Small Village in Ireland for One Week?
Apr 9th, 2014, 05:59 AM
#1
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Small Village in Ireland for One Week?
Hello, all,
We would like to spend one week in a small village in Ireland. While a week is not enough to see most of Ireland, we wanted to get the local flavor of at least one part of Ireland. We are a family of five (two parents, 14 yo, 12 yo, 10 yo). Ideally, this locale would have a good local bakery (carb lovers here) and some nice walks/hikes nearby.
Thank you in advance,
Gabe Gonzalez
We would like to spend one week in a small village in Ireland. While a week is not enough to see most of Ireland, we wanted to get the local flavor of at least one part of Ireland. We are a family of five (two parents, 14 yo, 12 yo, 10 yo). Ideally, this locale would have a good local bakery (carb lovers here) and some nice walks/hikes nearby.
Thank you in advance,
Gabe Gonzalez
Apr 9th, 2014, 06:13 AM
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I'd probably suggest either Dingle in Kerry or Kilcar in Donegal. Dingle is probably best suited for kids more to do like an aquarium. Tons of great walks nearby and some of Irelands best scenery. If the weather is good too you could always try getting out to see Skellig Micheal. Any other questions do shout. I'm Irish living in Dublin.
Apr 9th, 2014, 06:53 AM
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Gabe..how small is small in your eyes? For example, I 've liked Clifden at the end of the Connemara peninsula. It's not "big", it's not "small" in my reckoning. It's a seaport town and the beautiful region has many opportunities for hikes/walks. There are two bakeries that I spotted, in town and a funky restaurant which I hope is still there...Destry's (believe it or not, after the old James Stewart movie, "Destry Rides Again", a western). The owners, a young couple, are big fans of Hollywood, and movie posters demnostrate this. There are lobster traps stacked along the beach.
Another, about the same size, is further north, Westport, where we've stayed at the venerable Old Railway Hotel, also on the funky side, with a history featuring William Makepeace Thackeray. It is close to Croagh Patrick, a steep, rocky hill that attracts 1000's on St. Patrick's Day.
I fear anything "smaller" than these two towns just might bore the kids, no end. Not to say, you and the mom. Ireland is a country of very small villages strung throughout the island. Finding one with acceptable lodgings should not be difficult, and we've stayed overnight or two in several over the years. For example, Dingle at the west end of it's peninsula, or Kinsale (seaport near Cork) could be two other candidates.
Gabe and family, enjoy the friendliest, greenest country you've ever seen.
Any of these mentioned could fulfill your needs, IMO
Another, about the same size, is further north, Westport, where we've stayed at the venerable Old Railway Hotel, also on the funky side, with a history featuring William Makepeace Thackeray. It is close to Croagh Patrick, a steep, rocky hill that attracts 1000's on St. Patrick's Day.
I fear anything "smaller" than these two towns just might bore the kids, no end. Not to say, you and the mom. Ireland is a country of very small villages strung throughout the island. Finding one with acceptable lodgings should not be difficult, and we've stayed overnight or two in several over the years. For example, Dingle at the west end of it's peninsula, or Kinsale (seaport near Cork) could be two other candidates.
Gabe and family, enjoy the friendliest, greenest country you've ever seen.
Any of these mentioned could fulfill your needs, IMO
Apr 9th, 2014, 06:55 AM
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I second the vote for Dingle! My son (16) and I spent several days there in '09 and it is wonderful. Plenty of pubs and shops, but "country" hikes and gorgeous drives as well. We went out on a boat one afternoon to watch the local dolphin at play.
We stayed at a B&B called The Lighthouse: it was clean, quiet, and our room had a spectacular view across the bay. Across the street was a small corn maze—fun!
I would love to go back one day.
We stayed at a B&B called The Lighthouse: it was clean, quiet, and our room had a spectacular view across the bay. Across the street was a small corn maze—fun!
I would love to go back one day.
Apr 9th, 2014, 10:22 AM
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Why be stuck out on the end of a Peninsula.. All you will see from Dingle is Dingle.. 0.6% of the Island of Ireland that packs in the tourists like wasps to a jam trap..
If you want to see Kerry consider Kenmare and somewhere like http://www.kenmarebayhotel.com/ or better still a self catering cottage Kenmare like Killarney is an excellent base for county Kerry and north west Cork.
Connemara is a great option with youngsters lots of beaches and open spaces, Cliffden always gets my vote but with youngsters maybe consider Roundstone which is smaller and quieter
Clare is also a good option somewhere on the Burren and Cliffs coast with the Eco park alone being twice the size of the whole Dingle peninsula.
For Connemara a few things to see/do http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu and for west Clare http://goo.gl/maps/e4gVk of course there is West Clare over here by Lough Derg http://www.visitclare.net/
If you want to see Kerry consider Kenmare and somewhere like http://www.kenmarebayhotel.com/ or better still a self catering cottage Kenmare like Killarney is an excellent base for county Kerry and north west Cork.
Connemara is a great option with youngsters lots of beaches and open spaces, Cliffden always gets my vote but with youngsters maybe consider Roundstone which is smaller and quieter
Clare is also a good option somewhere on the Burren and Cliffs coast with the Eco park alone being twice the size of the whole Dingle peninsula.
For Connemara a few things to see/do http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu and for west Clare http://goo.gl/maps/e4gVk of course there is West Clare over here by Lough Derg http://www.visitclare.net/
May 2nd, 2014, 12:08 PM
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ADARE! A beautiful small village - yet not too small. Excllent location, great restaurants/pubs/music, friendly folks, plenty of old ruins/church/abbey, great grocery, nice walking town, wonderful park, etc
Adare is near a main (national "N" routes) road and very close to a Motorway (the "M" routes). It is just below Limerick and a day trip away from Killarney NP, The Burren & Cliffs of Moher, Galway - even not a bad drive to Dublin, imo.
Adare is near a main (national "N" routes) road and very close to a Motorway (the "M" routes). It is just below Limerick and a day trip away from Killarney NP, The Burren & Cliffs of Moher, Galway - even not a bad drive to Dublin, imo.
