First time to NI and Ireland
Jun 15th, 2015, 05:23 PM
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First time to NI and Ireland
My husband and I will be traveling to NI and Ireland late August/early Sept. with our daughter and her fiancé. On our list to see are sights in Dublin, Belfast, Antrim Coast, Derry, Aran Island, Galway, Cliff of Moher and Burren. I also wanted to see Blarney's Castle and Cork, which may be too far south. I had originally had listed the ROK or Dingle Pennisula, but may not have enough time. From what I have been reading the Connemara may be a better drive for us. We are thinking of flying in to Dublin and out of Shannon to save travel time. Will this work? Does this sound all possible for 11 sightseeing days (excluding two days of travel)? Can I add more like Dingle? Where should we stay overnight for this path route? Can we get to the Blarney Castle/Cork from Shannon for a day trip? Any special things to do (besides the pubs) that would be of interest to my daughter and her fiancé? What are the best pubs in Dublin, Belfast, Derry and Galway? I have read about Doolin and Ennis also? Should we stay at either of those two places? So much to see and do! Thank you!
Jun 16th, 2015, 04:28 AM
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11 days is not long on the ground to see effectively the whole island. The general view is with 10 days draw a line between Dublin and Limerick and stay above that or a line between Dublin and Sligo and stay below that. One extra day makes little difference.
You can do a Road Trip and move every night to see more or have fixed bases to experience more. Throw away much of what you have read glorifying certain locations, fact of the matter is that nowhere is individually unique with anything that you cant see somewhere else.
Land in Dublin and get the bus direct to Belfast. Day one see Belfast city and recoup, Day two take either the Game of Thrown's or Causeway and Glens tour from Belfast (several tour operators)
Day 3 down to Dublin for 2 nights
Day 5 up to Dublin airport and collect the rental car (you will need a car to see all you want) drive to Kilkenny for the night, possibly over Wicklow and Glendalough.
Day 6 from Kilkenny to Cork, possibly stay in Blarney nice village and you can see the Castle Grounds outside the 10-4 tourbus hours.
Day 7 to Killarney for Two nights Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe on the first day, Ring of Kerry on the second.
Day 9 Leave Killarney and drive round the Dingle peninsula on the way to a night in Galway, having looped Dingle head to Limerick and up the Motorway to Galway, its a long hop but possible.
Day 10 drive round the Connemara loop or part of it anyway, full day and back to Galway for the second night in town.
Day 11 final day, early (ish) start and down through Clare, Take the Inis Oirr and Cliffs combi cruise from Doolin (main reason I go to Doolin) see the Cliffs from below, option see the cliffs from above after leaving Doolin on the way to a last night in Ennis.
Leave from Shannon, great departure airport, easy car drops and transition, possible customs pre clearance ? (assuming US bound)
You can do a Road Trip and move every night to see more or have fixed bases to experience more. Throw away much of what you have read glorifying certain locations, fact of the matter is that nowhere is individually unique with anything that you cant see somewhere else.
Land in Dublin and get the bus direct to Belfast. Day one see Belfast city and recoup, Day two take either the Game of Thrown's or Causeway and Glens tour from Belfast (several tour operators)
Day 3 down to Dublin for 2 nights
Day 5 up to Dublin airport and collect the rental car (you will need a car to see all you want) drive to Kilkenny for the night, possibly over Wicklow and Glendalough.
Day 6 from Kilkenny to Cork, possibly stay in Blarney nice village and you can see the Castle Grounds outside the 10-4 tourbus hours.
Day 7 to Killarney for Two nights Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe on the first day, Ring of Kerry on the second.
Day 9 Leave Killarney and drive round the Dingle peninsula on the way to a night in Galway, having looped Dingle head to Limerick and up the Motorway to Galway, its a long hop but possible.
Day 10 drive round the Connemara loop or part of it anyway, full day and back to Galway for the second night in town.
Day 11 final day, early (ish) start and down through Clare, Take the Inis Oirr and Cliffs combi cruise from Doolin (main reason I go to Doolin) see the Cliffs from below, option see the cliffs from above after leaving Doolin on the way to a last night in Ennis.
Leave from Shannon, great departure airport, easy car drops and transition, possible customs pre clearance ? (assuming US bound)
Jun 16th, 2015, 07:15 AM
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Bravo Tony. Great trip itinerary. NI is great and bus from airport to central Belfast quick and easy. McCombs have great tours. Hotels close by the Europa hotel but wish we'd stayed there. Crown saloon across the street and no car needed.
Jun 17th, 2015, 06:49 AM
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You don't make any comment where you are coming from. Are you likely to arrive jet lagged?
