susan001

PumpkinKat -- I've already changed my accommodations to allow a break from Antrim to Dublin. Someone here suggested I do that, and when I considered adding a long stop at Newgrange, it made sense. Now I'm not sure I should have sacrificed a night elsewhere (still have two in Antrim, but now down to one in county Sligo).

Itallian_Chauffer

tony -- Did you mean THIS? :

http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/09/a...-bhfionnurach/

http://www.westkerrymuseum.com/frenc...avenooragh.htm

Or, possibly, this:
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/riasc

susan001

PumpkinKat -- Thanks also for your comments about Donegal... will do my best to see these areas. I'll be staying on the south coast of Donegal (Bruckless).

Regarding the new plan to break up the drive between Antrim Coast and Dublin, this will also give me more time to photograph on the morning I leave, in case i get bad weather the day before. I'll also have more time to explore Antrim Glen on my way to Magheralin (southwest of Belfast).

jaja

Susan, we may be talking about the same ringfort.
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...1125/tpod.html Scroll down and there is a picture of the fort seen from the carpark. Ignore the text that says it is in the middle of nowhere. Just because I didn't know where we were at the time.....

susan001

jaja -- Thanks for posting a link to your travel blog with photo of the fort. Loher looks worthy of a stop!

Itallian_Chauffer

susan001 -- Here's a link to a Trip Report covering SOME of the area you are interested in:
http://ireland.activeboard.com/t5450...junejuly-2013/

Within that report is a link to my Flickr account which will access almost 15 years' worth of annual visits to Ireland. NOT a professional photog, but it might give you some destination ideas . . .

Tony2phones

Thanks for the links.

susan001

Thanks for the link to your trip report & photos, Italian_Chauffer. All I could see was Enniskillen. When I tried to go beyond page 1, a "Bad Panda" screen came up.

susan001

Italian_Chauffeur -- I was able to bring up the second link (Blarney). What a beautiful family! Looks like you had a great time!

susan001

I'm tempted to take a night off Dingle and add it somewhere near Cliffs of Moher. Otherwise, it's looking like a very long day. Hard to gage. (Dingle to Galway, with several stops, including Cliffs)

Itallian_Chauffer

Thanks!
From the second link, Click on "Albums to see all the sets.
A night in Clare would be useful since you plan to visit Loop Head AND the Cliffs. Lots of photography potential in the Burren, as well!

susan001

Thanks so much to all of you for contributing suggestions/ ideas.

I'm pretty much sticking to original itinerary above with the exception of one night in a Georgian manor south of Belfast to break up the long journey from the Antrim coast. It will also allow for some photo shooting time that morning, and also a visit to the Glens of Antrim. I gave up a night in County Sligo to make this happen (still have one night there at a Georgian manor).

I'm still deciding about giving up a Dingle night to stay near Cliffs of Moher. Otherwise, that will be another long day (Dingle to Galway).

Regarding Kilkenny, I'm not concerned about getting in to see the castle. I think photographing the outside might be enough. It depends on what time I arrive. I'm more interested in seeing Glendalough and also photographing the colorful store fronts of Kilkenny.

Ozarksbill

We much enjoyed time in Ireland some years ago. My comments: yes for sure take time for Dublin which you mention at the end of your schedule, but also go north to Newgrange and Trim Castle and south to Glendalough and maybe Powerscourt but maybe not. In our tour some year ago we did enjoy the west country incl. Dingle and the Burren area etc. And up to Galway Bay. Yes, for sure a stop off at Rock of Cashel. In my opinion taking in northern Ireland is a bit too much. Maybe also Aran Islands altho it is oft visited. But you do have three weeks. Enjoy the green fields of Ireland!

azzure

I don't think Dingle to Galway would be too bad.We did Dingle to Kinvara via the Shannon Ferry, with a long stop at the Cliffs, and still got to Kinvara in plenty of daylight, in October.

Tony2phones

It's not just the distance between the two places but what you want to see between the two places.

Everyone knows about the Cliffs and that little bit of the Burren they call the "Moonscape" but the Cliffs and Burren "Geo Park" alone covers twice the area of the whole Dingle Peninsula, Then there is South Clare down to the Loop Head Peninsula. http://www.loophead.ie/ Few consider walking the Kilkee cliffs path by the bridge of Ross. Even fewer consider taking an inland route up via Quin and the Lough Derg drive, no more out of the way than the Clare coastal route but totally different.

