Cristi

Background: My husband and I will be bringing our 15 month old son to Ireland from Chicago for 11 full days at the end of March/beginning of April. We've never been to Ireland, so we're looking for some advice. We've spent several spring trips in southern England/Wales and love gardens (daffodils, tulips, etc.), castles, walks outdoors, getting to know the culture, pubs, bed and breakfasts, off the beaten path, etc. We don't want to try to see everything in one trip, but if you see something missing from the itinerary that is a must-see, please comment. We go with the expectations that we'll get back to Ireland again someday.

We fly into/out of Dublin. Can you comment on the following itinerary and tell me if I'm being too ambitious? Our son naps well in the car, so while we don't want to spend tons of time driving, a bit each day is not a bad thing. Thanks:

Thursday:
Arrive Dublin morning; spend day walking around (Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College/Book of Kells, drink a Guiness or two

Friday: Fly to Shannon and rent car; day/afternoon at Bunratty Folk Park; 5:30 Medieval Banquet; stay at B&B near Bunratty castle (Ashgrove House?)

Saturday: Drive to Ennis and walk around; Drive to/see Cliffs of Moher (B&B suggestions?); evening in Dooling

Sunday: Daytrip to Aran Islands or Burren or other local interest (stay second night in same B&B)

Monday: Drive north of Galway to place where husband can fish and I can relax w/son; stay somewhere near fishing (suggestions?)

Tuesday: Daytrip to Kylemore Abbey and Connemara Nat'l Park (second night in same B&B)

Wednesday: ??? Begin travel to Kilkenny and stop somewhere halfwayish between Galway and Kilkenny? Not sure what to see. We don't mind off the beaten path types of sights. Maybe Clonmacnoise? Birr?

Thursday: Kilkenny town and castle

Friday: Waterford Crystal Factory tour and coastal town(s)?

Saturday: Glendalough and Wicklow mountains

Sunday: Powerscourt Gardens and town; maybe Vale of Avoca?

Monday: Depart from Dublin

waffle18

Christi,

The items in your itinerary look good but I think the order and technique needs a bit of tweaking.

I believe that flying from Dublin to Shannon is a waste of most of your day in Ireland. Not that you couldn't fly from one airport to the other but Dublin is a busy airport, security is tight, lines are long and you will end up wasting the day. It would be better to rent a car from downtown Dublin and just drive, even if you hopped in the car and drove the 3-4 hours over to Shannon directly from Dublin.

Otherwise, if it were me, I'd head south of Dublin in the rental car to check out the places you have listed starting with your Sunday's items and working backward from there...

Thurs: Dublin
Friday: Powerscourt, Glendalough, Wicklow
Sat: Kilkenny & Waterford, Coast drives
Sun: More coast drive - Hook to Crook, The Vee, Cahir, Cashel
Mon & Tues: Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty, The Burren, Ennis, Aran Islands
Wed & Thurs: Galway, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, fishing, Cong? Aran is the weather was bad before.
Fri: Clonmacnoise or Birr(?)
Sat: outside Dublin - see Trim? Newgrange? More Dublin?
Sun: depart

This is, of course, just a rough idea off the top of my head but it makes more sense, IMO, then flying from one airport to the other. If it's not too late you could just fly into Shannon from Chicago when you first arrive (or stick to arriving in Dublin and fly out of Shannon upon departing) which will save you from having to backtrack to Dublin at all.

Have a wonderful trip! I love visiting Ireland in April as the flowers are blooming away, fields and fields of daffs and them lining the roads plus tons of baby lambs scampering about with their mammas. Cute!

Cheers,

Wendy

Itallian_Chauffer

Agree with Wendy on this. You have done an excellent job of narrowing down your wish list for the time allotted, but Wendy's suggestions make for a lot less "backtracking" and more productive use of the time you do have.
Bob

Itallian_Chauffer

Also, just another thought. If you have not already booked your flight, consider flying into Dublin and out of Shannon (or the other way around). Generally it costs no more for either the flight, or the rental car and eliminates the need to "recross' the country, just to catch your flight.
Bob

Cristi

Thanks for the quick feedback! We have already purchased the tickets on a direct flight into/out of Dublin. I think we'll follow the advice about skipping the flight to Shannon. A first day walk around Powerscourt sounds like a nicer way to deal with jet lag than trying to figure out Dublin right away. We'll save Dublin for the end. Any suggestions on places to stay that are convenient to Powerscort and Glendalough b/t $80-100?

Any suggestions on what to see b/t Galway and Dublin to break up the trip? How long will that drive be? Thanks.

