tana

I hope this makes sense to someone because I need help! I'm going to dublin to see a friend In late Sept. I have from the 21st to the 24th to see some of Ireland (flying out of Dublin, no choice here!, 25th AM). From what I've read, these are the things I'd like to see: Cliffs of Mohr, Dingle peninsula, drive the Vee gap to Cahir and Cashel. I would also love to see Killarney Nat. Park and Kinsale but I've given that up for the other sites. (bad choice?) I am planning to fly to Shannon on 20th(arrive 11AM) and rent a car(to drop off in Dublin). Drive to cliffs of Mohr and see that that day. I was thinking of overnight the 20th in Doolin, then the next late morning of the 21st, take the ferry to DIngle peninsula and spend the day there. Everyone says 2 nights there so night of the 21st and 22nd. That leaves the 23rd and 24th to see Drive Vee gap, see Cashel and cahir and head back to Dublin. Now I get stuck. What is the best way to drive the Vee Gap to Cahir and Cashel on the 23rd? Apparently the portion between Cappoquin and Clogheen shouldn't be missed so going from Tipperary to Cahir isn't good enough. But to not miss the portion through Knockmealdown mnts., I should go through Cork to get to Fermoy and cross over (looks like a road) past Lismore (which I heard also deserves a stop!) to Cappoquin and then take the Vee from there to Cahir! Help! That will probably take all day. Then do I overnight in cahir? That allows only the 24th to head to Tipperary (the rest of the Vee) then to Cashel (see the castel) and back to Dublin on that day to leave the next AM! Ouch! I really wanted to stay overnight in Cashel! Could I just skip the portion of the Vee from Cahir to Tipperary and go straight to Cashel or is that too much for that day?

tana

topper. please help!

MaryZ

Your Doolin and Dingle plans make perfect sense. After that, get an early start from Dingle and plan on being in the car a lot. It will be about 3 1/2 hours straight from Dingle to Lismore. Take a lunch break and stretch your legs, and then spend the afternoon driving through Vee Gap. Stay overnight in Cashel. (The best times to see the Rock are late in the day and early in the morning before the tour buses arrive.)Then, on the 24th you'll have a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive to get to Dublin.

Clifton

It's an awful lot to try to do in 3 days. Not to attempt to sway you not to go as far, but you may discover this yourself once you're on the road. It does look like you've done some good research and picked some of my favorite sites.

I think, given your parameters, I'd catch the road along the southern side of Dingle until I hit N72. Then I'd follow that through Killarney, Mallow and Fermoy until I got to Lismore. You can either start north from Lismore, or go further up to Cappoquin. Either way, both of those northbound roads are scenic and they re-merge into one road before you reach that beautiful view from the Vee.

From there, you head straight into Cahir, then Cashel. If you want to stay in Cashel, you should. It's only 15-20 minutes drive back to Cahir.

Be careful driving that day. I'd almost recommend not spending two nights on Dingle, just so you have longer for that drive to Cashel/Cahir. Do get an early start though.

twoflower

After Doolin then Dingle, we came across to Cork via Glengariff and Gouganne Barra (magic!), then up through Lismore to Cahir and Cashel. Not a lot at Lismore, but the Vee via that route was amazing.

tana

Thank you all so much for your responses.
Clifton, where do you suggest I stay that extra night if not in Dingle? Won't it feel like we are running around too much? I would like to see Killarny Nat. Park so maybe! The concensus seems to be 2 days in Dingle. 4 hours drive from Dingle to Cahir doesn't seem bad (of course I haven't done it!).
Any reason to go through Tipperary or just go back and forth from Cashel to Cahir via N8?
I guess everyone agrees to go past Cahir to Cashel to stay overnight then back down to Cahir on the way home? Is staying in Cahir really that bad? Thanks again!

MaryZ

My thinking was that you'd stay overnight in Cashel and then head off from there to Dublin. There wouldn't be any need to go back down to Cahir at all, would there?

Staying overnight in Cahir would be fine, but you mentioned that you hoped to spend the night in Cashel.

Clifton

Thinking about it. I can't honestly think of anywhere along the route that I'd rather stay than Dingle. It was more an observation about the length of the drive that day to Cashel. But then, if you stay two nights in Dingle, you're more rested up for a long day.

I'll take it back. Probably just as well to stay put in Dingle until you're ready to head towards Cashel. Get one good day in without a long drive. Kinsale is nice, but off track and you wouldn't want to keep rolling into a different town everyday at dusk. I've seen that a couple of people have had a nice time at a place in Mallow, but I'd venture that most would lean towards the extra time at Dingle.

