12 Days in Ireland
Feb 9th, 2011, 02:21 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
12 Days in Ireland
I'm trying to put together an itinerary for 12 nights in Ireland. We will be arriving at Rosslare by Ferry and plan to rent a car. Some friends here in Australia have suggested visiting Kinsale and Clonakilty in Co. Cork, Adare Co. Limerick & Westport Co. Mayo. We are interested in traditional music, pubs, go to a hurling & football match, scenery, good food, walking trails, quaint villages. We would like to go at a leisurely pace so that we're not spending our holiday in the car driving long distances every day. I'd like some suggestions for towns to spend overnight stays and how much time to apportion to each place. Any other 'must sees' would be appreciated as would hotel/B&B/restaurant recommendations. We have previously visited Ireland on a coach tour and have done a lot of the touristy stuff already.
Feb 9th, 2011, 12:43 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In keeping with your policy of not spending too much time on the road, I would suggest exploring some of County Waterford when you make your way westwards from Rosslare. Many are tempted to make a mad dash to West Cork and Kerry but you might enjoy the quieter yet still scenic option that is relatively close to Rosslare.
The Nire Valley would be a good first area to explore - plenty of hillwalking; check discouts.ie/comeraghs.html.
Hanora's Cottage is a well know hostelry in the area, not cheap though (hanorascottage.com)
The Knockmealdowns offer a great vista of the area at The Vee
and nearby Lismore village should be visited. Doubt if the budget would stretch to renting the castle (lismorecastle.com)
but I think you can visit the gardens during the summer.
For some sustenance in the village, you could try O'Brien's Chop House (obrienschophouse.ie).
En route to Clonakilty, you have a number of smaller Cork towns to explore - Youghal (that's yawl, by the way), Cobh (cove) and Kinsale. There is a nice walk from Kinsale (start at the Spaniard pub) out to Summercove and the large fort, along by the water for some of its length. If you manage to walk past both the Spaniard and the Bulman without going in to either, you are made of stern stuff.
Clonakilty is a fine town with a nice beach in Inchydoney a few miles away. De Barra's is a well known music pub - but they have links with Jimi Hendricks rather than Michael Flatley.
Beyond Clonakilty, if small towns and villages are your desire, then you're in business. Castletownsend, Union Hall,
Schull, Ballydehob, Baltimore, Glengariff - the list is endless.
Westport is looking a long way away at this stage.....
A very useful site to refer to if you want to do some walking:
discoverireland.ie/Walking/looped-walks.aspx. This will provide you with any number of looped walks in all parts of the country.
The Nire Valley would be a good first area to explore - plenty of hillwalking; check discouts.ie/comeraghs.html.
Hanora's Cottage is a well know hostelry in the area, not cheap though (hanorascottage.com)
The Knockmealdowns offer a great vista of the area at The Vee
and nearby Lismore village should be visited. Doubt if the budget would stretch to renting the castle (lismorecastle.com)
but I think you can visit the gardens during the summer.
For some sustenance in the village, you could try O'Brien's Chop House (obrienschophouse.ie).
En route to Clonakilty, you have a number of smaller Cork towns to explore - Youghal (that's yawl, by the way), Cobh (cove) and Kinsale. There is a nice walk from Kinsale (start at the Spaniard pub) out to Summercove and the large fort, along by the water for some of its length. If you manage to walk past both the Spaniard and the Bulman without going in to either, you are made of stern stuff.
Clonakilty is a fine town with a nice beach in Inchydoney a few miles away. De Barra's is a well known music pub - but they have links with Jimi Hendricks rather than Michael Flatley.
Beyond Clonakilty, if small towns and villages are your desire, then you're in business. Castletownsend, Union Hall,
Schull, Ballydehob, Baltimore, Glengariff - the list is endless.
Westport is looking a long way away at this stage.....
A very useful site to refer to if you want to do some walking:
discoverireland.ie/Walking/looped-walks.aspx. This will provide you with any number of looped walks in all parts of the country.