When considering point to point its a couple of hours, or a couple of days. There are some points on the 1st maps I gave you but there are also more on the Limerick side of the Shannon and following the river itself up to the Slieve Aughty and over via Loughrea and Athenry.

As I said earlier its all about fitting what you want into the time you have and at the end of the day it's your trip.

susan001

Tony2phones: Thanks so much for your feedback. I'll look at the map again. I know what you mean about point to point, and the things to see between the 2 points. I was considering all of this last night before finding your post just now.

The Dingle draw has to do with the quality of trad music in the pubs. I used to perform in an Irish trad band here in L.A. (believe it or not) and am familiar with much of the repertoire.

Thanks to Ozarksbill and Azzure for your comments. With 3 weeks, seeing the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland should not be a problem.

Here's the itinerary as it now stands (with a couple changes made)

Day 1 - Fly in - pick up car, stay at B&B in Swords
Day 2 -- Visit old abbey at Glendalough, sleep in KilKenny
Day 3, 4 - Kinsale (do historical walk, and visit Charles Fort)
Day 5 -- Visit Muckross House, sleep in Kenmare
Day 6, 7, 8 Drive the Ring of Kerry -- sleep 3 nights in Dingle. Visit slea head drive, and take in the vibrant pub scene.
Day 9, 10, Visit Cliffs of Moher on the way to Galway. Visit Inishmore on a day trip from Galway. See Trad on the Prom (dance, music show) in Galway
Day 11, 12 - Stay at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel near the 12 Bens in Connemara
Day 13 - Stay at a Georgian manor on acreage in County Sligo
Day 14 - Visit places associated with the poet WB Yeats on my way to Bruckless, southern Donegal (stay at Bruckless house near Slieve League cliffs)
Day 15 - Visit Glenveagh National Park in Donegal (and castle) Sleep in nearby Ramelton.
Day 16, 17 - Visit the Antrim Coast.
Day 18 - Sleep in Georgian manor B&B 30 miles or so south of Belfast
Day 19, 20, 21 -- visit burial mounds at Newgrange on my way to Dublin. Return car. Dublin 3 nights.
Day 22 -- Fly out.

I think this is a well-rounded trip for someone who's never been to Ireland. But I agree with you, Tony, that more time should have been allotted to Clare -- and I may tweak it yet.

Tony2phones

Really don't think Dingle deserves more nights than anywhere else especially not on the basis of Music.. sorry but bought in for the tourists music can be found anywhere. That's not me just being funny about Dingle I would say the same about Doolin or a couple of other places.

What are your actual dates for July there might be something worth a look along the way.

susan001

Tony: July. There's an arts festival on in Galway when I'm there... not looking forward to the crowds there, but will be doing a day trip to Aran. May only have one night, and the morning I leave, to walk about taking photos in Galway. So you think Doolin is too touristy & the musicians have been brought in for the tourists? Hard to find an authentic scene, I guess. Can you think of any towns where I might find an authentic trad music scene? The old-timers can be great, too.

Tony2phones

Depends on your dates.. The Willie Clancy summer school is on in Miltown Malbay , Clare. 4th to the 12th so before the Galway "Arts" festival starts on the 13th.

Unfortunately the Galway festival is another blown beyond locals interest there will be some good things on but everything comes at a price these days rather than the traditional for everyone, local focused events. The Galway Arts festival (Also runs along with the "Fringe Festival") and Film festival just merge together into a couple of weeks rather than the old couple of days each.

You know Trad on the prom is only a 3 night a week event?

There is the Roundstone Regata on the 20th July if you are at Ballynahinch for that date then that's a good local event. If you are there for a Wednesday there is the "Traditional Night" in the Roundstone Community Centre, sort of a non professional (authentic) Trad on the Prom. music singing and dancing.
You will find genuine music along the route without looking too hard.

For the Yeat's connection try Gort, Thore Ballylee is still closed although I thought they might have made an effort to open the place for the anniversary, Coole Park is interesting and the visitors centre is well worth a look. Taking a night from Dingle and putting it into south Clare will give time to see a good bit more than just the "Cliffs" between Dingle and Galway.

susan001

Tony -- Thanks so much for these suggestions. Yes, I knew that Trad on the Prom is only 3 days/week, and I will be there on one of them. Too bad I'm not near Roundstone on the 20th. That sounds perfect (if I had known in advance, could have scheduled it as such-- now locked in by some bookings) It's also too bad I'm not there on a Wednesday.

I am seriously considering moving a night from Dingle to Clare. Maybe Lahinch. Thanks, again.