Itallian_Chauffer

See www.aaroadwatch.ie for driving distances and approximate times, with this caveat, their times are notoriously conservative. If they say that driving time is 1 1/2 hours, figure on closer to 2. Best general guideline is 30-35 miles will take an hour.
With some rerouting, you could catch Cashel and Cahir, either enroute to, or from Dublin. I am also fond of the Kildare area, both of which would provide for a reasonable short drive onward to Dublin.
Bob

wojazz3

Cristi:

Though I've never stayed here, Ive heard good things about the Tudor Lodge near Glendalough. http://www.bedandbreakfastireland.ne...TudorLodge.htm

I'll probably stay there when I visit in May.

Bill

Cristi

Tudor Lodge looks great. Thanks!
aaroadwatch.ie was also very helpful!

I've worked out another possible itinerary. Any comments on how practical this is or if we're missing something we'll regret (ex. Rick Steves focuses a lot on Dingle area)? We'd rather not drive much more than a couple of hours per day.

Itinerary 2:

Thursday: Arrive and Drive from Dublin airport to Powerscourt (30 miles/1 hour); then on to Glendalough for overnight at Tudor Lodge (18 miles; 45 minutes)

Friday: Relax in morning; drive to Waterford (94 miles, 2 hours) stop for lunch and brief walk around cute town on the way; drive to Waterford for factory tour? Maybe a drive or walk on coast? Show son boats in harbor somewhere


Saturday: drive to Rock of Cashel for walk around ruins ; Stay near Tipperary? Maybe a farm or something

Sunday: Relax in morning; drive to Bunratty Folk Park; Drive to Ennis area to stay overnight

Monday: Drive to Cliffs of Moher and The Burren; stay somewhere on way to Galway: Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Kinvarra, Lisdoonvarna?

Tuesday: Drive to homebase for Galway: Clifden? Near Oughterard? Maybe visit Galway city? Or ferry to Aran Islands from Rossaveal or Doolin


Wednesday: Kylemore Abbey and Connemara Park (check on visitors’ center)

Thursday: Lough Corrib/Cong; maybe boat ride on lake? If in Oughterard
Connemara Park if in Clifden

Friday: Husband Fishing/ Cristi and son relax, walk around etc. This could be in Galway or near Clonmacnoise or Athlone

Saturday: Clonmacnoise? West Offaly Railway? Glendeer Open Farm?
Midway b/t Galway and Dublin

Sunday: Dublin
Any suggestions of places to stay that have parking, are convenient to town center and airport, and cost less than $120? We could take a bus into the city if that works best. What is traffic like in the city center area?

Monday: flight home

Thanks!

neejas

I agree with your new itenary, south of Dublin and around. My suggestion about a place to stay in Wicklow Mtns is The Glendalough Hotel. My mom, brother and I have been there twice and stayed during Easter 2002 at the hotel. Prices were reasonable and the experience was a highlight of our trip. There's a spring or creek that runs right by the hotel and you can hear the water flowing when you open your window. The ancient cemetery and St. Kevin is directly behind the hotel grounds. You can check out their website. http://www.glendaloughhotel.com/

IrishEyes

Bill,

DO NOT stay at Tudor Lodge. It has gone downhill. I think it is being "managed" for the owners by people from eastern Europe. Either that or it has been sold to them. I recommend either Pinewood Lodge (waking distance to Laragh) or Riversdale House (short drive away in a beautiful valley).

Cristi

Thanks for the feedback. After much research, our trip seems to be taking shape. I have a few more questions if anyone can help.

Thursday: Powerscourt, Glendalough (pronounced low or lock?); overnight at Riversdale House.
Irish Eyes, have you stayed there? Will it be relatively easy to find, clean, hospitable owners, etc.? The website looks nice!

Friday: More Glendalough if needed; Waterford tour

Where to stay near Waterford: Tramore vs. Dunmore East? Any advice relating to scenery, accessibility from Waterford, Cloneen B&B in Tramore, other recommended B&Bs within a 10-20 minute drive from Waterford…

Saturday: Coastal drive then drive to Cashel via Cahir; stay at Rockside House

Sunday: See Rock of Cashel; drive to Bunratty and view folk park; still debating Medieval banquet with 15 month old. Do they have high chairs/booster seats?
Stay overnight in Ennis: any advice on B&Bs? I saw a decent review of the Rose Cottage. Wondering if it may be noisy with attached pub.

Monday: Drive to Cliffs of Moher and The Burren; stay somewhere on way to Galway: Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Kinvarra, Lisdoonvarna; suggestions?

Tuesday: Drive to homebase for next few days: Clifden; Stay at Faul House Farm

Wednesday: Kylemore Abbey and Connemara Park; Stay at Faul House Farm

Thursday: See more around Clifden: any suggestions for quaint villages or beautiful places to visit within a 45 minute drive from Clifden? My husband would love to fly fish in the area. Any suggestions?