Tony's itinerary is certainly do-able but it does involve a lot of driving with little time to stop and stare and enjoy what Ireland has to offer. I have a horrible feeling that at the end of your holiday you may feel short changed by Ireland and not really appreciate its beauty. In particular Day 9 is a very full day. The straight drive from Killarney to Dingle to Galway without any stops is going to take nearly five hours. Add in a drive round the tip of the Dingle peninsula - the best bit - we are talking 7+ hours drive now. Add in a stop for lunch and this doesn't give you a lot of time for stops to sight see.
Likewise Day 11. Galway to Doolin is just over an hours drive. Allowing time to get packed up from the hotel and parked up at Doolin and book in time for the ferry, this is going to be 90minutes minimum. The drive also takes you through some lovely Burren scenery (Kinvarra and the Flaggy Shore). Adding in the lovely drive round the coast from Ballyvaughan through Fanore is going to put on another 30+ minutes. After the trip, unless you take the one that finishes at 2pm (short and very rushed, ask yourself if this is worth it) you aren't going to have much time to explore the Burren on the way to Clare.
Driving in Ireland can be quite slow. Distances may not look much on the map but it will take you longer to get betwen places than you might expect. I think you may need to prune something from the itinerary. The obvious suggestions are either Northern Ireland (what is the attraction of Belfast and Derry?) OR Cork and Blarney Castle (again what is the attraction here - is it kissing the Blarney stone?) This would also free up time to do the medieval banquet at Dungaire Castle near Kinvarra and also spend a night hitting the pub scene in Doolin.
It would also give you time to visit major highlights of Ireland like Newtongrange from Dublin (with either Trim Castle or Tara). If driving down through the Wicklow oMountains allow time to visit Glendalough, one of the most beautiful sites in Ireland.
Tony's itinerary is certainly do-able but it does involve a lot of driving with little time to stop and stare and enjoy what Ireland has to offer. I have a horrible feeling that at the end of your holiday you may feel short changed by Ireland and not really appreciate its beauty. In particular Day 9 is a very full day. The straight drive from Killarney to Dingle to Galway without any stops is going to take nearly five hours. Add in a drive round the tip of the Dingle peninsula - the best bit - we are talking 7+ hours drive now. Add in a stop for lunch and this doesn't give you a lot of time for stops to sight see.
Likewise Day 11. Galway to Doolin is just over an hours drive. Allowing time to get packed up from the hotel and parked up at Doolin and book in time for the ferry, this is going to be 90minutes minimum. The drive also takes you through some lovely Burren scenery (Kinvarra and the Flaggy Shore). Adding in the lovely drive round the coast from Ballyvaughan through Fanore is going to put on another 30+ minutes. After the trip, unless you take the one that finishes at 2pm (short and very rushed, ask yourself if this is worth it) you aren't going to have much time to explore the Burren on the way to Clare.
Driving in Ireland can be quite slow. Distances may not look much on the map but it will take you longer to get betwen places than you might expect. I think you may need to prune something from the itinerary. The obvious suggestions are either Northern Ireland (what is the attraction of Belfast and Derry?) OR Cork and Blarney Castle (again what is the attraction here - is it kissing the Blarney stone?) This would also free up time to do the medieval banquet at Dungaire Castle near Kinvarra and also spend a night hitting the pub scene in Doolin.
It would also give you time to visit major highlights of Ireland like Newtongrange from Dublin (with either Trim Castle or Tara). If driving down through the Wicklow oMountains allow time to visit Glendalough, one of the most beautiful sites in Ireland.
Jun 17th, 2015, 12:30 PM
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Taking the 1pm O'Brien line sailing from Doolin to Inis Oirr gives a good 3 hours on the island before taking the 4.45 return including the trip under the Cliffs. You can call into either of Doolins 2 pubs or 1 hotel bar (pub scene???) or pop up to see the Cliffs from above and still be back in Ennis for food in any of the multiple bars and eateries before 7.30pm.
Used to Give Brogans as the best bar/food/entertainment spot in Ennis but it changed hands this year and only reopened last week so until I get down there I reserve judgement.
ESW has given a good route down the coast, round Blackhead from Ballyvaughan passing Fanore and entering Doolin at Fisher St cross.
Used to Give Brogans as the best bar/food/entertainment spot in Ennis but it changed hands this year and only reopened last week so until I get down there I reserve judgement.
ESW has given a good route down the coast, round Blackhead from Ballyvaughan passing Fanore and entering Doolin at Fisher St cross.
Jun 17th, 2015, 02:56 PM
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Doolin doesn't have McGann's, McDermotts and Gus O'Connors anymore?
The first day taking the bus to Belfast worked great for us. We landed at 8:30 and were in Belfast by noon. The hotel let us check into our room and we had a Black cab tour with Bobby Walsh at 2:00.
