Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Ireland Itinerary ..... Painful choices...HELP!

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Ireland Itinerary ..... Painful choices...HELP!

I'm in agony! Planning a first trip to Ireland in March for a diverse family group of 4 adults, 2 kids. We have 12 days & nights (excluding departure days)and will be including short visits with friends living in Belfast. I already know this cannot be our only trip to the Emerald Isle - there are too many "not to be missed" places that I'll miss this time 'round! To minimize regrets 'til we can return, I've focused on our group's preferences for natural wonders, ancient, historical and literary sites, rural vs city bases from which to explore, and a mixture of accomodations (farms,B&B's, perhaps even thatched cottage and castle). High priority to get a feel for the country. Please tell me if this itinerary is too ambitious or off the mark. Many thanks - the advice here has been invaluable. Days/nights 1&2 Belfast: visit friends 3 - Antrim Coast: Portrush? 4&5 - Donegal : Lough Eske or Ardara or day/night 5 in Sligo area for Yeats sights 6&7 - Galway : want to explore Westport, Connemara, Clifden Sky Road, Cong 8 - either Aran Island overnight or Doolin/ Lisdoonvarna area to better experience the Burren 9&10 - Dingle Peninsula (via Kilrush/ Tarbert ferry) 11 - Kenmare or Bantry (will not do Ring of Kerry, would like to see Muckross & Killarney Natl park sights) 12 - Adare for final night before flying out of Shannon

I'm sure you'll get a lot of people telling you're doing too much, but basically, only you can be the judge of that. If you like to keep on the move, and not settle down in any one area for too long, then I think your itinerary's fine. If, however, you're more into relaxing, not much driving, and leisurely sight-seeing, then I would try to pare down. The first thing I would take off is the Aran Island, and only because of the time of year. There's a decent chance that the weather will be too bad for the ferry, so I think you might do well to just skip it this time. You can fit in a stop in Portrush during your Antrim Coast day. I always do the coast road up and back in a day, and that's tiring, but since you won't be coming back, you'll have plenty of time. Donegal is arguably my favorite place on the planet, particularly the Malin Head/Inishowen Penisula area. BTW, I go to Belfast at least twice a year, and love the city and the surrounding area. And visiting friends there makes it all the better.

Kerry: Ann said it pretty well. If you are feeling brave, drive the Torr road on the Antrim Coast outside of Cushendun. Spectacular drive. A stay on the Aran Islands could be pretty dicey in March. I love Kenmare. It's a great little town. You could also consider driving out on the Beara Peninsula. There is a beautiful waterfall (inchaquin) before you get to the Healy Pass rd. Bill

Just returned from Ireland. Did not get to the north, spent all time in south and west. Muckross House is just wonderful, both the house and the grounds. Killarney National Park is so beautiful, be sure to visit the lakes, and if you want you can take a boat cruise on them (we did and it was great). Kenmare is a charmer and we loved out stay there. Lots of nice pubs and shops, and just a nice small town atmosphere. Be sure to visit the pre-historic stone ring in Kenmare - very interesting. Galway was nice as well. We really liked the pedestrian only shopping area just off Eyre square. Now, my only disappointment was Adare. What a let down that was. The so called "prettiest town in Ireland" wasn't. You might reconsider that.

That is a lot to do in such a short time, and you won't get to see anything of anywhere properly! That said, it wouldn't suit me, but if that is what you want, go for it! I live in Co Armagh, spend every weekend in Portrush/Potrstewart and have been to Westport a few times, so feel free to ask me anything about these areas. I do feel that the North Coast especially, deserves more time to fully appreciate and see all the sites, Dunluce Castle, The Rope Bridge, Giants Causeway, Portrush town (lovely seaside), Portstewart town, all the lovely restaurants. Just my 2 cents!! Angela

ANGELA Congrats on the great Armagh win in the All Ireland Football Final. I was in Dublin the day of the match and what a festive scene it was. Great!

Dear Kerry, Don't agonize for you've got the makings of a memorable trip. Enjoy your time in Belfast. Make a point of not missing the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, located on the outskirts of the city. It's a real gem, and you'd be hard pressed to see the entire museum in a full day. On one side of the road is a lovely folk park, on the other is an extensive display of various modes of transport through the past few centuries. It's ideal for kids and adults alike. Also, check out Belfast's new technology center. The exact name escapes me, but I'm sure your friends will know what I'm referring to. While on the Antrim coast, be sure to see the unforgettable Giant's Causeway. Get a good travel guide to Ireland, such as The Rough Guide, and spend a good half-day touring and exploring the causeway. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather. Also while on the coast, be sure to see Dunluce Castle. You're in for a real treat should you stay in and around southern Donegal. Lough Eske, located just outside Donegal town, is lovely. Consider staying at Ardnamona House, located on the shores of Lough Eske. It rates rave reviews, and it's a house of some historical significance, featuring wonderful gardens. While around Lough Eske, be sure to take a trip out to southwestern Donegal and Slieve League, home of Europe's highest cliffs. These rate higher than the over-visited Cliffs of Moher. If you aren't able to get into Ardnamona, consider Rhu Gorse, a more budget-oriented B & B, not far from Ardnamona. It also overlooks the lough, and features tidy and most friendly lodging. Westport, located in Mayo, is a fun, pedestrian-friendly town, featuring several good eateries and pubs. Try Matt Malloy's for traditional music. Hope for good weather in Connemara; should you have the weather gods on your side, you're in a for a visual feast. Take a hike in Connemara National Park, cruise Killary fjord, Ireland's only true fjord, and have a good meal in Clifden. Perhaps you might consider staying at the Quay House, located just outside Clifden. By all means do stay overnight on the Aran Islands. Too many people make it a day trip which is a mistake. Should you have good weather, you must visit Dun Aengus, located on the largest island, Inishmore. Have a wonderful dinner at the Man of Aran Cottage, while considering an overnight at Kilmurvey House. The latter is located within walking distance of Dun Aengus. Dingle warrants at least two full days. Consider staying at Greenmount House; from here it's only a short walk into Dingle town. Make a point of eating at Beginish (one of Erin's best long-standing restaurants outside Dublin). Visit Slea Head, and consider making a day trip to the Great Blasket Island, a thought-provoking, evocative place. If you can, skip the all-too-touristy and twee Adare. It evokes an Ireland that never was. You'd be better off spending two days in Killarney's National Park. Get out on one of the lakes, visit Muckross and its environs, and do a day hike. Killarney town isn't much, but it'll make a good base for exploring the park. Best of luck.

I agree with the other posters about Adare. Whatever it is that many people find enchanting about it just escaped me. Doolin is pleasant, but it's only one street. There is literally nothing to do there other than listen to (excellent) music in pubs and go to the Cliffs of Moher. With a diverse group of travelers, might not be your best bet. The Burren is unusual, but I don't know I'd devote a precious day to seeing cracked limestone. Lisdoonvarna I just plain disliked. It had the atmosphere, to me, of a perpetual frat party. You might consider adding that Arans/Doolin/Lisdoonvarna night either to your Connemara time (I found the roads in that area to be particularly slow driving) or to your time in Dingle. If it were me, I'd vote for Dingle, since the southwest coast most looked like the postcards of my dreams. And given your expressed interests, I would highly HIGHLY recommend taking one or both of the half-day minivan tours given by Sciuird Archaeology Tours, headquartered in Dingle town. (Ask anybody how to find them; also, they're described in Rick Steves' guidebook.) Dingle is crammed with the remains of ancient monastic settlements, and the tour is a great way to find and learn about some of the most interesting.