jojoblais

Hi all

I have the opportunity to get a very good deal for 5 days in Ireland. Well, really 4 since we arrive Dublin Day 2.

spend that day in Dublin, then on to County Cork - see Blarney Castle, Woolen Mills

Day 4 - do Ring of Kerry

Day 5 on way to Dublin do Rock of Cashel

Since this is such a quick tour, we decided if we go we'd like to extend our trip a few days. But we really are up in the air as to what to do & how to go about it.

First time for both my husband & I.

We like history, wandering interesting & unique areas. beautiful scenery. Honestly, we've both always loved Irish music & the country looks so beautiful -- but aren't really up on what are great things to do there.

PalenQ

Go north from the Ring of Kerry area (BTW the Dingle Peninsula is also captivating) to the Cliffs of Mohair and The Burren - research those - they are kind of on the way back to Dublin.

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+...w=1455&bih=977

https://www.google.com/search?q=clif...w=1455&bih=977

Both are in the Gaelic speaking area where IME Gaelic was the language I heard on the street, in pubs, etc - a backward area in many ways - lots of peat smoke coming out of chimneys!

bvlenci

The Cliffs of Mohair? Was that auto-corrected?

Tony2phones

Irish, in the gaeltacht regions they speak Irish Ireland is also a leading force in the IT sector, not bad for backwards folk? Oh and no goats on that bit of the Clare coast.

Given the time you have 2 days for Dublin and 2 for Ireland I would just pick one other base. Either Killarney or Galway. Both locations have tour bus's to various sights and are reachable by public transport so doing away with the need for a car. Even with 6 days I would stick to two or possibly 3 locations at a push and take tours.

jojoblais

OK, trying to finalize itinerary -- we leave Dublin on 3/29 & pick up a car at the Dublin airport that morning & then have till 4/5 when we depart from Shannon airport.

So, here's what i'm thinking: a day or 2 to drive to Belfast, spend night there

Then a couple of days in Galway, & then a couple in Dingle area. Is this realistic? Am I mssing something "must see"?

Also, looking for hotel suggestions - these are ones I was checking out:

galway: THE WESTEN HOTEL, THE CONNAUGHT HOTEL, GALWAY HARBOUR HOTEL

Belfast: HASTINGS EUROPA, MADISON'S HOTEL, PARK INN BY RADISSON, HOLIDAY INN

Dingle: DINGLE BENNERS, DINGLE HARBOUR LODGE

Or maybe instead of staying in Belfast, stay in Wicklow Park area?

We want to be centrally located to things.
Hotel suggestions w/ moderate budget would be appreciated.

Advice please! Thoughts, concerns ...........

bean11

Why Belfast. I'm no Ireland expert(only 2 short trips so far) but I much prefer Dublin over Belfast. Maybe its just me but on my one day stay in Belfast I found it quiet, drab, with no one about. Our day tour guide(out of Dublin) only took us to the Titanic Memorial (not worth the visit) and had us catch a local taxi to tour around the "Political" areas of Belfast. We couldn't wait to get out of there. We did enjoy seeing Northern Ireland's coast and Giant's Causeway though. For my money, Dublin is much more exciting and accessible. Just my 2 cents, I'm sure others would disagree.

Tony2phones

Sorry Bean11 you were stitched. There are reasons I say don't do a tour of the North from Dublin, apart from the 4 hours of the day wasted polishing a seat.

There are good tours of Belfast and the north from Belfast. Good blackcab or even bus tours. Belfast is also easy reach from Dublin City or Airport.

Galway has lots of options for 2 or more days. Killarney as said before has lots of options for 2 or more days. Dingle mean you can get the same photos as everyone else on the return flight but you can do that in 2 hours you don't need 2 days.

jojoblais

Has anyone spent any time in Donegal?

Tony2phones

Yes. Everything you have heard about Dingle but bigger and better.

jojoblais

OK! Since my post, I've made a discovery -- THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY. We've decided to drive from Donegal to Dingle (because we depart for home from Shannon airport.) We have 7 days.

What I'm trying to decide is how best to break the drive up. At the moment, I've booked 2 nights in Donegal & 1 night, our last, in Dingle. I still could change that if need be. It looks to me as if there's much to do in Westport also.

So- anyone familiar? Any suggestions on how to break up the drive? Which towns to stop at? Is 2 nts Donegal too much?

Tony2phones

http://goo.gl/xrDQtD Is a 10 day plan up and over from Dublin (and back)

Donegal is a good base town for the County, depends what you want to see from There.

Balina is pitched as a great base for Sligo and North Mayo including Achill Island which is Dingle on a small scale without the tourbus and gift shop brigade.

Clifden as a base for the Connemara http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu

Ending in Ennis which is a great base for the Former Shannon Region (including Shannon Airport) West/East/South Clare and Limerick.

Dingle.. Sorry but if you haven't seen better than anything the Dingle peninsula offers before you cross the Shannon you haven't been Looking.

jojoblais

Well, in Donegal county we were thinking about: Glenveagh Natl Pl & castle, the folk village, the famine village, Studio Donegal, Mullaghmore Head, maybe the ferry to Inishmurry

We were actually thinking of staying in Westport & doing Connemara, maybe Achill Is

Then maybe Galway

Since Dingle is pretty far from Shannon airport, we changed our reservation to Tralee for the last 2 nights. We figured we could base there & day trip to Dingle.

Everyone raves about Dingle. And you say no, not so much?

Tony2phones

Everyone raves about Dingle, Doolin, and now Kinsale.. I like the Dingle peninsula but there is nothing there that can't be found elsewhere..

There is spectacular scenery in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Clare.

Unfortunately Dingle town has a cult following among the Rick Steves fans, lots of folk who have not taken the time or been fortunate enough to experience too much of the other 99.4% of the island and of course 3 or 4 experts on the TA forum who refuse to let me imply it might rain on the Dingle peninsula.

I have never been to Inishmurry so you will have to tell me all about it afterwards. I would recommend seeing the Slieve League from the sea if you have good weather. (Same goes for Moher)