I would cut out something during the latter part of the trip, maybe skip Dingle or Connemara.
Inis Oirr wil depend on the weather and waves. Bigger ferry to Inish Mor from north of Galway.
http://www.aranislandferries.com/
The first day taking the bus to Belfast worked great for us. We landed at 8:30 and were in Belfast by noon. The hotel let us check into our room and we had a Black cab tour with Bobby Walsh at 2:00.
I would cut out something during the latter part of the trip, maybe skip Dingle or Connemara.
Inis Oirr wil depend on the weather and waves. Bigger ferry to Inish Mor from north of Galway.
http://www.aranislandferries.com/
Jun 23rd, 2015, 08:49 PM
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are arriving from the northeast US and have ten nights. We decided to focus on the north. Please let me know what you think of this itinerary. I am having difficulty with the west side, between Derry and Galway. Where should we plan to go in that area? Is this too much hotel hopping?
Day 1:Arrive Dublin;limited touring to recover from flight
Day 2:Tour Dublin
Day 3
epart Dublin, arrive Belfast, tour Belfast
Day 4epart Belfast, start Antrim Coastal Route, arrive Portrush, tour Giant's, Bushmills, etc.
Day 5: Depart Portrush, arrive Derry, tour Derry
Day 6: Depart Derry, arrive Westport, tour Westport
Day 7: Depart Westport, arrive Connemara region and Donegal
Day 8: Depart Donegal, arrive Galway
Day 9 and 10: Tour Aran Islands, Galway
Day 11: Depart from Shannon
Thank you!
Day 1:Arrive Dublin;limited touring to recover from flight
Day 2:Tour Dublin
Day 3
epart Dublin, arrive Belfast, tour BelfastDay 4
epart Belfast, start Antrim Coastal Route, arrive Portrush, tour Giant's, Bushmills, etc. Day 5: Depart Portrush, arrive Derry, tour Derry
Day 6: Depart Derry, arrive Westport, tour Westport
Day 7: Depart Westport, arrive Connemara region and Donegal
Day 8: Depart Donegal, arrive Galway
Day 9 and 10: Tour Aran Islands, Galway
Day 11: Depart from Shannon
Thank you!
Jun 23rd, 2015, 09:34 PM
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I see that I am in Galway three days. Is this good since we want to visit Inishmore? Should we stay an evening on Inishmore or add a night to an existing base or somewhere new? Achill perhaps? Thank you.
Jun 24th, 2015, 02:24 AM
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Looks a lot like a plan I did for an Australian couple almost 2 years ago. https://goo.gl/xrDQtD
Have your last night in Ennis rather than Galway saves a lump of the drive from Galway to Shannon and is a great place for a night out as well as being an excellent touring base.
Have your last night in Ennis rather than Galway saves a lump of the drive from Galway to Shannon and is a great place for a night out as well as being an excellent touring base.
Jun 24th, 2015, 05:04 AM
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Going from Derry to Westport/Connemara, and up to Donegal doesn't make much sense - you're backtracking. Spend some time in Donegal after Derry (it's on the edge of the county). County Donegal is one of my favorites! Don't miss the Sliabh Liag Cliffs - 900 feet above the ocean. You can drive halfway up 
From Donegal, down to Westport, great. Connemara is a day trip from Westport, enjoy and explore. The rest is grand, though Galway to Shannon is a good day's drive.
From Donegal, down to Westport, great. Connemara is a day trip from Westport, enjoy and explore. The rest is grand, though Galway to Shannon is a good day's drive.
Jun 24th, 2015, 09:41 AM
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Green Dragon's suggestion of doing Donegal after Derry and before heading to Westport makes sense.
For my money Sliabh Liag Cliffs are much more impressive than the Cliffs of Moher. Be warned the road up them can be pretty scary but is well worth it.
Donegal is a lovely county and much quieter than the rest of Ireland as it gets by-passed by most people.
When leaving Derry do try and find Grianan of Aileach stone fort. It is possibly one of the best stone forts in Ireland. There is some information and pictures here.
http://www.visitinishowen.com/things...showen_Tourism
If time allows follow the route around the coast for some amazing scenery
For my money Sliabh Liag Cliffs are much more impressive than the Cliffs of Moher. Be warned the road up them can be pretty scary but is well worth it.
Donegal is a lovely county and much quieter than the rest of Ireland as it gets by-passed by most people.
When leaving Derry do try and find Grianan of Aileach stone fort. It is possibly one of the best stone forts in Ireland. There is some information and pictures here.
http://www.visitinishowen.com/things...showen_Tourism
If time allows follow the route around the coast for some amazing scenery
