Leaving for Ireland with no specific plans!! Can anyone offer a suggestion, we will arrive in Shannon and have a car. The West has been suggested by one friend.

You will get the best of Ireland if you drive South the first 4days and stop in Dingle, County Kerry and Cobh, County Cork. Then head north west and see Cliffs of Moher and the Burren area, Co. Clare. Depending on your length of stay, follow the coast all the way to Donegal for spectacular sea cliffs just north of Killybegs. The midlands can be boring and Dublin could be missed...

How many people? Are you after quiet towns, or big cities, do you want to eat out much, do you want a good pub nightlife/shopping??<BR><BR>A few more details of your likes and dislikes would be helpful!<BR><BR>Angela

Well, I wouldn't summarily dismiss the entire middle of Ireland, or Dublin for that matter. But since you're arriving into Shannon, I'd stay on the west coast area, but I would drive north, hitting Galway city, the Connemara region, and all the way up to Donegal, as someone else suggested. The Fermanagh Lakes region is worth a visit, too. And the further north you go, the more daylight you'll have.<BR>

Just returned from Tipperary area. A beautiful place I wasn't aware of is the Glen of Aherlow. You can drive there in about an hour and hike the Galty Mountains.

Drive down to Dingle. Stay at the Heaton's Guesthouse. A very luxurious but inexpensive B&B that is at the far end of the town. Hit the pubs and enjoy the atmosphere, people and music. Then drive Ring of Kerry. Also Galway, we stayed at the Jury's which is sport of on the end of the quay. Perfect for hopping around the older part of the city - great seafood there.

Went to Ireland this summer. Highlights were Dingle Peninsula, Clonmacnoise,Connemara,and Ashford Castle (west Ireland),Cliffs of Moher,Blarney Castle and Kilkenny Castle.Wonderful trip but driving was stressful on narrow roads with no shoulders.

I question Ann, the poster who said that the further north you go the more daylight you have. That doesn't hold true now that we've passed the autumnal equinox, does it? I would have thought that the daylight grows less the further north you go (and also for each day that passes!)

You're right, adams-this time of year there will be less light the farther you go North. However, in the case of an island as small as Ireland I doubt there is much difference between the farthest you can go North and the farthest South.

There is such thing as trying to do too much and rushing everywhere. Something us Americans tend to do. You can see Counties Clare, Cork, and Kerry very easily from Shannon. Waterford is as far east as we are going and Galway is as far north. Save Dublin for it's own trip, and the North as well.

I would like to thank you for your resonses. I am running a little late for work and will have to read them, this evening. <BR>As the trip approaches, I am getting nervous about choosing the best spots to visit and I am sure that your suggestions will be a great help.<BR>I will keep checking up to the day we leave and will give an update upon our return.<BR><BR>

Ellie,<BR>Put that anxiety on hold. You really can't go wrong no matter what area you choose. The only real mistake you can make is trying to go too many places and spemding your trip in the car.<BR>Suggest: North and west Clare (to include perhaps Galway town ) for a few<BR>days..Dingle for a few days.<BR>Relax enjoy the local scenery, pubs and general ambience of both of these spots without packing and unpacking every night.<BR>There are few who can only make one trip to Ireland in a lifetime. consider this your FIRST trip.<BR>For more specific advice post the length and timing of your trip!

We were in Ireland in May.<BR><BR>Don't sweat the small stuff, the Irish never do. When I first started out I was going to travel all over, but the more I talked to veteran travelers of Ireland (try AOL"s Travel Community)the more I decided to concentrate on one area for my first trip there. I WAS NOT<BR>DISAPPOINTED! We concentrated on the southwest. We flew to Dublin, stopped in Kilkenny and headed west to Kinsale, Kenmare, Killarney, parts of the Ring of Kerry and the Highlite of the entire trip DINGLE! DO NOT MISS DINGLE! I was told this over and over again and once I got there I knew why. <BR><BR>I did not stay at Heaton's but it always gets good reviews. I stayed at Greenmount in Dingle and it was really a ***** B&B, gorgeous and immaculate with a very good breakfast.<BR><BR>I'll be going back to Ireland at the end of November and will be concentrating on the west Clare, Galway, Mayo etc.<BR><BR>Whatever you decide on, you are going to love Ireland. It took me forever to get there and now you can't keep me away!<BR><BR>Have a great trip.

We will be arriving on the 17th of October and returning on the 24th of October. We have vouchers for the B&B's and will be traveling by car.<BR>Again, thank you for all of your responses. <BR>I will keep checking and will also trying and respond up until we leave.

Hi,<BR>I have the same question as Ellie.<BR><BR>Any more suggestions for 6 nights?

Okay, so I got my seasons mixed up. But I'd still head north. Everyone and their mother on this board seems to go to Dingle. There are other places in Ireland that are just as nice, and many that are much nicer.

Ann,<BR>Can you list some of the places that are as nice/nicer than Dingle? I have noticed that it is a favorite of many people.<BR><BR>Thank you for your help.

My 1st trip to Ireland was 2 years ago in November. we had 8 nights and did the following: (2 nights each) <BR>Galway <BR>Waterford <BR>Killarney<BR>Bunratty.<BR><BR>Don't miss Killarney (stayed at Crystal Springs B&B) or the Waterford Crystal Factory.<BR><BR>Headley Court in Bunratty was great for the last night - easy to get to the Shannon Airport from there. <BR><BR>Galway was nice, but if I had to cut something out, it would be Galway - allow you to concentrate on the South West. <BR><BR>cead mile failte!

Please, I find the Inishowen Pennisula to be one of the nicest spots on the planet. You simply can't beat it in all of Ireland.<BR><BR>I also love the Connemara region.<BR><BR>My other favorite spot I'm not going to share, because I don't want it to become overrun with tourists. So I will sit and enjoy it myself!<BR><BR>As for Killarney, I've posted my opinion of the town many times, so I'll sum up here: tourist trap. Stay away. The countryside is gorgeous, just stay out of the town. Bunratty Castle feast: touristy, but fun, particularly if you consume as much mead as possible. Even my Irish-born husband enjoyed himself, after being dragged there against his will. And it turned out that he went to school with some of the performers. And we almost were asked to leave the feast, but I blame that on the other people at our table. Good fun.

Basically, I just like to wander in Ireland, and find new places. Coastal Donegal and Connemara are hardly hidden or new, but those are accessible to people arriving in Shannon, and who aren't familar with Ireland. I realize that exploring is often a luxury for people who may be on a once-in-a-lifetime trip and want to fit in as much as they can. I visit Ireland often and will be moving back there soon, so I have the leisure to wander about aimlessly. But as I said before, I'm not sharing my real gems with anyone, because I want them to stay unspoiled.