Slowly putting together an itinerary for a May break in Ireland. We have one week and will be travelling from England. Draft plan so far: Fly to Galway, and using a Galway B&B as a base, spend a couple of days walking and exploring the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. From Galway, to Clifden and Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, staying at Ashford Castle (for ONE night!)Then over to Tullamore- Charleville Castle and up to Castlepollard (Tullynally Castle). Would we be best returning to Galway for flight back or return via Dublin?? Any suggestions gratefully received. Personally I'd like more time walking the coast but hubby desperate to see as many castles as possible.

Castles are not my "thing"; but if you are in Castlepollard there is Fore Abbey nearby. A little known valley with the ruins of the largest Benedictine Abbey in Ireland, complete with dove cote, and an Anchorite Cell also on the opposite hill. Well worth a visit. Few find this place.

Castles are not hard to come by in Ireland. If your husband wants castles and you want coast, maybe you should try the castle corridor in County Clare. The castles Dunguaire, Knappogue, O'Day, Craggaunowen, Dromoland (hotel), Bunratty, King Johns (Limerick), Glin (hotel just a ferryride from Clare) and others.

You'll get to experience the coastline of the Burren, the famous Cliffs of Moher, Galway Bay, the Shannon Estuary and a drive to Loop Head as well.

Has your husband read the article on Charlleville Castle in the Nov Irish Fireside E-Newsletter? It's at http://www.irishfireside.com/enewsle...shFireside.htm

Thanks for suggestions! Would our itinerary work out for a week's holiday? Not sure of distances/travelling time between places.

Use this site for your driving: http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/ Just add a bit more time to their predictions.

Your itinerary is doable...especially your Galway-Connemara-Cong plans.

Castlepollard is quite a distance from Galway. Use the drving site suggested, figure on averaging 35mph and then decide. Meanwhile, if you decide to fly out of Dublin, you could see Charlevile/Tullynally, stay in Malahide, see the castle there (and a bit of coast) and be close to the airport. Both Charleville and Tullynally require you call ahead for tours.

If you skip Tullynally, you could go to Charlevile, and catch Birr and Portumna castles along the way back to Galway (You can only visit the gardens and telescope at Birr, not the castle interior...and Portumna is restored but not furnished and has gardens).

thanks again for all these tips.

I think ending in Dublin may be the ticket. You could even stop at Trim Castle on the way from Castlepollard to Malahide. I checked roadwatch and Trim is 27 miles from Castlepollard on the way to Malahide (another 30 miles).

Check out Malahide website...dinner sounds lovely!
http://www.malahidecastle.com/malahi...le/default.asp

Info on Trim Castle and other Heritage sites. Do check on getting a Heritage card when you are there, quite alot of savings if you are visiting the heritage sites listed here:
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/His...imCastleMeath/

Have a great time!
Dawn