Ireland in April
 

Hi Friends,

Travelling with my father-in-law to Ireland in April. I've been to Dublin, he's never been anywhere in Ireland. Here's my first shot at a plan. I'd love comments/suggestions/insults to help me refine. Looking for a few castles, some history, sea side views and music in a pub at the end of each night....same as everyone I'm assuming :)

Here's where I am right now, would like any and all criticism. I assume a few of my days have some big flaws....

6 Arpil Thursday - leave Boston
7 April Friday - Arrive Dublin, spend day/night
8 April Saturday - Spend day/night in Dublin
9 April Sunday - rent car, hit the road early, stay over in Kinsale (see Rock of Cashel)
10 April Monday, stay over in Killarney (Ring of Kerry, Dingle)
11 April Tuesday, stay over in Claire (Cliffs of Moher)
12 April Wednesday, stay over in Galway (Aran Island?)
13 Arpil Thursday, stay over in Galway (explore Galway, last full day in Ireland)
14 April Friday - drive to Dublin and fly back to Boston in the afternoon.

Thank you very much

Mark Adamowicz
Sutton, Massachusetts, USA

What time does your Boston flight leave Dublin in the afternoon? Give yourself three hours plus time to return car.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-...Vacations.html

Take the ferry north of Galway and then take on of the island tours. There is a little cafe before you climb up to the fort. Teach Nan Phaidi that is listed as one of the top ten cafes in Ireland. Great food.

I like Doolin and there are three good music pubs if you want to spend the night there after seeing the Cliffs but the cliffs at Inishmore are just as beautiful. I would probably skip it and head straight to Galway. Just stay in the center of town so you can enjoy the pubs. that would give you two nights so your aren't packing and moving everyday.

Reverse the trip.
Arrive Dublin and drive to Galway. its all motorway 2 1/2 hours and saves having to find 2 lots of dublin accommodation.

Or, get the express bus from Dublin Airport to Cork and rent a car day 2 from Cork Airport (between Cork and Kinsale) means a drive up to the Rock of Cashel Or you could get off the Bus at Cahir, have the night there short bus ride to Cashel and back. then drop to pick the car up again day 2?

You have not allowed driving time.. (Burn your Rick Steves guide!!) The Ring of Kerry should be done Counter Clockwise. Its Easter week.. So if you are likely to panic when a bus or wagon comes face on round a narrow bend?? Drive Counterclockwise. (another reason for reversing and heading down from Galway)

Dingle Peninsula can be done on a drive from Killarney to Ennis (Great town lots of bars/ food / music) either way as a long day trip (you have all long days anyway) remember to drive the Slea Head route "Clockwise" remember "Clockwise" its narrower than the Ring of Kerry and the bus's are just as big and twice as arrogant (think its the water in Dingle)

I would do the Connemara loop from Galway over the Ferry to Inis Mor (which is not settled as to who might run either the ferry or flights, both are in boggy ground at the moment and might not be sorted in March)

Other than the point that you are cramming things in and should perhaps ease back a little or add a couple of days... Fine.

Also remember the Pubs are CLOSED Good Friday, Book an Hotel that has an open residents only bar if you want a drink that night.

IMO you are going to see a lot of the inside of your car. Driving takes longer than you think in Ireland and your plan overs a lot of ground.

As Tony said above, I'd head to Galway from Dublin. I'd also skip Kinsale and spend the short time you have on the west coast. Dublin & Galway will fill the bill of large cities. A few nights in the smaller towns & pubs after touring the gorgeous countryside should be a slightly different take on Ireland.

Is it possible for you to fly to Dublin and home from Shannon?

Just one persons take on it.

Hi Friends,

Thank you very much for the feedback.

Here's some answers:

Yes, we will be in Dublin Friday and Saturday. I figure we will see the city at our own pace, recover from jet lag and start driving on Sunday morning when we are fresh.

My flight back is at 2:30pm on the following Friday. I'll be fine getting from Galway back in time. I've travelled to China about 25 times for work from the US, I'm pretty good at making flights.

It seems like most of the "Real Ireland" I want to see is on the West Coast, so really, after the Rock of Cashel on Sunday, I'd like to spend most of my time after leaving Dublin Sunday mornning seeing the West Coast before heading back to Dublin on the last day. Should I simply drive to the Rock of Cashel Sunday morning from Dublin and then head west and plant myself around the Dingle for a couple of nights before heading up to the Clifs and Galway?

Mark

Hi Mark,

You seem to have everything covered and since you have been to Ireland before you know exactly what you need to do.

As for your father-in-law, you are spot on the sites you have decided to take him to, he would definitely love them.

As for rental cars, if you have not decided on renting one you, you can check out https://www.carrentalireland.com/dublin-airport.php

Cars are usually much cheaper at this time of the year anyway as long as you book in advance.

I hope this helps..
Tai

Hi Tai,

Thank you very much. I've only been to Dublin, trying to figure out everything else. Just trying to figure out best ways to get to West Coast but still see Rock of Cashel....

Mark

Thanks everyone for the feedback, here's where I am right now.
Need some more help:

6 Arpil Thursday - leave Boston
7 April Friday - Arrive Dublin, spend day/night
8 April Saturday - Spend day/night in Dublin
9 April Sunday - rent car, hit the road early, see Rock of Cashel, make our way to Kilarney, stay at McSweeny's. I know this is a heavy driving day, but my goal is get get a full 4 days on the west coast
10 April Monday, Ring of Kerry or Dingle. WHERE SHOULD I STAY THIS NIGHT? Tralee?
11 April Tuesday, head north toward Doolin. Any recommendations on things between dingle area and Doolin...my father in law likes history, castles, old stuff, don't see many specifics online? Stay in Doolin. Find some music in a pub.
12 April Wednesday, Aran Island Tour, stay in Doolin again
13 Arpil Thursday, head toward Galways, stay over in Galway
14 April Friday - drive to Dublin and fly back to Boston at 2:30pm in the afternoon.

Thank you
Mark

10th of April If you drive the Ring of Kerry "Counter Clockwise" stay a 2nd night in Killarney. when driving the ring take a couple of trips off the bus route, try the Skellig Ring get a photo stood next to Charlie Chaplins statue, they don't get them on coach tours, have some Skellig Chocolate.

11th April head for and have the almost compulsory stay in Dingle, Tralee, Listowel or Adare would also work

12th Head through Clare.. Bunratty Castle and Folk park is just the other side of the Shannon Tunnel. Quin Abbey is worth a look. Ennis could be a place to spend the night but tourists prefer Doolin and its 3 pubs. If you had stayed in Adare you could push through to Galway for the night where you would get to meet some locals and have a choice of music pubs.

If you want to see Inis Oirr then Doolin works, do the combi cruise including under the Cliffs but thats a few hours out of the day.
If you want Inis Mor then you should be aiming for there from Rossaveal west of Galway. That has the nights of the 12th and 13th in Galway.

I would still suggest ending the 13th in Galway, I would still suggest reversing the trip so you end in Dublin naturally. But its not my holiday.