Cjar

Hello, all of you Ireland experts and well travelled fodorites. I am neither the former nor the latter, so I could use some practical advice. Our family of two early teens and two parents will be visiting Tipperary county, Kerry, Clare,Galway and Dublin. We will fly into Shannon and out of Dublin. Points of interest include Cashel, Cahir, Mitchelson Cave, Charles Fort,, Cliffs of Moher, the Killarney Nat'l Park, Galway ,and Aran Isles (sp?) ,last but not least Newgrange on the way from Galway to Dublin.

I have found a very inexpensive ( based on our limited travel experience) cottage in Glin, Limerick, $580 not euros for 7nights. Usually we budget much higher for accommodations $200 ish per night, but if we can save here maybe we could do something very special elsewhere. We will also stay 2-3 nights in Galway and 1 in Dublin. Is Glin central to all but Galway and Dublin? Does this make any sense at all or are we better off moving more often and if so please offer suggestions of different types of lodging giving specifics if you can.
Tony2 phones gave me some great hotels,but we have changed a few cities since then.
Thank you all in advance. I love Fodor's community.

Tony2phones

This one of Imagine Ireland's holiday let's?

Glin handy for Limerick and main roads plus the Ferry if you want to cross the Shannon and look at Loop Head peninsula. non tourist alternative to Moher.

Galway is a 2 hour drive Dublin probably reachable in 3 via Limerick and the M7 not Galway. Newgrange is an hour beyond.

On the basis that I once met a Cruise in Cobh about 10am went via Cahir and Cashel then over to Brogans in Ennis before 7pm then those two points are a possible day trip. Probably on the way to Dublin rather then when you drop to Kinsale and Blarney for a day trip?

some maps for pointers. http://goo.gl/maps/xMOHV http://goo.gl/maps/FDZCV http://goo.gl/maps/8diVp http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu and a 9day loop which has a couple of points http://goo.gl/maps/HGO4L

You will be about an hour and a bit from the little gold star if you fancy a coffee..

Cjar

Thanks for the map links. Sometimes what looks ok on a map is not as terrific in practice,so it's always nice to get experienced input. I'll check the map links out as well as Imagine Ireland. The cottage I found was through Hogan's Irish cottages. Ever heard of this company?

nytraveler

I actually know a little something about Glin one set of greatgrandparents originally came form there. I visited there briefly and one of my uncles stayed at the home of the then Knight of Glin (now a castle hotel) - and I think made himself offensive talking a lot about how his grandmother was determined the shoot the knight in her time.

I think you will find that you are really too far to comfortable see a lot of places - esp Dublin. Even though distances are small, roads are narrow and there are a LOT of sheep wandering around - so to get from one place to another you need to allow a top speed of about 35 mph.

I think you need to stay in more than one place to avoid an awful lot of driving in circles.

Tony2phones

We use Shamrock Cottages and Imagine Ireland for self catering, have heard of Hogans but never used them.
Think this is the same place you are looking at http://www.imagineireland.com/Limeri...nnon-14359.asp

Cjar

It wasn't ,but that looks nice as well . I will bookmark. I can't get the one I had in mind to paste here, but it was through holiday lettings # 1227755 in Roseville. You have been so kind. Would it be ok if I ran some possible itineraries by you? Anyone else please feel free to chime in.

Option one-

Fly into Dublin and stay the night.
Rent car and drive to Newgrange and then on to Galway for 3 nights. Possible stay at Ballynahinch Castle. Thanks for the recommendation. : ) Would like to see Aran, Connemara. Any suggestions welcome. Especially something can't miss or different than we will see in other places.

