Ireland Pre-Planning- Summer 2017
Nov 3rd, 2016, 01:56 PM
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Ireland Pre-Planning- Summer 2017
First off, I recognize that these requests are a bit obnoxious cause it looks like I have done no research. So, just wanted to thank you for your grace and guidance helping me! I am starting some pre-planning for our Ireland trip summer of 2017. First Ireland visit. We do not have set plans yet (in terms of flights or specific days). However, it will be over the 4th of July holiday and 8 days stay (that isnt including travel....like 8 nights in Ireland).
As for us...My husband and I are 28 and very adventurous. We enjoy outdoors, small hole in the wall pubs, good music, hiking, lots of delish food. We love walking places. If anyone has heard of Asheville, NC....thats our soul city (if that helps any) We are not museum goers in the slightest (as in, we went to Italy for 2 weeks and hit like 2 museums!). My perfect day would be exploring Irelands beautiful scenery in the morning and spending the evening at a pub meeting and chatting with others.
I am not a fan of 1 night stays at places, as I just dont feel like you get to know a city. I dont mind doing day trips 1-2 hours away. So, for our trip, I am looking to have 3-4 base locations. Obviously Dublin would be one as we would fly in and/or out of it (like I said, havent made firm plans yet).
Not necessarily looking for an itinerary, as I can handle that. Just was wondering your inputs on some good base locations that fit with our vision above. I'm assuming Galway would probs be one.
Thanks for any help you guys can provide!! I promise to pay the advice forward when we get back from our trip cause I love this site!
As for us...My husband and I are 28 and very adventurous. We enjoy outdoors, small hole in the wall pubs, good music, hiking, lots of delish food. We love walking places. If anyone has heard of Asheville, NC....thats our soul city (if that helps any) We are not museum goers in the slightest (as in, we went to Italy for 2 weeks and hit like 2 museums!). My perfect day would be exploring Irelands beautiful scenery in the morning and spending the evening at a pub meeting and chatting with others.
I am not a fan of 1 night stays at places, as I just dont feel like you get to know a city. I dont mind doing day trips 1-2 hours away. So, for our trip, I am looking to have 3-4 base locations. Obviously Dublin would be one as we would fly in and/or out of it (like I said, havent made firm plans yet).
Not necessarily looking for an itinerary, as I can handle that. Just was wondering your inputs on some good base locations that fit with our vision above. I'm assuming Galway would probs be one.
Thanks for any help you guys can provide!! I promise to pay the advice forward when we get back from our trip cause I love this site!
Nov 3rd, 2016, 02:13 PM
#2
One suggestion, Northern Ireland, easy bus ride from the airport to Belfast, you could rent a car once you got there and return there also. Drive the coast and see the most beautiful scenery in Ireland.
Westport or Clifden. You would love climbing Crough Patrick or biking the trail to Achill Island. Some say pick the bikes up in Achill and ride back to Westport. Clare Island is amazing to visit for the day. Westport has the best music pubs.
Day trips from Dublin, you can hike so many places along the coast.
http://www.mapmyhike.com/ie/dun-laoghaire-l/
Just take the dart or bus there as you won't want or need a car in Dublin.
My favorite Aran island is Inishmore
Westport or Clifden. You would love climbing Crough Patrick or biking the trail to Achill Island. Some say pick the bikes up in Achill and ride back to Westport. Clare Island is amazing to visit for the day. Westport has the best music pubs.
Day trips from Dublin, you can hike so many places along the coast.
http://www.mapmyhike.com/ie/dun-laoghaire-l/
Just take the dart or bus there as you won't want or need a car in Dublin.
My favorite Aran island is Inishmore
Nov 3rd, 2016, 04:36 PM
#3
After 2 trips and no Dublin here's my take on it.
Can you fly to Dublin and out of Shannon or the reverse?
Why? Because the west coast was the best part of Ireland IMO.
1st trip we flew into Shannon and did the west coast. As Macross says above Westport, Achill Island and that area was so picturesque. Westport was the perfect small town---close to so many day trips, great restaurants, and Matt Malloy's, our favorite pub in all of Ireland.
Farther south, the Dingle Peninsula was the best. You could spend days out there on a drive, stopping to hike and view the stunning landscape. Also over the Connor Pass to Brandon Point.
Kenmare was fantastic. Our favorite B&B was Shelburnelodge.com in Kenmare.
Walking distance to restaurants & pubs. And speaking of restaurants, Ireland was a huge surprise. We expected to eat fish & chips for weeks on end. Not the case. some of the best food we had overseas anywhere! Then we also flew home from Shannon.
OK, we loved it so much we went back 8 months later to do the middle. Flew into Dublin, again skipped it, headed to Boyle and then south to Kinsale, Kilkenny, etc. And flew back out of Dublin.
