I want to drive from Killarney to Galway.The choice is either to go via Tralee,ferry across Tarbert to Killimer and then to Galway.Alternatively go via Limerick.We are going to stay in Galway for a week so plan to see the Cliff of Moher,Doolin ,Connemara and Burren by making day trips from Galway.Can you suggest which would be the best route for me.

I haven't taken the Tralee ferry so can't comment on that -- but it seems to be the preferred routing on the forum. I don't remember anything special about the Limerick route, but we were jet-lagged and just anxious to get from Shannon to Killarney as quickly as possible.

I think it would depend on the timing of your drive -- if you set out in the morning and have the time to see some things en route, then I'd definitely go for the ferry and coastal drive. If you have "just one last thing" to see in Killarney that day and plan to depart in the afternoon, then I'd check the AA (or similar) site for the fastest route. Don't forget that even picturesque Irish towns can have their version of rush hour -- you may want to time your Galway arrival accordingly?

You can make the drive via either route in a day. The Ferry is generally recommended as it avoids Limerick traffic and is shorter (distance-wise), but I don't know that it is necessarily QUICKER ...

The OTHER reason to reccommend the Ferry is the opertunity to tour the Cliffs and the Burren, enroute, for those who are only spending a day or two in the area ...

MY advice would be to decide which sites along the way might appeal --

For example, Adare is a delightfully picturesque village that is well worth an hour or so, but probably NOT worth a lengthy daytrip to see. Lough Gur, Bunratty and Ennis also have considerable charms -- some of which might not be available, or convenient, to your remaining travel plans. These places are along the Limerick route, but some are a bit of a stretch, as a daytrip from Galway.

Conversely, Loop Head is a short detour from the Ferry landing at Killimer, but can make for a long day, if you need to return, to Galway.

Hope this helps,

Bob

Thanks Bob

I plan to visit the Cliffs and Burren Doolin as day trips from Galway where we will spend a week.Also since our flight lands in Shannon at 4 PM I have booked a B&B at Bunratty.Lough Gur and Adare are places that I have to look into.Both Michelin and AA give similar distance both routes though time wise it is slightly longer in the ferry route.is that because of the delay in ferry crossing?

You may have to wait for the ferry but it shouldn't be too long. We waited about 30 minutes. We took the ferry route as it was HIGHLY recommended by the locals who helped us navigate from Killarney to Galway. The drive is beautiful and most importantly I didn't have try to get through Limerick, a large town and one which I was warned would take a long time to navigate through. In fact the people giving me this advice said it looks the same on the map but takes much longer due to travel through Limerick.

We were going to take the ferry on our drive from Galway to Dingle in April, but had to detour through Shannon due to a minor problem with our car. The drive through Limerick wasn't really too bad because you are really on the edge of the city and the signs are easy to follow.

We ended up at the ferry on one of our "bonus" days when the volcano delayed our flight by a few days. (We didn't actually take the ferry, just drove down to check it out.) We spent one day on the Loop Head drive, which we would not have taken otherwise. My hubby has said many times since that it was one of his favorite days.

Check the website for Shannon Ferries. The ferry leaves from one direction on the hour and from the other on the half hour.

Michelin and AA Drive Times are NOTORIOUSLY optomistic. They presume that you are a skilled, local driver, familiar with the vehicle, the roads and the driving conventions -- which is, generally speaking, UNTRUE of the typical tourist.

My guess would be that the reason for the parity in POSTED Drive Times is the fact that the smaller roads encountered through Co Clare when taking the Ferry -- though SHORTER, in MILES -- take longer to traverse, versus the MOSTLY Dual-Carriageways used, on the route through Limerick.

Bear in mind that the Listowel Writer's Festival is sometime during the month of June. That MAY impact traffic some, as well.

Bob

I am travelling in October.Incidentally arent there ring roads that bypass major cities like Limerick.

Yes, MOST major towns and cities HAVE been bypassed.
Still, traffic can 'bog down' some, during peak hours.

Bob