Drive to county Clare 3 nights hotel or bb
See cliffs of Moher, Killarney Natl Park, gap of Dunloe, Burren and music / good food somewhere (Doolin?).
Drive to Limerick (?) 3 nights hotel or bb
See Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Mitchelson Caves, Golden Vale
Drive to Shannon 1 night . Flight out next day
Or
Reverse itinerary. There doesn't seem to be a way around a little back and forth if using Shannon for arrival or departure
Or
Basically the same but stay somewhere central (Limerick ?) for everything south except maybe one night in Killarney after Nat'l Park
Trying to keep everyone happy.
Any suggestions? Anyplace for great music experience dance and / or voice?
Any magical fairy glens for my 12 year old daughter?
My deepest thanks to any and all who take the time to respond.

Tony2phones

what are your dates?

Cjar

Oh. Oops. It looks like we would arrive on the 30th of May and depart June 10th this year. I think that's about right.

Thanks again

Tony2phones

"See Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Mitchelson Caves, Golden Vale"

These seem key,, so a couple of nights around there might make sense http://www.dundrumhousehotel.com/index.html could be an option? with family rooms available.. lower price option but a great option http://www.tipp.ie/butlerca.htm would need 2 rooms?

Kenmare would also deserve 2 nights. as previous suggested..

Thats 6 days / 5 nights so Wake up the 4th June and head north.

Cjar

Thank you.

Tony2phones

Just whilst I think on http://www.irishfolktours.com/ might do a night in Dublin. Maybe spend the night of the 4th in Bunratty see the Castle and folk park then the nights entertainment at the Corn Barn http://www.shannonheritage.com/Eveni...nalIrishNight/

Cjar

Tony2phones - thank you I will keep all of your suggestions. DH has opted to enjoy the landscape and not drive and I can barely drive in U.S. : ) we have had to regroup and consider the idea of tours which neither of us love or hiring a driver which may not be in the current budget for four of us. So it may be next year that we get to go. You have been wonderful and I wanted to thank you. I hope your suggestions will not only be of use to us later, but also to others seeking advice on Ireland.

Tony2phones

There are lots of folk come over and do not drive.. The key is to locate in places with bus travel and local tour options..

Dublin would give the Newgrange, Glendalough and other options.

Cork not many tours but Cahir, Cashel are on the main bus route down from Dublin so split the journey with an overnight.

Killarney by bus from Cork and the town has lots of tour options.

Adare/Limerick/Ennis split the journey between Killarney and Galway which has lots of tour options,and express bus to Dublin Airport and you can use a shuttle there for an overnight airport hotel.

Private drivers tend to be over expensive but there are options with small tours or hire a cab for half a day.

Cjar

See, you are an oracle . Good food for thought. Thanks again.

littlejane

Maybe your daughter would like Brigit's Garden near Galway http://www.brigitsgarden.ie/ - it's a bit hokey for me but seems to be a hit with the tourists... plenty of celtic mythology / fairy nonsense

AlessandraZoe

Cjar--
Again, I so like the perspective Tony2phones brings. He brings Ireland into focus.

It's important to know that one does NOT need to rent a car OR take some massive bus tour to see Ireland.

In four trips to Ireland, we never used a car. My husband hates to drive in a foreign country, even though he can drive a stick and even though he's a good driver (I am, in anyone's opinion, a bad driver in any country).

As I stated on another post recently, for three of our trips, 1/2 of our trip time was spent with a cycle group, so both our two wheels and the tour van provided our transport on those days.

But we always planned considerable days pre- and post-trip on our own. And our last trip was a "plop" trip to do mostly trad music in Dublin (fun!).

We primarily used the country's national bus system http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=232, which is comprehensive and excellent.

The other variations were...
...we took cabs and airport shuttles were needed
...we took local day tours (e.g., Dublin to Killarny)
...we took ferries (Aran Islands)
...we even employed a local driver for the one stretch where we could not make point A to point B (Adare to Cork! cheap!)on a timely basis.


While I certainly would consider renting an apartment in Dublin for a week and taking day trips as needed, so much of the rest of the country requires one to be "on the move" to enjoy it, so if you do do the trip, do consider a multi-location itinerary.

I'm a big fan, however, of two- or three-night stays. After all, one has to get to REALLY know the local pubs.

Good luck with your decisions,
AZ