uncc49erbt

We will be leaving for Ireland on Friday (arriving Saturday AM) then leaving the following Sunday. This will allow us Saturday-Saturday (8 days) for fun and need help with our itinerary. We want to take in as much of the culture as possible and still see a lot of the "touristy" spots. Here's what I'm thinking:

SATURDAY: Arrive early in Shannon and explore Galaway/Aran Islands (Overnight at Galaway area or Northern Clare County B&B)

SUNDAY: Explore County Clare incl. Bunratty Castle and Cliffs of Moher (Overnight at Limerick or Adare area B&B)

MONDAY: Drive early to Dingle (Overnight at Tralee Ballyseede Castle for Anniversary)

TUESDAY: EITHER a)Down Ring Of Kerry to Skellig Michael then to Kenmare OR b)North of Ring Of Kerry and Kenmare...(B&B at Kenmare area)

WEDNESDAY: Kinsale and Blarney (Overnight in County Cork)

THURSDAY: Rock of Cashel and Waterford Crystal Factory (Overnight in Waterford or further north if time allows)

FRIDAY: Drive early to Dublin (Hotel)

SATURDAY: Dublin (Hotel)

All suggestions for editing will be much appreciated so that we can have a relaxing vacation and still see as much as possible.

skibumette

This itinerary and the term "relaxing vacation" are mutually exclusive! It is WAY too frantic a pace!! You are doing lots of driving every day and changing hotels every night, except in Dublin.

First concern: unless you are coming from Europe, you'll be jet-lagged and trying to drive on the "wrong" side of the road. Drive times are SLOW - figure on 35 mph and you won't be far wrong. Assuming you make Galway in good fashion, there is no way to see the town AND the Aran Islands that day.

I would base myself in Clare Co. on Saturday and Sunday: you can see Cliffs, Burren, and do day trip to Aran Islands from Doolin (rather than Rossaveel which is 20 miles west of Galway). If you're determined to do Bunratty, do that first thing after arriving, then head into Clare and decide how much energy you have left on Saturday -- maybe the Cliffs, if you're lucky? Then Aran Island OR the Burren on Sunday...

On Monday take the Tarbert ferry towards Tralee -- Dingle can be done as a rushed day trip, but you may not want to attempt all of it. You'll want to enjoy your castle experience.

Then I would spend the next 2-3 nights in Kenmare; there is plenty to do in this area...I really liked the Gap of Dunloe and Muckross House in Killarney. Perhaps you can even do Kinsale as a day trip, but I suspect you'll crave a day without driving by this point.

Virtually everyone on this forum will tell you to give Blarney a pass and the Waterford factory has closed; they are opening up a visitor's center in the middle of town (but the crystal is now made in eastern european countries) -- no great bargains to be had. Cashel is nice and an interesting stop en route to Dublin.

In summary:
County Clare - 2 nights
Tralee Castle anniversay - 1 night
Kenmare - 2-3 nights
Dublin - 2-3 nights
Hopefully you won't be totally exhausted by the time you get home!

skibumette

Take a look at fossbomb's "are we crazy?" thread - quite similar to yours (in reverse).

uncc49erbt

Ski- thanks! the only real attraction to Galaway is the Aran Islands. Knowing that I can get there without going all the way to Galaway is great info. I didn't realize that. Thanks again.

janisj

I see you've posted over on fossbomb's thread. As you read that realize -- their itinerary that is considered 'crazy' isn't nearly as crazy as this one (said in the <i>nicest</i> possible way)

Get back to your map and re-calculate EVERYTHING. Plan on making 30-35 mph most of the time.

And don't plan on driving anywhere on your arrival day. Lack of sleep, jetlag, and "wrong side of the road" adds up to a really dangerous combination.

Also - forget about Waterfod-- the factory is closed and even when it was open it wasn't worth that much driving.

So - plan on some 2 night stops, shorter days/drives, and rework your plan.

jaja

Waterford Crystal factory and visitor's centre (House of Waterford) are now open in downtown Waterford. While the shopping probably isn't worth going there, you can see the making of the crystal and those who have been there have been impressed (and these are people who had been to the old one, also).

That said, if you are in the Galway area you can check out Connemara Celtic Crystal in Moycullen. They were still giving tours in June of 2009. Unfortunately, Galway Crystal stopped giving tours some time after we were there in 2003.

janisj

Waterford isn't worth that detour w/ or w/o a visitors centre.

griz_fan

Rent a comfortable car - you'll be spending most of your time in it

Don't plan anything for your 1st day - you'll be wiped out from the trip. give yourself some R&R time. We spent our 1st night in Doolin and saw the Cliffs, but I wouldn't want to venture much further than that. Between the lack of sleep, jet lag, driving adjustments, it was a bit of a struggle on day one. Give yourself a fighting chance and book your 1st night within 40 miles of Shannon.

wrenwood

Check out Dingle Crystal, he used to work at Waterford

http://www.dinglecrystal.ie/


And don't miss Skellig Chocolate Company

http://www.skelligschocolate.com/


And I agree with others, slow down, that's way too much. Don't drive the first day, take a nap, walk around, and have a great dinner. Get up early if you like the next morning. The 30-35mph average is accurate.

amamax2

bookmarking

janisj

amamax2: I notice you are bookmarking several Ireland threads -- in case you didn't know about this Fodors feature: see the little symbols up near the top, just under 'share w/a friend'? The star is the link to save a thread to your favorites.

Ozarksbill

Woops, just an overnightin Dublin? It all depends on your interests. I'd skip Waterford, maybe Blarney for Dublin's sites. Ring of Kerry, Cashel, Cliff of Moher for sure. But time for some pub exploring and music I hope?

Bill
[email protected]

tarmor1

I posted this on your original post - here it is again:

Where are you coming in from? The first day if you're coming over from the states is very tiresome. It doesn't make sense to go from Shannon Airport straight to Galway/aran islands. Usually the ferry to the arans leaves very early - I'd say around 8 am and you're there til the mid afternoon - doesn't leave much time to explore other areas in Galway like Connemara and Galway City itself.

Your itinerary has good ideas but here is what I would do based on locations/places I've seen. I have been to Ireland 4 times and have the 5th trip booked for December.

Bunratty is about 10 minutes from Shannon Airport so it makes some sense to just do Bunratty castle the first day and head up to Westport in Mayo - tour around westport and have a look at croagh patrick's peak and clew bay - there are some famous pubs in Westport with great trad music.

The next day take the coast road from westport to clifden - some unbelievable sceneary there in connermara national park. Stay overnight the second night in Galway City or just outside of it.

Next day drive to Clare and tour the burren stay and cliffs of moher and stay overnight in either Doolin or Lisdoonvarna -

The next day head down to dingle - you can put your car on a ferry from clare to dingle if you want to have a quicker route. In dingle you want to do conors pass and the drive to slea head - Conors pass is narrow windy mountain top roads but unbelivable scenery. Stay overnight in dingle at a b&b called James G Ashe in town and visit the small bridge bar for trad music.

Next day, night tour ring of kerry and drive down and stay in skibbereen or somewhere in west cork - you could also try kenmare if you're looking for touristy.

Next day night/follow the coast road to kinsale and stay overnight in Kinsale/tour the blarney castle/cork.

Next - waterford crystal factory is closed - i'd recommend goin up to kilkenny instead. Then heading off to dublin from kilkenny.

let me know if you want recommendations for pubs and b&bs, etc.

skibumette

OP was leaving July 30th (and returns this weekend) -- we'll have to hope she lets us know what they did in the end...