GlobeTrotterMax

Hi, fellow travelers! I'm taking my girlfriend and my family (we are ages 24-67) to Ireland for my 30th birthday. We'll land in Shannon and will have 6 full days and nights before heading to Dublin for the last 2 nights. I've been to Dublin and Howth, but that's the extent of my Irish travels. I have no idea when we will get the chance to come back to Ireland, and would love to explore either the northwest or County Kerry:

Option A: Dingle/ROK.

Friday: Land in Shannon, rent car, drive straight to Dingle. Have most of day there, relax.
Saturday: Explore Dingle town, leisure day.
Sunday: Leisurely drive around the Dingle Peninsula, final night in Dingle.
Monday: Drive from Dingle to Valentia Island.
Tuesday: Skellig Michael/2nd night on Valentia Island.
Wednesday: Drive 2nd half of ROK, spend time in Killarney National Park. Stay overnight in Killarney.
Thursday: Take early train to Dublin, arriving at 10 a.m.
Friday: Dublin
Saturday: Fly back to NYC

Option B: Galway/Donegal.

Friday: Land in Shannon, take public transit to Galway.
Saturday: Leisure day in Galway
Sunday: Ashford Castle in Cong/last night in Galway
Monday: Rent car, drive to Donegal Town. Have a relaxing afternoon/evening in Donegal Town.
Tuesday: Leisurely drive from Donegal Town to Sieve League and Glencolumbkille. Return to lodgings in Donegal Town.
Wednesday: Glenveagh National Park, drop off car in Sligo and stay overnight.
Thursday: Train to Dublin, have most of afternoon and all evening.
Friday: Dublin
Saturday: Return to NYC

Again, I don't know when we'd get to return. I want to see breathtaking landscapes and parks, and get in some hiking. My girlfriend wants to see museums, castles and other cultural centers. Given this info, which option would you recommend?
Thank you very, very much for any input!

Cheers,
Max

Cjar

Hi , GlobeTrotterMax. We had the the chance to visit the Republic of Ireland a few years back and it was lovely, all of it. I personally preferred Connemara area to Killarney and ROK. At least that’s how I remember it today. So, I would probably opt for Galway/ Donegal. There was a lovely fodorite who answered so many of my questions and had planned this lovely drive in Connemara. I thought I’d pass it along to you.

Tony2phones on Apr 15, 14 at 1:19am
One day I will get back on to doing some more on that..nearly 2 years untouched! http://goo.gl/Ek8bpw is given as a See Also on my map of the Southern Connemara http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu

If it does you no good what so ever at least your question will get bumped closer to the top again and may get some more attention.

geetika

We spent five days in Galway end June of this year and absolutely loved it. Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, in fact, the whole Sky Road/Wild Atlantic Road is drop dead gorgeous, not to be missed IMO. We also made a trip to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran islands, but the ferry across left me rather queasy. But we were lucky to have fabulous weather and bright sunshine every day, which only added to the whole experience.

If you're looking for a place to stay I'd strongly recommend the Jameson Court serviced apartments in Salthill, just outside Galway. We were four adults and stayed in a spacious two bedroom/two bathroom apartment overlooking the bay. A bakery right next door and lots of places to eat and drink in town, we had a blast!


http://www.jamesonselfcateringgalway.ie/

mnag

We covered Connemara, Cliffs of Moher (too touristy) from Galway. Also Achill island is beautiful. Slieve league which is even more further north is quite a stunning sight.

We also covered Dingle Peninsula and part of the ROK on the same trip. My absolute fav part of our 10 plus day trip was the Dingle Peninsula - specifically Slea head drive. Stunning scenery around every corner...Also Connor pass which is a bit scary is worth it for the views.

So you have a difficult decision. I would pick Dingle but recommend that you compare images of each online and make a decision.

Bette

Both options offer beautiful scenery.

On option A I would not drive to Dingle after an overnight flight. We've been to Ireland numerous times and I think that is too far.

