Galway to Connemara - driving times question - Help!!!
 

Hi:
I thought I had everything planned, but I'm still trying to work out the details of our upcoming trip to Ireland in September and could use some input.

We're taking the train from Dublin and will arrive in Galway around noon.

After we check into our hotel and get to the airport for our rental car, do we have enough time and/or is it wise to drive the Connemara loop - or at least part of it.

I would imagine after hotel checkin and car rental, we'd be heading out around 2:00, heading towards Clifden and the Kylemore Abbey and whatever else we could see before it gets too dark to drive safely back to Galway.

The next day we'll be going to the Aran Islands, and the following day driving to Dingle so the first day is really our only choice for Connemara.

Any help/input is much appreciated!
Thanks,
Carol

If you hadn't just flown into Dublin and won't be too tired, I think that it is fairly doable. The road to Clifden is a straight shot. The Sky Road(just west out of town from Clifden and the return trip affords a view from the opening scene of the Quiet May, quite lovely) is worth seeing but Kylemore Abbey isn't too far off and there is a beautiful stretch of road that cuts back through the heart of Connemara that would decrease your time. Of course, you have to figure in time for stopping and viewing, and such. Enjoy, as I have found each peninsula to be unique and beautiful.

Hi Keenan:
Thanks for your input. It makes me feel more comfortable about doing Connemara on our first day in Galway.

We will have spent a few days in Dublin and we love trains, so I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to relax on our trip from Dublin to Galway - just enough time for my husband to get psyched for driving on the other side of the road!

Again, thanks,
Carol

Carol -
There is no way you can possibly drive the Connemara loop from Galway airport between 2:00pm and return by dark ! First of all the Galway airport where you pickup your car is about five miles northeast of downtown Galway. (Not sure where you'll arrive in Galway on a train however). The rush hour traffic around Galway is fairly brutal and you would have to take the N6 back into north Galway to pick up the N59 headed towards Clifden. I drove it last May and it is SLOW with any kind of traffic and road work around Galway. You may make it to Clifden by late late afternoon but certainly not return by dark. (Not many rooms available in Clifden on short notice either). The Connemara loop I presume you mean is Galway to Clifden to Westport to Castlebar to Ballinrobe and back to Galway. In reality it would take you a long full day of nonstop non-sightseeing driving to complete this entire route. As an alternate suggestion you might consider a drive up to Cong and Ashford Castle from picking up your car at the Galway airport. You would take the N84 north on the east side of Lough Corrib to R346 and back. Even then I'm not sure you would have that much time to return before dark in September. But I would certainly try it if everything goes on schedule and you're out of the airport with the car by 2:00pm. Hope this helps. (You'll love driving the Dingle peninsula - take your time!)

Ginbudjim:
Thanks for the reply. We were just thinking of Galway to Clifden to Kylemore Abbey and back. However, I like your idea of taking the N84 to Cong and Ashford Castle and back as an alternative.

I guess we'll just have to play it by ear and I see that there's no possible way we could do a true Connemara Loop - Galway-Clifden-Westport-Castlebar-Ballinrobe-Galway - that will have to be another trip . . .

Thanks!
Carol

"Not sure where you'll arrive in Galway on a train however"

The train station is at Eyre Square.

Carol, yes, Kylemore Abbey would be at the upper most part of the Connemara loop. The roads are narrow and you just can't drive that fast to cover lots of ground. I don't think you'll be disappointed in visiting Ashford Castle and it's grounds in that short amount of time. It and the grounds along the shore of Lough Corrib are beautiful. If you have time take some small roads back to Galway along Lough Mask, and be sure to have some Tomato Basil soup at a cozy restaurant/pub in Ireland. The best in the world !

Thanks everyone for the replies and we're very excited because we were able to extend our trip by four days!

This way we'll be able to do more of what we want (like a full day for Connemara area) and not feel so rushed! I'll definitely incorporate all of the great information I've received.

Thanks!
Carol

Another thing: go to B&B's,not in the hotels. B&B's are cheaper, they have good conditions and hospitality. There is one on Sky Road where I slept, it was just amazing, wonderful view. There is another beautiful B&B's in Galway area, near the ferry that will bring you to Aran Islands too.

I think that y'all will enjoy yourselves, just don't over plan. However, I wasn't aware that 'Westport to Castlebar to Ballinrobe' were on Connemara peninsula; of course though, there is a lovely drive through the Fjord up to Westport. I stayed at Dolphin House B&B on Sky Road and it was quite lovely, and only ten minutes from Clifden but that was several years ago. BTW, aren't there car rental businesses in Galway. I agree the traffic is madness from my memory of the outskirts of Galway.

If you take the loop that ginbudjim suggested, Aughnanure Castle is a little way off the main road and is worth a quick stop.

Aughnanure is a 16th century tower fort owned by the o'Flahertys, a fiercesome tribe of the area. It is open 9:30-6:30 and is run by Irish Heritage (Duchas) so would be covered by the Irish Heritage card which you can pick up at the first Irish Heritage sight you visit and pays for itself within a few visits.