Did we like it? Yes! Did we love it? Not even a comparison to the west coast.
Keep in mind that the driving is much slower than you anticipate, except on major highways, which are not picturesque---you could be in middle America.
If you have to fly into Dublin, yes more acces and cheaper flights, from what you've said, I'd head west. Skip the big cities, even Galway unless you have a reason for it, and get on the coast. With 8 days in Ireland, that's 1 day driving, 6 days in an absolute wonderland, then 1 driving back to Dublin for your flight home.
Everyone is different but it doesn't sound like Dublin is for you being a very large city. The outer landscapes of Ireland are magical. Try to take advantage of them.
For us, doing it again for 8 nights, we'd arrive in Shannon, drive to Westport for 3 nights, head to Dingle for 2 nights, and Kenmare for 2, then back to Dublin for 1 night close to the airport before the flight home.
Having to fly into & out of Dublin-----changes things a lot. Remember, the driving is longer that you expect.
I'm sure there are more experienced Ireland Fodorites that will add their views. Hope I've helped a bit.
Can you fly to Dublin and out of Shannon or the reverse?
Why? Because the west coast was the best part of Ireland IMO.
1st trip we flew into Shannon and did the west coast. As Macross says above Westport, Achill Island and that area was so picturesque. Westport was the perfect small town---close to so many day trips, great restaurants, and Matt Malloy's, our favorite pub in all of Ireland.
Farther south, the Dingle Peninsula was the best. You could spend days out there on a drive, stopping to hike and view the stunning landscape. Also over the Connor Pass to Brandon Point.
Kenmare was fantastic. Our favorite B&B was Shelburnelodge.com in Kenmare.
Walking distance to restaurants & pubs. And speaking of restaurants, Ireland was a huge surprise. We expected to eat fish & chips for weeks on end. Not the case. some of the best food we had overseas anywhere! Then we also flew home from Shannon.
OK, we loved it so much we went back 8 months later to do the middle. Flew into Dublin, again skipped it, headed to Boyle and then south to Kinsale, Kilkenny, etc. And flew back out of Dublin.
Did we like it? Yes! Did we love it? Not even a comparison to the west coast.
Keep in mind that the driving is much slower than you anticipate, except on major highways, which are not picturesque---you could be in middle America.
If you have to fly into Dublin, yes more acces and cheaper flights, from what you've said, I'd head west. Skip the big cities, even Galway unless you have a reason for it, and get on the coast. With 8 days in Ireland, that's 1 day driving, 6 days in an absolute wonderland, then 1 driving back to Dublin for your flight home.
Everyone is different but it doesn't sound like Dublin is for you being a very large city. The outer landscapes of Ireland are magical. Try to take advantage of them.
For us, doing it again for 8 nights, we'd arrive in Shannon, drive to Westport for 3 nights, head to Dingle for 2 nights, and Kenmare for 2, then back to Dublin for 1 night close to the airport before the flight home.
Having to fly into & out of Dublin-----changes things a lot. Remember, the driving is longer that you expect.
I'm sure there are more experienced Ireland Fodorites that will add their views. Hope I've helped a bit.
Nov 3rd, 2016, 08:49 PM
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I'm a two time Ireland visitor. Our last trip included flying into Shannon. We stayed in Ennis and thought that was a good base to visit the cliffs of Moher, and the burren.
The Connemara area has some excellent hikes, Westport is a nice town. Matt Malloys in Westport is suppose to be excellent, but unless you get there early, it was impossible to get close to.
We continued our trip toward Derry and one could explore Slieve League, which is higher than the cliffs of Moher, but unfortunately for us the weather did not cooperate.
Beyond Derry (we took an excellent Bloody Sunday tour) we travelled to the coast which was beautiful (including Giants Causeway).
Our first trip was to Kinsale, Kenmare and Dingle. I would recommend that area of Ireland also.
Without dissing Fodors, I suggest you go to http://ireland.activeboard.com/f1760...-travel-forum/
That board has lots of great info and contributors devoted solely to Ireland.
The Connemara area has some excellent hikes, Westport is a nice town. Matt Malloys in Westport is suppose to be excellent, but unless you get there early, it was impossible to get close to.
We continued our trip toward Derry and one could explore Slieve League, which is higher than the cliffs of Moher, but unfortunately for us the weather did not cooperate.
Beyond Derry (we took an excellent Bloody Sunday tour) we travelled to the coast which was beautiful (including Giants Causeway).
Our first trip was to Kinsale, Kenmare and Dingle. I would recommend that area of Ireland also.
Without dissing Fodors, I suggest you go to http://ireland.activeboard.com/f1760...-travel-forum/
That board has lots of great info and contributors devoted solely to Ireland.
Nov 4th, 2016, 08:33 AM
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Thanks so much for all this advice. I'll start more research based on this. I should have mentioned that we don't mind bigger cities at all. Heck, we think Rome is an incredibly walkable city!
