Ireland Itinerary - would like input please
 

Hello:
I'm reposting this because I haven't gotten any responses and would really like a critique of our itinerary since we've never before been to Ireland.

Thanks in advance!
Carol

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In September, after spending a week in the UK, we'll be spending 9 nights in Ireland.

I'd like some critique on our itinerary and especially would like to know if we're trying to do too much and if there will be too much driving.

Also, we plan on visiting pubs, finding trad. Irish music, seeing if there are any festivals, etc. but I've left these details out as I'm trying to see if our "big picture" will work.

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Sept. 15 - Day 1 - DUBLIN
(arrive in a.m. from Edinburgh)
- Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus to get acclimated to the city and to stop along the way at places of interest - probably most of the day
(Spend night in Dublin)

Sept. 16 - Day 2 - DUBLIN
- Return to places of interest
- Possible historical walking tour
(Spend night in Dublin)

Sept. 17 - Day 3 - DUBLIN to KILKENNY
- Pick up rental car at airport
- Drive to Powerscourt, spend a few hours
- Drive to Glendalough, explore and maybe take a walk
- Drive to Kilkenny
(Spend night in Kilkenny)

Sept. 18 - Day 4 - KILKENNY to KINSALE
- Explore Kilkenny and Castle in the morning
- Drive to Waterford to visit the Crystal Factory
- Drive to Kinsale
(Spend night in Kinsale)

Sept. 19 - Day 5 - KINSALE to KILLARNEY
- Morning in Kinsale
- Leisurely drive to KILLARNEY - suggestions for along the way?
(Spend night in Killarney)

Sept. 20 - Day 6 - KILLARNEY to DINGLE
- Gap of Dunloe tour (approx. 10:30 am to 4:00 pm)
- Drive to Dingle - is this too much?
(Spend night in Dingle)

Sept. 21 - Day 7 - DINGLE
- Slea Head Drive (1/2 day)
- Explore Dingle
(Spend night in Dingle)

Sept. 22 - Day 8 - DINGLE to GALWAY
- Drive from Dingle to Galway via Conor Pass taking ferry to Killimer
- Stop at Cliffs of Moher
(Spend night in Galway)

Sept. 23 - Day 9 - GALWAY
- Either a day tour of Connemara or Aran Islands
- Explore Galway when back from touring
(Spend night in Galway)

Sept. 24 - Day 10 - GALWAY
- Either a day tour of Connemara or Aran Islands
- Drive to Shannon Airport and return car
- 9:10pm flight to Heathrow

It seems that after leaving Dublin, you are trying to stuff in a lot of sightseeing in 2 days on your way to the West. You are going to be spending a lot of time in the car, and maybe cutting short your sightseeing time at some places.

Day 3- Dublin to Kilkenny, via Powerscourt/Glendalough is probably 4 hours of driving without counting any time for sightseeing. The roads through the Wicklow mountains will slow you down quite a bit.

Day 4 - Kilkenny to Kinsale: FYI, the Waterford factory is now closed, but were it open, this day would also be a rush. Trying to see Kilkenny and the Castle in the AM, then down to Waterford, then over to Kinsale would be at least another 3/4 hours in the car, not counting sightseeing. (And if memory serves, the Waterford tours were timed, so you may have spent some time waiting there for your group to go.)


It seems that you really want to tour the West, so I'd maybe suggest dropping any sightseeing in the East at all after leaving Dublin. Dublin to Killarney is probably about 4.5 hours via mostly major roads, and would give you a few more days to spend on that side of the country enjoying yourselves.

If seeing some of the East is important, perhaps go via Kilkenny, forgetting Kinsale, and spending some extra time in/around Kilkenny. Basically on those few days, cut back a bit. Perhaps drop a destination from the West, as well. Choose just a few places, and try to stay for more than 1 day where ever you decide to end up.

Whoops - saw this one before I saw your other post! Nevermind :)

jefe:
Thanks for the input anyway - I really appreciate it and know that all of this information will help us have a better trip!
Carol

Hi Carol,
We have not yet for our trip to Ireland, So I cannot be of much help. But I can tell you that The Waterford factory has closed. So you may want to rethink Day 4.
Enjoy your trip!
Sharon

Here's a website that might help you with driving times. I found it a useful guide for planning how long it would take us to get places, but did not use it for directions. (Be sure to choose "Ireland", not "GB"). http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp

Think about getting a gps .Roads signs aren't great so you may take a few wrong turns ,Roads are not very well sign posted.They say you can drive around the entire country in one day on a sight i read not sure what they were driving when they did .Leave some for those out of the way places and some Irish stories you hear from with the locals they do enjoy telling you stories ,WHICH MAKES FOR A WONDERFUL TRIP.
you might be planning on doing to much at one time

Hi Carol,
I have to tell you how interesting it was for me to read your itinerary since my wife and I just completed practically the same trip in May (posted under Two Weeks in Ireland: 1Day of Rain) and the fact that you have the same exact first and last names (except she is Carole with an "e").

Your trip sounds great although we stayed in Kenmare and drove to Kilkenny and stayed the night. The next day we drove to Glendalough but couldn't do Powerscourt because of the rain.
We didn't do Waterford because it is closed and didn't spend the entire day at Gap of Dunloe instead going to other sights a long the R)K.

allyboy:
I just read your trip report. I feel like I'm living the trip we haven't even taken yet!!! It's made me even more excited.

I've made note of many of your accommodations as after Dublin, we're still not booked anywhere. We too like to know where we're sleeping and prefer to be within walking distance of the town. I've been doing the same research (Fodors - tripadvisor - Fodors - google - tripadvisor) My head is spinning so your b&bs may make things easier.

You said your wife's name is Carole and that you teach Improvisational Theatre. Well, I used to be part of an improvisational theatre group . . . Strange.

Thanks for the info and I can't wait to re-read your trip report!
Carol

Hi Carol,
Thanks for the response and I love the fact that you too were involved in Improv!

We are currently not at home and all of my info regarding Asgard is there. When I get back I will look it up and place it on here. One word of caution regarding the Conors Pass: make sure it's a nice day and be aware that there are several points where only 1 car can gol through. Did you know that there was a Lehrman reunion a number of years ago and that there used to be a newsletter sent out?

You may want to also look at www.irelandexpert.com lots of info on places to stay and see. Also, once you estimate your driving times, basically double them. As someone else said, either have a GPS or an excellent map and navigator to help you.

carol, my quick thoughts are as follows (I did a trip like this a few years ago): Kilkenny is so delightful so I'd spend more time there on your way out to the west and maybe drop Kinsale. Also, I'd choose between Gap of Dunloe and Dingle. Were it me, I'd pick Dingle. Also, at the end of your trip you might choose a night in Westport, a very charming town. I think in general try to slow things down a bit because that is the magic of Ireland. I will tell you also that a favorite of my family's was Clonmacnoise, but that is in Athlone/Burr area so it might be too much. I am going to try to research and find the name of the BB we stayed at in Kilkenny - it was just super.

Carol, I found the names of our two favorite B&Bs on our last trip: The Boulevard Guesthouse in Westport and Laragh House in Kilkenny. Highly recommend both to you.

I wouldn't drop the Gap of Dunloe tour; our group (3 couples) really enjoyed this! (Of course it didn't hurt that it was a lovely sunny day!) We did it "in reverse" with the boat trip on the lakes (departing about 10:30) first, followed by a bowl of soup at Lord Brandon's Cottage and jaunting carts through the Gap.

Wow - thanks everyone for all of the great input. I'm still working out the details of our itinerary . . . thought I'd have it finished by now. But I guess that's half the fun of it!
Carol