Hello all,

First time to Ireland in May. After 4 days in Dublin, renting a car and leaving about 11 am on a road trip. We don't like to be at a new B&B/hotel every day, so the plan is to drive and stay 2 or 3 nights in a place and do exploring from there. Made some reservations at certain towns, hoping the places are ok. We are flexible if needed. Suggestions on what to see along route, and what to explore from base towns would be fantastic. Love scenery and animals. My initial plan is:

15th--Leave Dublin 11am and drive to Galway. Current reservation at Cappa Veagh B&B.
16th&17th--Explore area????
18th--Depart Galway and drive to Killarney. Current reservation at Aghadoe View B&B.
19&20th--Explore area????
21st--Depart Killarney and drive to Portmagee. Reservation at the Moorings Guesthouse.
22nd--Skelig Michael Landing Tour(hopefully Good weather)
23rd--Depart Portmagee and drive to somewhere between there and Dublin to explore and stay the night, no reservation yet.
24th--Leave from last B&B and drive to Swords. Reservation at Abbeyglen Cottage.
25th--Depart to PDX.

Any suggestion would be more than welcome.

Thanks,

Dan

Looks good!
For the 23rd, you could overnight in Cahir or Cashel.

http://hollymounthouse.ie/
http://www.peggyoneillsbandb.ie/

En route choose from Blarney Castle, Cahir Castle, Rock of Cashel, and The Swiss Cottage.

Go Bruins!!!

Yes, I was thinking Cahir as well for the 24th, thanks.

Suggestions for other enroute things between my destinations would be great, as well as things to explore on my exploration days. Thanks all!

I'm all itineraried out at the moment so a couple of maps with options
Dublin - Galway https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AC...Ns&usp=sharing

Galway, well west of Galway https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Pz...x0&usp=sharing

Galway - Killarney you have to pass through Clare and even though just west Clare has more than enough to fill a couple of days folk just barrel through ticking the moonscape and 1/2 mile of a 6 mile cliff, Moher box. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1d-...hs&usp=sharing

Think the licenses for Skellig Michael landings are being issued this week if not last week so you should be able to book now.

UDubfan

You have given much thought and have come up with an excellent itinerary. Having said that I would suggest that you drop a night in Dublin and add a night to Westport or Leenane.One more day of "Love scenery and animals".

14th--Leave Dublin 11am and drive to Connemara(Westport or Leenane).

DUBLIN TO WESTPORT MAY 14
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dubl...7!2d53.8021307

DUBLIN TO LEENANE MAY 14
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dubl...53.5955956!3e0

CONNEMARA TO GALWAY MAY 15
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/West...d53.270668!3e0

HOTELS FOR MAY 14
http://www.wyatthotel.com/index.html
http://carrabaunhouse.ie/index.html
http://www.hotelinconnemara.com/
http://leenanehotel.com/

NEAR LEENANE
http://www.joycecountrysheepdogs.ie/

Top left on the google map menu, Click the 3 lines, click share/embed, tick short URL box. copy and paste.

Hey Tony2phones, any update that you have heard on Skellig Michael? The websites that I look at still say that they cannot currently book landing trips.

Thanks,

Dan

Licences were being issued this week. It's possible the place you are looking didn't get a licence yet or isn't getting one this year? From what I have heard a huge proportion of possible dates are sold out already and folk have been put on waiting lists in case of cancellations.

list of opperators from Portmagee
http://www.portmagee.ie/section737465_280704.html

From Valentia
http://www.valentiaisland.ie/explore...oat-operators/

Also without looking http://www.skelligexperience.com/other-sea-tours/

Tony2phones, that operator list is for 2016 season. Maybe they haven't given the licenses out yet. I was able to get in for a reservation back in January with the boat operator who runs skelligrock.com, but then they said everything was put on hold, though my reservation would be honored if they received their license again this year. But, I have not heard anything on if they got one, so I was just curious if you had heard anything about the season. Thanks.

There was a court case the beginning of this month where the court upheld the claim for one of the Pre juggle licence holders that their license should remain valid. I would imagine therefore that all prior license holders would (should) be honoured and that only the new additional licenses for this year would be the ones being competed for.

That said I have lived long enough to know that even court judgements can be treated with less than the most respect.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime...case-1.2994137

Not sure what your plans are for Killarney... but I went back in March and Killarney was our absolute favorite stop on our road trip.
We did horse back riding through Killarney national park and drove through the gap of dunloe. Definitely our favorite day out of our 8 night trip.

Thanks for your reply lovexhappiness. Can I ask, whom did you do your horse back riding thru, and how long was the ride?

Thanks....