long2travel

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are on what to do/see in the Galway area. We will have two nights in Galway. The first will be a travel day from Dingle to Galway via the Cliffs of Moher. I was hoping to pass through the town of Adare (I love thatched roofs) but on the map it appears to negate the shortcut you could take via ferry near Kilrush. I'm not sure how much time it would leave to explore Galway city. The next day would be a full day in the Galway area with an overnight in the same place. better to take the day for a trip to Inishmore or explore Galway and/or nearby towns? Is the trip to the Inishmore a full day?

allisonm

I think you will find people on both sides of the fence here. First, Adare is a nice town with a couple of thatched roofs, and worth a look-see, but I wouldn't make it a destination.

How long a day you spend at Inishmore is up to you. If you fly, the trip is quicker than the ferry. You can spend the day there, and back to Galway for dinner.

You can also spend a whole day in Galway, taking in some shopping, pubs, dinner, music. It is a very walkable city with lots to see.

Connemara is another option; we love to make the drive out to Clifden, where you can take Sky Drive for some amazing views on a clear day. Go out (or come back) along the coast (stop in Roundstone and visit Roundstone Music & Crafts Shop or buy some pottery next door) and go the opposite way returning, up through Kylemore Abbey and through Leenane and Cong, or down through Oughterard and stop for some music at the Boat Inn. This is very different scenery from what you will have seen in Dingle.

In Moycullen you can stop in at Celtic Crystal where I buy from the odds and ends and wish I had the money to buy some of the beautiful colored crystal pieces.

I don't think there is a wrong choice here.

SeeDee

With the improved road network around Limerick and the upgrading of the Limerick-Galway road, now bypassing Ennis,
I would not rule out Adare in your travel plans.

Inishmore would be a good option if the weather allowed but flying would spare some precious hours, in preference to the ferry.

Touring Connemara is a nice thought but hard to see how it would be very enjoyable unless you are overloaded with stamina for driving; your trip from Dingle will be tiring whichever route option you take.

JOHNOD

When you leave the cliffs enroute to Galway take the coast road to Ballyvaughn. There are a couple of thatch cottages along the river bank in Ballyvaughn and the drive is great along the coast with the sea on one side and the Burren on the other. The Thatch houses in Adare are shops and the tours buses fill them up. Not a bad place but not worth a detour. Have fun

jaja

There are a couple of B&Bs that are thatched cottages in the Galway area: An Caladh Gearr and Cloch na Scíth , both just outside Spiddal. Haven't visited Cloch na Scíth but we loved An Caladh Gearr.

long2travel

allisonm & seedee - I didn't know you could fly to Inishmore. That sounds like a much better bet. Might give us an extra hour or so at the end of the day to spend some time in Galway. It does sound like Inishmore would be weather dependent. Perhaps more driving to Connemara would be a back up.

johnod - Ballyvaughn sounds quite picturesque and a little less touristy.

jaja - I love them both! I would love to find something as quaint for some of our other stops (even if they aren't thatched). Recommendations welcome for Dublin, Kilkenny, Kenmare maybe, and Dingle. Thank you very much.