2 days from Co Mayo to Dublin
 

After spending the night of 24th at the Ashford Castle near Cong Co. Mayo, DH and I have 2 more nights in Ireland. We will fly out of Dublin at 2:30 p on the 27th. We have a rental car and are more interested in the scenery than spending much time in Dublin. We also plan on many hours driving, as that is what we will have done for the previous 2 weeks.
With that in mind, what would you do and where would you go in this time?

Consider a leisurely drive around Lough Derg, then north to Clonmacnoise and thence to Dublin.

I recall hearing that there is excellent trad music in Feakle which would work into the Lough Derg experience.

I would second jaja's recommendation. If you are in the area of Clonmacnoise, you might be interested in the bog train. It is where they are mining peat and the little train takes you around to see the operation, while the guide explains the formation of peat, how it is used, etc. there is also a short stop at where the original bog is preserved and you can see some of the flowers that grow in bog areas.

Aaaagh geee Irishface, I would have loved to do that Bog Train! This is the first time I have ever heard of it. Oh well! Next time I guess?
PS - I have a lump of Peat Bog which I picked up out of a pile of the stuff on the side of the road - it has got very dry....

Sorry to bear bead news... The Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway has been shut down at the end of 2008 and will not be operating for the foreseeable future. A different tourism concept in the area is in development by Bord na Mona.
from http://goireland.about.com/od/county...og_railway.htm

http://www.offalyexpress.ie/banagher...dge.4704953.jp

Ricardo, thanks for the link about the railway being shut down. I won't recommend it again.

Too bad about thebog rail, that would have been interesting.
Any other suggestions on routes, places to see would be appreciated

I live about 30 miles from it & my wife & I enjoyed going on it 2ce with family visiting. It's a shame for us as there are fewer things to bring visitors to see nearby, and it was an unusual trip. If I ever hear of it opening again I'll try to remember to post info here.

It's hard to tell from their website, and Kinnitty Castle is for sale so I'm not sure about this, but there used to be falconry lessons at the Castle. Of course, you can have a lesson at Ashford Castle, too. That might be a good-bye to the West gift to yourselves. My grandsons (and I) absolutely loved it.

jaja- yes there are falconry lessons at Ashford, which we are going to partake. Thanks.

Say hello (or bonjour)to Aurelie for us, the goofy Americans who left their sunglasses in the building (that would be the boys) and neglected to leave a tip (me, remedied by sending it on from US). What a wonderful day that was!!!