT I am not 100% sold on Galway. Just trying to figure out a way to see as much as we can but not move from town to town every night. With 2 children in tow I have no desire to do that. We are flying into Dublin--spending a few days there for the World Championships of Irish Dance--my older daughter is competing. We will leave Dublin on 4/13 and then the sky's the limit, really. I am trying to be reasonable and not spend all day every day in the car. Any input is welcome! And very much appreciated!
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Old Dec 8th, 2016, 02:08 PM
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Scattery Island is a nice little excursion with a high possibility of sighting some of the Shannon Dolphins http://www.discoverdolphins.ie/scattery.html

There is a general trend to head for Kerry mainly Killarney and Dingle! but Galway and Clare do have a lot to offer. Sort of depends how you want to split the 4 or 5 days between Dublin and departure (assume Dublin again) also might be slightly influenced by the age/interests of your daughters.

With limited time I would split between Galway (or close by) and the Loop Head area, Lahinch/Kilkee?
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Old Dec 8th, 2016, 06:02 PM
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Love Galway and Aran Islands were a wonderful day trip. Good music and craic there. That said, tony always has great advice!
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Old Dec 9th, 2016, 05:23 AM
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Tony2phones--I would like your opinion on this. I am rethinking staying in Galway the whole time. We are traveling from Dublin on 4/13 and fly out of Shannon on 4/18. My girls will be 12 & 14 at the time of our trip...tell me what YOU would do! It seems like you have a wealth on knowledge about the area. We are flexible and have no lodging booked thus far. Thanks in advance
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Old Dec 9th, 2016, 08:12 AM
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Hardly the oracle. You can get lots of advice free on the forums.

Basic itinerary might be. Leave Dublin aiming for Galway. If i assume you get west of the M50 ring leaving Dublin behind for about 11 there is the straight drive along the M4/M6 that can have you on the eastern outskirts of Galway in a couple of hours. Might be worth a call at either Belvedere House http://www.belvedere-house.ie/ or Clonmacnoise http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/mid.../clonmacnoise/ with the girls? Belvedere? Unless you catch a boat ride in Athlone http://www.vikingtoursireland.ie/ Get into Galway for about 6pm.

Accommodation in Galway? I might be tempted to look at the Salthill side maybe as far as Spiddal or Moycullen if you are not dead set on Galway itself. Given the Match on the 14th I won't advise College Rd.
The Girls should be alright in Bars until 10pm so you could catch some music

14th Good Friday possibly a tour of the Connemara. Lots of optional routes / sights / activities some good beaches. Getting into and through Joyce Country by the Maumturk maybe catch a sheep dog demonstration http://www.joycecountrysheepdogs.ie/ have lunch in the Village Grill Leenane call into Kylemore Abbey if only to take a photo from the Carpark (if the Village Grill is closed the Cafe at Kylemore will be open, just a bit more expensive). Lots more options http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu

15th. Maybe Spiddal Craft Village, Moycullen for Celtic Crystal (not sure they would have cutting demonstrations over the weekend?) Galway Marble both mainly Gift shops unless demonstrations are running. Possibly Brigits Garden or Aughnanure Castle, Glengowla mines if the girls don't mind going underground?

Will come back for the 16~17th and Clare.
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Old Dec 12th, 2016, 06:15 AM
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Sorry been a little distracted, have to take a little trip of my own for a few days.

For Clare i would suggest staying in Lahinch or Kilkee with the youngsters. Loop Head and Scattery Island could take one day and venture over to Bunratty castle / Folk park (pre book tickets and an earlish start?) Quin Abbey is also worth a look west of the N18. There are more options, some of which are tagged on this old map http://goo.gl/maps/e4gVk
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Old Dec 13th, 2016, 04:46 PM
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Thank you, Tony2phones! I really appreciate your input. I don't think I am going to venture down to the Dingle Peninsula. I was there back in 2000. Loved it. But with 2 children I want to focus less on driving and more on experiencing. So now the question...for our last 2 nights...Lahinch or Kildee? Which, do you think, has more traditional music? Or do they both, really? We love the music
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Old Jan 2nd, 2017, 11:56 AM
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Update: We couldn't get a decent fare out of Shannon, so we are changing our route as to fly in and out of Dublin. Our plan now is to head south and see Rock of Cashel/Cahir Castle and go west from there toward Tralee. Would it be too much for a day to drive all the way with sightseeing on the way? I feel like Cashel/Cahir will take several hours to enjoy and I want the drive that day through the countryside to be leisurely. As long as we can get to Tralee by nightfall to check into lodging, get a late supper or whatever. Thoughts on this appreciated!
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Old Jan 3rd, 2017, 09:41 AM
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Arriving off a transatlantic flight? the route given is probably too much. (In My Personal Opinion)

Galway is possible from Dublin Airport, straight motorway drive all the way.

Cashel or Cahir could make for a first night rather than heading over from there to Tralee (not really a tourism point anyway)

Should be reopened 2017 after renovation work 2016 http://www.carrigeencastle.com/
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Old Jan 3rd, 2017, 06:46 PM
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We will not be driving right after a flight. We will be spending 4 days in Dublin before heading out. I was thinking of heading south first, then looping up to Galway then across to Dublin for the flight home. Just wondering if that drive tis too much to handle in a day. The Carrigreen Castle looks lovely! Thank you for your input, Tony2phones!
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 07:06 AM
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As a normal days drive without any jet lag influence then up to a couple of hundred miles with a couple of sights along the way is probably the most I would recommend. So anything within that scope could be done.

I do apologise for assuming this might be straight of a flight.
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