Driving from Dublin to Shannon
 

Any ideas, comments, or suggestions on driving from Dublin to Shannon in September? I will with a group of 5, renting a van, staying at B&B's, and will be doing the tourist thing. Please advise.

I hope it's a small van. Roads are very tiny, and driving anything larger than a Ford Contour can be nerve-wracking, unless you're an experienced driver on these kind of roads. <BR> <BR>Regardless, just check a map and take the main routes. Side trips are fine, but stick to the main roads for the majority of your trip.

Heather, <BR>Dublin to Shannon is in comparsion to other routes you may travel a main route so don't worry too much. <BR> <BR>Just some advise from someone who drives the Irish roads on a daily basis - take your time, let everything and everyone pass you if they want - Irish drivers are becoming more agresssive and fast. The speed limit is 60 miles per hour and car hire companies are passing speeding ticket and parking ticket fines on to the customer. If stopped by the Gardai (Irish Police) for speeding expect an on the spot fine. <BR> <BR>Don't head towards Dublin on a Sunday or out of the city on a Friday or Saturday it is pure madness traffic wise at the moment with a 2 hour journey taking up to 5 hours last weekend. Black spots for traffic jams include Kilkdare and some of the towns in Co. Laois. <BR> <BR>Post if you have anymore queries, <BR>Have a nice holiday <BR> <BR>Cathy

We drove from Dublin to Galway a few years ago. Took about five hours driving. Main roads were good, other roads were tiny. Imagine driving on a narrow road with no shoulder, on the left side, with a huge truck or bus roaring towards you, not knowing where you are going, with rain and at night. I would sometimes simply stop the car and let the monster pass. <BR> <BR>Invest in the best map that you can find. <BR> <BR>We stopped in the middle to see Clonmacnoise, which was interesting. See the burren and Cliffs of Moher if you can. Galway was a nice stop. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

YOu didn't mention how many days you had. Do you want to go directly from Dublin to Shannon, or had you planned on going thru the south or north first?

P.S. I will have 6 days to drive from Dublin to Shannon. I am very interested in any tourist attractions or interesting cities to see along the way. As well as any B&B's that would be recommended. Thanks!

Do you have any idea about where you want to go? There isn't much to see in a direct line from Dublin to Shannon. Get a good guide book and read about all the sights, then start to plan a course. With only six days, consider spending two days in Kilkenny (an easy drive from Dublin), two days in Killarney, Dingle or Kenmare, or maybe Cork, and then two days near Shannon at Bunratty or Ennis. Or you could head northwest to Mayo and Connemara. Try to spend at least two nights per stop, and day trip--it makes for a much more relaxing vacation.

Heather, <BR>There is a lot to do when driving from Dublin to Shannon - In Kildare see the National Stud and Japanese Garden, Maynooth College, in Offaly visit Birr Castle and Gardens, In Tipperary see the Rock of Cashel, detour to Kilkenny and see the Castle, the Dunmore Caves, Jerpoint Abbey. <BR> <BR>Check out www.ireland.travel.ie for further information, <BR> <BR>Cathy