Nov 5th, 2016, 03:12 AM
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If Dublin is a definite on your agenda then you need to dedicate two of your eight nights to there.
With your remaining six nights, perhaps three nights in two separate locations might be your most logical plan; deciding on whether to return from Shannon or Dublin is an important call to be made.
Your description of your perfect day makes a day trip to Inishturk come to mind. Motor out from Westport to catch the morning ferry from Roonagh Pier, wander around an almost car free island for 4/5 hours before your return ferry and an evening in the pubs/restaurants that Westport has to offer in good measure.
Westport also offers the Greenway cycle/walking route and the climb of Croagh Patrick. Alternative island destinations are Inishbofin (from Cleggan) and Clare Island.
One could go on with more attractions in Westport but unless you limit yourself to there as a single venue (an idea not to be dismissed given your limited time), you will have to be selective with the many options on offer.
Dingle is another popular spot where spectacular scenery and good visitor infrastructure meet (if you can file a great selection of pubs under visitor infrastructure). The Blasket Islands are now displacing the resident local dolphin as the most favoured water related trip, thanks to Star Wars. Slea Head loop and the Conor Pass are popular car trips while Inch strand is a great place to stretch your legs. From a practical point of view, Dingle is a considerable distance from Dublin if you are returning from there; perhaps somewhere coastal in County Clare might be more practical, where you have the Burren and the walk from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher to explore.
Decisions, decisions....
With your remaining six nights, perhaps three nights in two separate locations might be your most logical plan; deciding on whether to return from Shannon or Dublin is an important call to be made.
Your description of your perfect day makes a day trip to Inishturk come to mind. Motor out from Westport to catch the morning ferry from Roonagh Pier, wander around an almost car free island for 4/5 hours before your return ferry and an evening in the pubs/restaurants that Westport has to offer in good measure.
Westport also offers the Greenway cycle/walking route and the climb of Croagh Patrick. Alternative island destinations are Inishbofin (from Cleggan) and Clare Island.
One could go on with more attractions in Westport but unless you limit yourself to there as a single venue (an idea not to be dismissed given your limited time), you will have to be selective with the many options on offer.
Dingle is another popular spot where spectacular scenery and good visitor infrastructure meet (if you can file a great selection of pubs under visitor infrastructure). The Blasket Islands are now displacing the resident local dolphin as the most favoured water related trip, thanks to Star Wars. Slea Head loop and the Conor Pass are popular car trips while Inch strand is a great place to stretch your legs. From a practical point of view, Dingle is a considerable distance from Dublin if you are returning from there; perhaps somewhere coastal in County Clare might be more practical, where you have the Burren and the walk from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher to explore.
Decisions, decisions....
Nov 7th, 2016, 10:30 AM
#8
Matt Molloy's----loved the front rooms with the traditional music in a small setting but had the most fun in the large back room. Somehow a bit of Guiness makes you get up and sing "Brown Eyed Girl" with the rest of the crowd---or maybe it was a lot of Guiness.
Nov 7th, 2016, 01:07 PM
#10
TPAYT, no we didn't see him there but he has released a cd. We were whiskey tasting that night. Started at JJ O'Malley's and ended there hours later. We made it up to yellow spot which is so good.
Nov 10th, 2016, 05:38 AM
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Thank you all for your advice! This trip has been so interesting to plan (compared to all the other trips I have planned) just cause it is balancing a desire to visit so many places with the amount of time in the car.
I have found direct flights to Dublin, which may sway my flight choices. However, based on our flights, I think we are going to do some type of circle/semi circle that involves Dublin, Kilkenny, somewhere near the Ring of Kerry (I found this hotel, Parknasilla, that is on the Ring that would be nice to stay at for a while for a small bit of pampering), Dingle, and Galway. I think that will give us a mix of scenery's and a mix of town sizes. There may be a day or two that involves a longer drive than the rest, but I think that will be ok.
I have found direct flights to Dublin, which may sway my flight choices. However, based on our flights, I think we are going to do some type of circle/semi circle that involves Dublin, Kilkenny, somewhere near the Ring of Kerry (I found this hotel, Parknasilla, that is on the Ring that would be nice to stay at for a while for a small bit of pampering), Dingle, and Galway. I think that will give us a mix of scenery's and a mix of town sizes. There may be a day or two that involves a longer drive than the rest, but I think that will be ok.
Nov 17th, 2016, 05:39 PM
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I am in the middle of planning a 9 night trip to Ireland for next July also, and our itinerary is looking similar to yours with Dublin to Kilkenny to Killarney/Dingle area to Ennis/Galway area back to Dublin. The airfaire to and from Dublin was unbeatable for us as well. We'll have to compare trip notes when we both get back.
