help with Ireland in May
 

I am starting to plan a trip to Ireland in May.
2 women, one a bit older (75) but spunky-flying into SNN, out of DUB-open jaw. 9 nights and 10 days
Looking at the following so far:
Arrive SNN-1 night @ Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.
Drive to Galway and stay 1 or 2 nights? need help here for time with the sights
Dromoland castle-2 night stay
Take 2 days driving from here to get to Dublin with sights on the way-any and all suggestions welcome.
Arrive Dublin-3 night stay at the Marine Hotel-do stuff from here.
Need to do Waterford-we are crystal crazy women. Want to do a fishing village near Dublin also. One day into center city Dublin is enough for us.
Don't think this is too ambitious.
We like out of the way stuff-no Blarney Stone for us(hehe)
Pretty landscape,history,castles and abbeys, a bit of shopping and some beer...
TIA for your help and suggestions.

It's a bit of a rag-bag approach. I have the impression that you want to pick some places to sleep, and build a trip around them.

Ennis to Galway to Drumoland does not seem obvious to me, Drumoland Castle is not very far from Ennis, and I don't see that you need both.

Why do you propose going to Dublin at all, as you seem not to be too interested in what the city has to offer?

Nobody "needs" to visit Waterford. There are other crystal producers, some more convenient to visit (Galway, for example).

Are you going in late May? I don't have the dates at hand but Ennis hosts a Spring Music Festival each May (late). Google 'Fleadh Nua' for exaact dates. There's also a 'Bank Holiday' weekend around the end of May.

Don't rush to get from Shannon to the Old Ground. The Hotel is likely to be full during Fleadh Nua; so they may not allow 'early' check-ins. Arrivals from the US begin landing in the early AM.

The Cafeteria on the upper level at Shannon airport opens at 7:00 AM. There's an elevator and you can get some real food (no 'airline' food).
I don't eat during the flight. I prefer to wait until I get on the ground.

Why not visit a fishing village near Galway City? Spiddal is nice.

Once again I agree with Padraigs "Rag tag" comment. Nothing you are planning on can be described as out of the way.
If Dublin is not important to you why not fly in and out of Shannon and concentrate on the west coast. Ennis to Galway then up the coast into the Connemara or skip Galway and drive out to Ballyvaughn then south along the coast road throught the Burren and onto the cliffs. Overnight in Doolin (not my favorite place). From there Dingle and Killarney Nat. Park are within reach, then loop back to Shannon.
If you must do Dublin then don't waste a day driving all the way to Waterford. Crystal is available all over Ireland. Greystones in a nice fishing village south of Dublin and is serviced by the train. You don't want to have a car in Dublin City if you can avoid it. Have fun

thanks for the replies-we are looking at the middle of May so the music festival is out.
We both really like crystal,esp Waterford,hence we do need to add that in.
I am only starting to plan-have read about the too ambitious itineraries so I am trying not to do that.
We would enjoy a castle stay-if Dromoland is not the one,please advise.
As stated-I am open to any and all suggestions.
Reason for Dublin would be the usual city stuff and a fishing village.
Padraig-I am not a travel agent and the hotel approach has to do with the vacation package rules-I understand that Ennis is close to Dromoland but I needed a hotel on the SNN side. And I am only starting to plan, I need to do more research. Traveling with an older person is also a concern...she has definite must sees-ei waterford, a stay in a castle so I am trying to accomodate her. Thanks for your input.

The Waterford tour was great. Try to get there during a working time so you will see everything in action. And make sure a tour is going before you arrive. The factory without the tour would be nothing special. After the tour you will think they charge too little for their crystal.

One neat thing to do near Waterford is the Dunbrody famine ship:

http://www.dunbrody.com/

It is a reproduction of what a ship looked like that took the famine victims to America. They have a GREAT tour that has characters dressed up and reliving their lives aboard the ship. Very neat. I think JFK's ancestral home is near there too. You might find your fishing village near there as well, I'm no sure.

The Dromoland Castle Hotel's website directions page lists the driving time from Shannon Airport as 20 minutes, so it might make sense to do that as the first night or two. Another Castle option is Glin Castle (stayed there last April and it is lovely) but more likely an hour or more away.
If Waterford is a must, then you could consider doing the south or southwest part of Ireland. Some options would be the Dingle area, Killarney National Park (Muckross House), Ring of Kerry, Kinsale, Waterford, Rock of Cashel, Glendalough and Avoca Weavers. This may be too much to do in your time frame but is a sample of what is available. You could then look for a fishing village south of Dublin to see prior to turning in your rental car. Three nights in Dublin would give you two days to see the city before leaving. We did two days (and three nights) there and it seemed about right for us.

