Help - Ireland need advice
 

Hello. We are leaving in a few weeks for Scotland and Ireland. We will fly from Edinburgh to somewhere in Ireland and need to stay for 3 days before we get picked up at the Tralee Train Station for a 4 day walking tour in Dingle. When we finish the walking tour we will go straight to Dublin for three nights before our flight home. I am looking for where to go for the 3 nights... staying in the same place for all three and go out "visiting" during the day. I have read several of the posts - which are great... but looking for advice. We would love a place in a "town" where we could walk for dinner to a pub? Ennis? Doolin? Cork? thank you

Ennis would work, regular bus connections, lots of eating and drinking options, music and only 30 minutes from Shannon The Clare Accessible Transport service might get you into the rural areas. http://www.visitennis.com/ http://www.catconnects.ie/?ID=6

Thank you Tony2phones. I have read several of your posts and truly value your opinion. I read too late your posts about the "tourists spots and Dingle... as I had already booked that! I have a couple more questions for you.
We will fly into Dublin then have to get to Ennis. We could take the train or drive. We are from Canada...which would you suggest...train or drive... we will want to get to Ennis as quickly as we can. We are thinking of staying at the Old Ground Hotel? Any thoughts?

There is some good walking on the Dingle peninsula it's just the town as it has developed and tourist hype that I dislike so no problems there.

Getting to Ennis from DUB would mean getting to Galway or Limerick and onwards from there.. JJ Kavanagh have some airport bus schedules which would get you from DUB to SNN or Limerick and bus from there. If you want to drive then You might collect a car from SNN for a couple of days but Ennis has decent transport links.

The Old Ground is a good Hotel, bit above my current pay grade but well located, get a room at the back if possible some of the front (tour bus or discount rate rooms)on O'Connell St can be a bit noisy being above the bar. Poets Corner downstairs is our 2nd choice eatery with Brogans just up the road always getting 1st spot.

What time/date do you get into DUB.

Sorry should have added Gray Gables as alternative B&B accommodation under 5 minutes up Station Rd from The Old Ground under 5 minutes from the Bus/Train station
http://www.bed-n-breakfast-ireland.com/

Thank you... and especially for the eating recommendation. We arrive in Dublin at 1:00 in the afternoon. I am sorry but I don't quite understand your suggestion of how to get from Dublin to Ennis. Is it to take a bus from Dublin as oppose to the train? Then a separate bus once we get as far as Galway.. You do not suggest driving all the way from Dublin?

That's why I asked the Time of arrival. Kavanagh no good at that time. So Go Bus, 13.45 DUB gets into Galway @ 16.45 then the 51 (Cork) bus leaves Galway @ 17.05 arrives Ennis 18.20 about 4 1/2 hours travel time.
there is the 13.15 City Link express gets into Galway @ 16.15 but you would still be stuck with the 17.05 No51.

I was asking the dates to see if there was anything going on at that time.

By train you would get from the Airport on the 747 (Dublin Bus are currently on strike) to Heuston station and train to Limerick Junction then from there to Ennis, This cuts the journey a little but its a 3 minute window at Limerick Junction,, to my mind and experience just not enough.

Thanks so much... I found a direct flight from Edinburgh to Shannon...and we are going to do that...saves some time. I assume from the airport to Shannon, we could get a cab or shuttle into Ennis? And my very last question...(you have been so helpful!)... the best way for us to get out and see Doolin or the Cliffs of Moher from Ennis would be to rent a car or a local bus?