shafsm5

Hello! I am visitng Ireland for the first time in May, and would appreciate any thoughts on this itinerary. Two adults, self driving (although not used to driving on the opposite side of the road). I want a balance between seeing highlights and having time to relax and explore. Also, any restaurant suggestions at locations or along dirving route are very appreciated!

Day 1 - Arrive Dublin 7 am. Walking Tour, Guinness Factory, and "An Evening of Food, Folklore, and Fairies" dinner theatre. Thinking of staying at Merrion hotel.
Day 2 - Leisurely drive to Galway. Prehaps allow 4.5 hours? Any restuarant ideas along way or neat places to stop? Explore Galway or Connemara (is that doable?) that afternoon/evening and stay at Glenloe Abbey.
Day 3 - Guided your of the Cliffs and Burren. Any suggestion for tour company? (Or private tour?) Stay at Glenloe Abbey.
Day 4 - Falconry in the morning. Drive to Killarney, 4 hours? Is it worth stopping in Limerick? Suggestions for places to stay?
Day 5 - Killarey National Parl, Gap of Dunlow, Ring of Kerry.
Day 6 - Drive back toward Dublin. I'm open on how to get there, where to stop along the way. Any must sees?
Day 7 - Either arrive in Dublin the night before or early that morning. Explore city on our own. Dinner at Vintage Kitchen. Thinking o fstaying at Ariell House.

janisj

Just one quick comment: The last thing I'd plan for my arrival day is a dinner theatre. You will likely be jetlagged.

flpab

If you do the Evening of Food, Folklore, and Fairies" dinner at the Brazen Head tell me how you liked it. We are taking someone new this time and we are going to do the literary tour that meets at the Duke but our newbie might like that also. It sounds fun with the actors. Good food there also. The Harding is in walking distance of the Brazen head across from Christ Church or Jury's Inn.
On your way to Galway stop at http://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-C...tic-site/16281
Athlone is a nice place to stop for lunch. Galway is probably all you'd have time for that day. It is a nice place so explore.

Galway tour companyhttp://www.galwaytourcompany.com/gtc/daytours.jsp very good day tours.

flpab

http://www.fahertytours.com/ His tour of the Aran Islands is very good and includes everything, ferry and bus and small bus once you get there to tour the island. He picks everyone up at the Galway bus station same as the Galway tours. http://www.aranislands.ie/aran-islan...-Mor-Inishmore The cliffs here are my fav even over the cliffs of Moher.

I only worry about jet lag if I am driving. You aren't driving so go for a full day. Who wants to go to bed early on your first night. I get a second wind and don't stop. You want to eat dinner so why not be entertained while doing it. I don't think you will fall asleep in your bowl of soup. I read great reviews and you will be done early enough.

janisj

>>I don't think you will fall asleep in your bowl of soup.<<

Its been known to happen

Tony2phones

I am sorry but I don't get the long drive from Galway to Killarney for 1 day. The Ring would take a full day, the National Park with Muckros and the Gap another full day.

Given that you are still in Galway at lunchtime on day 4 I would not be making the full afternoon drive to Killarney.

The Afternoon of Day 4 drive down the west Clare coast past the Cliffs and end in Ennis (Old Ground?) for night 4.

This frees up day 3 for the Connemara which would not fit into day 2 if you include driving from Dublin.

Day 5 drive the Dingle peninsula and end in Killarney

Day 6 either The Gap or Muckros or National park before heading back to Dublin for night 6 possibly via Cashel?

SeeDee

A few thoughts on your outline plan.
En route to Galway, you could divert to explore the monastic site at Clonmacnoise on the banks of the Shannon and continue on to Athlone for lunch (try Thyme or the Left Bank restaurant). You should have a few hours in the evening to look around Galway as it's a relatively short afternoon hop from Athlone to Galway.
I would question the need for a guided tour of the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. If Killarney is your ultimate destination on Day 4, I would use the car to explore that part of County Clare and then press on past Limerick city to spend the night in Adare (check out the Dunraven Arms Hotel).
Starting Day 4 in Adare, you have time to either tour the Dingle Peninsula or do the Ring of Kerry en route to Killarney.

Tony2phones

Makes no sense to double back to Athlone after Clonmacnoise, Ballinasloe is the next progressive point then Loughrea. staying off the M6 and taking the old road also avoids the M6 toll between Ballinasloe and Loughrea.

flpab

We use to stop in Moate, stay at the Grand Hotel after P Egan's closed for the night. I loved it before the motorway. Athlone, Clonmcnoise and then Ballinsloe or you could go to Tullamore and take the tour.

http://www.tullamoredew.com/en/visit-us/

None of these stops take you very far off the road to Galway.

Coming back to Dublin this is one of my favorite stops,

http://www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie/

rncheryl

You can't go wrong with the Merrion Hotel. It is lovely. We were there in November, and the fires in the fireplaces in the common area, the high tea, and the yummy robes in the room, well, I still remember 10 years later. The attached restaurant Patrick Guilbaud is excellent as well. There is a darling doorman in red coat and tophat to usher you into the hotel.

Just remember, most rental cars in Ireland are stick shift. That, combined with left side driving and numerous roundabouts, make for some challenges.

We drove from Dublin to Kilkenny, to Cork, to Dingle, and had to actually fold in the side mirrors as some of the roads were that narrow.

Have you considered a night in a castle. Ours was Dromoland, and it was another great experience.

Have a wonderful trip~!

http://www.merrionhotel.com/

http://restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie/

http://www.dromoland.ie/

shafsm5

Thank you everyone so much for your guidance and suggestions! I am going to head back to the drawing board and refine with these great tips! Will post for thoughts after version 2!

Tony2phones

Ignore the tip about turning in your mirrors (and any other Rick Steves style advice) .. Its Illegal to drive that way.

shafsm5

The trip turned out wonderfully, thank you all for your advice. Folklore and Ferries was a fun way to get an introduction to Ireland, and the salmon they served was incredible. The Merrion Hotel was extremely accommodating with our super early arrival. Clonmcnoise was a great suggestion as a detour between Dublin and Galway. The Galway Tour company did a nice job with the Burren and Cliff tours, although we would drive it ourselves if we go again. The Falconry/Hawk Walk with Jurgen at Glenloe Abbey was a highlight of the trip and worth every penny and then some. I wish we would have spent more time in Killarney. The Gap of Dunloe was beautiful, should not be missed. The Rock of Cashel (our stop from Killarney to Dublin) was well worth the time spent. Book tickets way ahead of time for Kilmainham Gaol (tours booked up really quickly, weeks in advance), and get tickets online in advance to see Trinity Library (looks like something from Harry Potter) and the Book of Kells (online lets you skip the line). Driving was not as bad as expected (although some drives did take longer than expected), but between using Waze and GPS, we were totally fine. Can't wait to go back!

Macross

So nice you came back and reported on trip. Thanks for tip about jail. Six times and this trip I am going. Was folklore and ferries at Brazen head? We have a first timer coming with us and wondered if she would like that.