Friday: Lough Corrib/Cong; maybe boat ride on lake? Stay in/near Oughterard; anyone stayed at Camillaun?

Saturday: Drive to Clonmacnoise? West Offaly Railway? Glendeer Open Farm? Stay at farm B&B Westmeath: Woodlands Farm?
Midway b/t Galway and Dublin

Sunday: Drive early morning to Dublin or outskirts; drop off luggage at lodging and see a bit of Dublin

Monday: Drop off rental car and fly home a little after noon

Question about end of trip: having never been to Dublin, is it worth trying to see a bit of it (maybe a bus tour or something) on Sunday before we head home or should we save it for next time? Since we’ll have a car, is there a convenient northern suburb we could drive to, drop off our car/bags, and take public transportation into the city center? Will places be open for us to visit on Sunday?

Thanks for all your help!
(Would it be easier if I post these questions separately?)

wojazz3

Irish:

Thanks for the info! It was suggested to me a number of years ago and I've never been there. I'll try one of the other spots. They both look very nice.

Bill

lawchick

Thursday: Powerscourt, Glendalough (pronounced lock);
Will it be relatively easy to find, clean, hospitable owners, etc.?
Most people in Ireland are relatively clean
Friday: More Glendalough if needed; Waterford tour

Where to stay near Waterford: Tramore vs. Dunmore East?
Dunmore East! Tramore is like a very bad Atlantic City


Sunday: See Rock of Cashel; drive to Bunratty and view folk park; still debating Medieval banquet with 15 month old. Do they have high chairs/booster seats?
No idea - try e-mailing them

Monday: Drive to Cliffs of Moher and The Burren; stay somewhere on way to Galway: Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Kinvarra, Lisdoonvarna; suggestions?
All good - my preference would be Doolin or Ballyvaughan


Thursday: See more around Clifden: any suggestions for quaint villages or beautiful places to visit within a 45 minute drive from Clifden? My husband would love to fly fish in the area. Any suggestions?

http://homepage.eircom.net/~kylemore/welcome_page.htm




Question about end of trip: having never been to Dublin, is it worth trying to see a bit of it (maybe a bus tour or something) on Sunday before we head home or should we save it for next time? Since we’ll have a car, is there a convenient northern suburb we could drive to, drop off our car/bags, and take public transportation into the city center?

Just drive to the City centre - don't leave your bags on view in the car though

Will places be open for us to visit on Sunday?

Yes -

IrishEyes

Cristi: I have stayed at Riversdale and it is excellent and very clean. Everything was perfect.

Bill: Things can change rapidly in the B&B biz. Tudor Lodge was nice when it first opened. Pinewood Lodge is very nice. Riversdale House was my favorite in the area. Also try Trooperstown Wood near Anamoe. I had a look-see at it and it would appeal to people with a quirky sense of humor. Very nice owners.

Cristi

Thanks!
Anyone else have thoughts on where to stay in Dunmore East, Ennis, Doolin or Ballyvaughn?

"Friday: Lough Corrib/Cong; maybe boat ride on lake? Stay in/near Oughterard; anyone stayed at Camillaun?"

What about places to stay near Cong? That looks like it may be a better place to start our trek back to the Dublin area rather than Oughterard.

Cristi

Thanks for everyone's help. I have booked places to stay for most of the trip now. I'm still trying to plan the final weekend of our trip.

We're going on a Killary Cruise in Connemara on Sat. April 1 in the morning.

Question:
Should we drive to Athlone (via Cong) for an overnight then drive to Dublin Sun. morning for our one day of sightseeing? The downside of that is a lot of driving, potentially in rain and after dark. It also breaks our last two nights into two different places to stay. Finally, I've heard driving in Dublin can be really tough. (We're used to driving in Chicago traffic, but I don't know how it compares). We have a 10:45 flight out of Dublin airport Monday morning. With this first scenario, we'll be driving ourselves from the Mercer to the airport during rush hour.

OR

Should we catch an evening train in Galway to Dublin (Heuston station) and take a taxi to the Mercer Hotel, staying there Saturday and Sunday nights? We'd need to drop off the rental car in Galway, carry bags through the train station, take a taxi to the hotel and then a shuttle, taxi or bus from the hotel to the airport Monday morning.

Keep in mind we'll have a 15 month old with us, two moderate sized roller suitcases, a couple of backpacks and whatever stuff we've bought during the previous week.

When I think about it, both ways seem pretty complicated. Any suggestions on which makes more sense or an alternative plan? I'm not sure which would be more cost effective either.

Thanks!