Mary, I was just thinking that at least with the routing I was talking about, starting out in Dingle and including stopovers in Lismore, at the Vee (or whereever) would probably get tana to Cahir pretty late in the afternoon. She had expressed an interest in overnighting in Cashel, so my thought was that <i>if</i> she didn't have enough time left to really see Cahir's sites, that the backtrack (heading back south just a little ways) from her Cashel overnight wouldn't be too painful. Not trying to decide anyone's itinerary or anything, just more that the two towns are so close to each other as to make not much difference.

tana

Clifton, you are precisely right! I do want to stay in Cashel but it will be odd to pass up Cahir just to come back the next day to see it. Will do since they are so close. More Q's!
1. Any need to go to Tipperary?
2. Should we take extra time to go into Cahir Castle or is it the town that is worth stopping to walk around? (with only 3 hours back to Dublin we have the whole day to tool around.)
Should we take time to walk around Lismore?
3. My next question (sorry!) is good places to stay in Doolin, Dingle , Cashel.
Heaton's and Greenmount seem to be the way to go in Dingle.
In Cashel, people speak of Carrigeen Castle but that sound expensive! We are trying to stay at $150 (125 Euros). Also heard of Legends Guesthouse.
What about Doolin? Read a thread on places there but I forgot to print it out! Sorry so many Q's but this information is so helpful I can't help myself! Thanks so much!

picapica

You can tour Cahir Castle and Cahir town in just a couple of hours - I've stayed at Carrigeen Castle twice (two differnet trips), and found Peg the owner wonderful and very knowledgable about the area. Here's her website http://www.tipp.ie/butlerca.htm

Cashel can also be done in just a couple of hours. I haven't stayed there, but I'm sure there are some nice places.

It seems like it took longer than 4 hours from Cahir to Dingle, but the last time I drove it was the visit before last, so I might be confused. All in all, 3 days is a short time to hit all of these sites, but since you are really starting on the 20th, it might be doable.

Given my choice, I would choose Dingle over Killarny Nat. forest, but only because I am insane for the sea and fell completely for Dingle when I saw it. If you are intersted in archeology/early Christian and earlier sites, don't miss it. I stayed at Kirrary B&amp;B in Dingle and found it pleasant and accomodating.

Dingle is a bit of a hike and you would shave driving time off your trip by doing Kilarney National Forest/Kinsale (also incredibly lovely, I was staying in this area this past Christmas).

It sort of depends on what you are interested in, but really you can't go wrong with any of these destinations.

Have a great trip!

tana

Thanks Picapica (love the name!). I lloked up Carrigeen Castle on the website you provided and the rooms do not look very chrming and look sparse! I know this is the case for most places but does the rest of the place look like that? When I thought castle, I thought of a place with rich colors and nice furnishings! But I will stay there if it is charming!

Clifton

1) I didn't see that much in Tipperary town that called to me. It's ok, but no biggie. Normal everyday town.

2) I LOVE Cahir Castle. My favorite structure in Ireland. If you've ever seen the movie Excaliber - this was the castle. You can climb on the walls, up into the towers, all unescorted. Great.

3) Got some unrecommendables, some passed throughs from your list, but like Legends, primarily for the view. Rooms are very simple, fairly small. If you're looking for more... decorated(?) maybe try Cashel House. I've heard good things.

MaryZ

I'm not sure you understand how close Cashel is to Cahir. It's a distance of only 10-12 miles.

Carrigeen Castle and Mrs. Butler get very mixed reviews. Not everyone finds her to be charming. The building is actually a former jail and some people feel that Mrs. Butler is ideally placed in running it. On the other hand, some people find her to be very helpful and they enjoy their stay at Carrigeen.

We liked Rockside House B&amp;B in Cashel.

tana

Clifton, Cashel house sounds intriguing but the only Cashel house I could find on the web was in Connemara!
Will I need more time to visit Rock of Cashel (can we &quot;climb&quot; around that?) or Cahir Castle? I guess that will help me make up my mind where to stay overnight!
Also, Does anyone know about how long it takes to take the ferry from Doolin to Dingle? Where do we catch it? Really don't want to drive with our time constraint!

MaryZ

The ferry takes you from Killimer in County Clare across the Shannon to Tarbert in County Kerry. It's about a 20 minute ride.

Clifton

Ah, sorry tana. It's actually the &quot;Cashel Palace Hotel&quot;. It's pretty high end though, in an old mansion. And I haven't stayed, so I can't personally recommend it. I know it looks nice and is right next to the Rock.

Both pretty near the same about of time for us. I will say that the Rock is subject to big tour groups, so first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon is best to avoid crowds. Last time, we went in the morning (walked across the lawn from our hotel) and had the place almost to ourselves in May for a good while. Then we went to Cahir in the mid-morning to mid afternoon. The Rock seemed overrun from what we could see from our room. We had some food, relaxed, then I strolled back to the Rock later and walked right in once I saw the buses gone. I get that Heritage Card so you can go into most of the historic attractions around the country for one set price, so I didn't pay again.

tana

Clifton, where did you stay in Cashel? The Cashel palace hotel is booked!
Mary , how far of a drive is Killimer from Doolin and how far is Tarbert from Dingle?

MaryZ

Doolin to Killimer is about 1 1/2 hours. Tarbert to Dingle is about 2 hours.

Clifton

We've stayed at Legends.

tana

it is more convenient to take the ferry or just drive around! MaryZ, driving using the ferry is total about 3 1/2 hours! Add on the actual amount of time spent on the ferry(How long anyway?) I am worried about that being too much time! Is it quicker to drive? or is the ferry ride worth it (views etc..)