Since there's construction in Eyre Square, I'm wondering if we should shift our trip in July from four nights in Galway to just one night in Galway and three in Clifden, Lisdoonvarna, or somewhere else in the area. We have a 13-year-old son; will he be really bored in the Connemara or other smaller places? We like to hike, and he would enjoy the ponies, I'm sure. Thank you for your thoughts.

Personally, I have never really liked Galway city and I would struggle finding enough to do in 4 days.

I am a BIG fan of the Clifden area. You could easily fill your time on driving tours, walking the beaches, hiking, pony treking etc.

I ALWAYS recommend Clifden over Galway city as a base.

regards Ger

Clifden is nice. One day to visit the Park. A boat ride out to Inish bofin is another day. The Island is not a lovely as the Arans but you can make a day of long walk around it. There is a lovely village named Roundstone an hour south of Clifden. They have an artsfestival the last week of June thru the 1st week in July. Nice little harbor and several well marked hikes. We will be there again in July.

OK, thanks for the feedback. Has anyone made the drive from Trim or thereabouts to Clifden? Is it doable/comfortable in a day?

Yes, we actually did it the opposite way - Clifden to close by Trim, and t is very do-able in one day.

regards Ger

Would echo what everyone else has said. Stayed at the Station House Hotel (actually in the condos) for about five nights last August with an Irish family.

One thing I would add to this outings list on warm sunny day is a drive up to the beach in Renvyle. Don't know about the bordom factor for a 13 year old, but we had an 11 year old, two 7 year olds and a 4 year old. The day was gorgeous, we gradually shed our five light layers and the kids ended up in the ocean in their underwear. We played soccer (football!) on the beach and went for long strolls on the pristine sand. Not a lot of shells, but baby shrimp in the tidal pools. My seven year old, slightly cautious son suddenly became a billy goat and spent the entire afternoon climbing up rock formations. We remember it as a quietly gorgeous, golden day.

Now, so you don't get the wrong idea, there is virtually nothing there -- no vendors, no nearby shops, no nothing. I guess I could leave the "virtually" out. We could hardly find it and the small car park and I had a land survey map (self-confessed map dork). But that is exactly the beauty of the place. I should add that the views were outstanding. Could see Crough Patrick and numerous islands. Nature beauty at its best.

There is a Living Ocean exhibit (or something like that) on the way there. We missed it but it sounded interesting. Stopped in at a little restaurant on the way back and had scampi and a few jars outside.

We also hit Roundstone (which your 13 year old should really like -- hit the craft village and get him a bodhran) and took the trip out to Inishbofin. Not a whole lot on Inishbofin but the ferry ride was cool and the island legends piqued the kids' curiosity so much we ended up searching for a children's book about Grace O'Malley the Pirate Queen in Dublin before we left.

You can thoroughly exhaust your hiking urges in the Nat'l Park. I also did a nice little walk each morning in through town (Clifden) and out toward the piers (jetty? something with boats and no beach -- the road I was on paralled the Sky Road, which itself is a beautiful drive). Pretty narrow road, but courteous drivers, lovely wildflowers and exquisite silence (remember, I was travelling with four kids at that point!)

We had some nice (not inexpensive, darn Euro!) meals in Clifden as well. Can't recall the name of the best place of the top of my head, but (bear with me on this explanation) if you head back toward the Station House from the "triangle" where the monument is on the lower road, it is on the left hand side and had a lovely stone interior. (Yeah, thanks.)

My memory of Galway town is spending ONE HOUR trying to get through three roundabouts. That said, Salt Hill and out that direction (Spiddal, etc.) can be nice.

Hope some of this is helpful.

voyager:

I forgot to mention: I have prepared an itinerary of our favorite driving tours in the area which I can send you. Please drop me an e-mail to [email protected].

regards Ger

Molloy95 has it nailed. I agree with everything said. As for places to go, in addition to Molloy95's excellent suggestions, there's Kylemore Abbey, Leenane and Ashleagh Falls, Clifden Castle. The drive on the Renvyle Peninsula is wonderful--and the beaches--even in the winter, when we went. I continue to go back to Clifden and Connemara as I find it the most charming and beautiful part of Ireland.

And stop for an Irish coffee at Ballynahinch. My description (2001) is that it was sort of shabby chic and looked like somewhere Hemingway may have stopped on a grouse hunting trip. We stayed south of Galway at St. Cleran's (used to be the home of John Huston).