Did you mention the time of year?

On Option B if you are staying in Galway City I wonder how you are getting to Ashford Castle in Cong. Looks like you pick up the car the next day.

Tony2phones

Thanks for that Cjar, I have actually got as far as Westport on the N59 but the last Spiddal to Westport itinerary I wrote for someone was 30 pages so a bit much for the forums.

There is an inbuilt magnet that drags 1st timers to Dingle, there are even rental cars that know their own way they have been there so often in a couple of years service.

Not sure which I like less, Dingle town or Ashford Chateaux? Having been re modelled in the style of a french stately home hence some people now think its an Irish Castle rather than just the most expensive hotel on the island? Tourists of course love both because they have read all about them.

" I want to see breathtaking landscapes and parks, and get in some hiking. My girlfriend wants to see museums, castles and other cultural centres"

8 days including 2 for Dublin. You don't say when?

County Clare has 100 listed Castles so quite possible to find half a dozen or so within an hour of Shannon. Possibly staying between Shannon and Galway or Shannon and Kerry for night 1 might make sense. If you have to have a Castle then Dromoland or Adare Manor would be options as would Ballyseede by Tralee.

Day 2 would depend on what your group would really like to do. If you are having a castle stay it should involve 1/2 day before the night and a 1/2 day after the night and taking advantage of what these luxury hotels offer.

Neither of the itineraries given make much sense to me. Donegal is probably too far in 4 days and leaves a dash across to Dublin. Valentia Island fine but Skellig Michael has a couple of restrictions, dates for one, getting tickets another and finally the fitness level of the older family members.

The first 2 days and last 2 days are fairly easy even if you do follow the crowds to Dingle. Its the middle 4 that you need to think about in respect of your group and not knowing when you are travelling I don't know I can give advice. dead easy to give my favourite places but its not my holiday.

GlobeTrotterMax

Wow! Thank you all for your generous replies. I deeply appreciate them.

Since posting, I've come to realize both itineraries are a bit... ambitious. I think it would be better to 'slow travel' and really get to know a couple of places than to try to get too much in and exhaust ourselves.

I omitted a crucial detail -- we'll be vacationing in mid-to-late May.
Unfortunately, I think I have to eliminate Donegal as a possibility. Given our limited window of time, and that we're landing in Shannon but leaving from Dublin, it would be too much.

I'm open to any ideas that any of you have, but here are some of my thoughts given the new information from your posts:

May 16th and 17th -- arrive with my girlfriend at Shannon airport. We'll have two days to ourselves before the family arrives. I'd like to spend them within reasonable public transit distance from Shannon, and not a in tourist trap. For example, perhaps somewhere like Clarecastle as opposed to somewhere like Bunratty. (Feel free to correct if anything I've said is incorrect).

May 18th thru 23rd is up for grabs, as the 24th and 25th will be spent in Dublin. Since I'll have been in the country for two days, I can drive a fair distance the day my family arrives on the 18th. It seems to me that the Dingle Peninsula would be a great focal point because we could see quite a bit at a fairly leisurely pace without spending much time on the road.

^Any alternatives to this that includes less touristed areas within 3 hours or so of Shannon would be great. I have a few other ideas but am all ears for what anyone else proposes. Thanks a million.

-Max

Padraig

I gather that you don't intend to hire a car until the rest of your group arrive. In that case, you might consider Limerick for your first two nights. It offers easy public transport links to Shannon, and some reasonable restaurants. It's not a major tourist destination, but you can do something about your girlfriend's wish for cultural tourism, with King John's Castle and the Hunt Museum. You can also get to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park by bus (touristy, but to my mind at the better end of the spectrum).

Tony2phones

Fledh Nua is on in Ennis 20~28th. might be a plan but you would need to look at booking accommodation sooner rather than later. Would certainly tick the Culture box as a Comhaltas festival for locals more than tourists. http://www.fleadhnua.com/