Hi Cesta - We too are beginning to plan a trip to Ireland in May!
We are hoping the fabulous weather we experienced this May in Scotland can be replicated in Ireland Some hope I guess!
Well, my best advice is for you to head straight to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of the Discovery Channel's "INSIGHT GUIDES - IRELAND"
It is the most fantastic book and you won't regret spending a little cash to get wonderful maps, pictures, and everything anyone would want to know about Ireland.
See you there!
www.insightguides.com

If you are definitely planning to stay in Waterford I can highly recommend a nice place to stay. Foxmount Farm is about 3 miles from the business section of Waterford( it is not a pretty or charming town) and is a beautifully restored manor house and a farm. The owner is delightful and offers an evening meal which was wonderful. Look for it in one of those charming palces to stay books.

Thanks Fodorites...good advice as usual-some thoughts:
castle stay is pricey-Dromoland or Glinth?
nini-good advice for staying near Waterford,will check it out
my dublin leg is supposedly a really good but not expensive hotel near Howth(fishing village) so we would public transport into the city and spent time in Howth-heard about some good fish'nchips there;)
still up in the air with galway-ennis-limerick area. I realize we cannot do everything. TIA

If Waterford is a must on your trip, why not plan to spend a few days in that area?

As someone mentioned earlier, Waterford is a bit of gritty city (in my opinion, and please forgive me, Waterford citizens). I spent a week there once and enjoyed the day trips I took from there.

I heartily second the suggestion of the Dunbrody ship in New Ross. After hearing the story, I vowed never to complain about economy class on a plane again; afterall, that is only a few hours and the ship took several weeks! (By the way I have broken my vow a few times.)

There are some attractive seaside villages near Waterford (Tramore is one I recall)

Another option would be to stay in Kilkenny--castle, gardens, lots of historical walks. Waterford is within driving distance (about an hour as I recall). Jerpoint Abbey ruins are close by. Also Tintern Abbey ruins. (Named after the more famous Tintern in Wales.)

Drive out to Hook Head light house.

Drive down to Kilmore Quay and walk around the thatched cottages in the village. Eat at the Silver Fox--I had a wonderful meal there (I'm not a foodie so don't recall many places where I eat.) There are also vists by boat out to the SAltee Islands--tons of birds if you are so inclined. It is a resting spot for migratory birds and May, I think I read, is primetime for the north migration.

Then on your way to Dublin, stop in Avoca (scene of Ballykissangel if you are a fan of that PBS series). or stop in Glendalough--site of an 8th century monastery. Good interpretative center, with clean bathrooms and a simple little cafe. If none of those are your thing, you can walk around and visit the ruins for free. It is well marked with signs and placques to tell you what you are seeing.

Drive over the Wicklow Hills to Dublin. Stop to take in the awesome sight of Sally Gap.

another possible stop on the way to Dublin is Pwerscourt near the village of Enniskerry. The gardens are magnificent. Nearby is the Powerscourt waterfall, the tallest in Ireland. Even in spring, don't expect Niagra Falls, but a pleasant sight nevertheless. Plan on driving from the gardens to the waterfall. In my younger days, I have hiked the distance, but that was many years ago. The last time I was there I had two elderly passengers (90+) and was glad of the excuse to drive.

Have a great trip!

Galway Crystal has ceased doing tours. In the past it used to be an alternative to the Waterford Crystal tour but not now. Tourists who want to see the actual blowing, cutting, engraving and crystal-making process will want to visit Waterford. Or Tyrone Crystal in Dungannon in the north.

cesta writes: << ... we are looking at the middle of May so the music festival is out. >> Not necessarily! Musicians/Dancers will be assembling in Ennis during the week before the Fleadh Nua; there will be pickup sessions at places like Cruise's Restaurant & Pub.

Have you thought about reversing your itinerary (i.e., into Dublin; home from Shannon)?

In Ennis, I prefer the Temple Gate to the Old Ground. I must confess that I haven't stayed in the Old Ground's 'new wing' that was added several years ago.
The Temple Gate is built around what is left of an old Convent. Convent buildings that remain have been remodeled and house the local Irish Tourist Board

Nearby Dromoland Castle is nice for a visit or to have Tea, but to stay there is way out of my Budget range