Nuttela

I have been reading some posts here and there and they are all jam packed with information but I am a bit confused and hopefully others can help me out. We decided to just make our trip this year to Ireland based on on some suggestions I have read here. Scotland can be saved for another trip.

I would like to start in Shannon and end up in Dublin. (Unless other practical choices are given) I guess my question would be if I want to set up 3 - 4 base cities for a 13 day trip (minus 2 for air travel) Dublin being a must. Which cities would give me the greater freedom for days trips from each city. We are not worried about driving. We aren't too much of artsy museum people but we enjoy a nice castle and historical museums (technology uses, armory, etc.)

Option 1:
Shannon
Killarney
Kilkenny
Dublin

Option 2:
Galway
Cork
Dublin

Finally, in this short amount of time...is it possible to make a trip up to Northern Ireland too if I change up base cities?

Any help would be appreciated. I have never been in this area and really researching it online and with my travel guides as we speak. Thanks in advance and I apologize if the post is repetative.

wojazz3

I like option 1 better

Shannon itself is really an industrial Park. Ennis is a real town, I would choose that.

I prefer Kenmare to Killarney because it's a bit less infested with tourist and has more of a village feel while still offering lotsof options for dining and good shopping. It's also a great jumping off point for both Beara and the Ring of Kerry.

Dingle would be another nice option, though you could stay in Killarney and make it to Dingle which wouldn't be my 1st choice. The problem with Dingle is that it doesn't offer quite as many options other than the spectactuklar Dingle peninsula. None-the-less, I can easily fill the days there.

Kilkenny is a nice choice. There is lots to see in the area and the city is quite nice.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Nuttela

Thanks...that was helpful. Sometimes it just is nice to hear that you are on the right track. I heard that Ennis is suppose to be a better place to stop over, so I definitly will consider it. Thanks again Bill.

wojazz3

Ennis is only recently picking up steam as a place to stay and the B&B infrastructure isn't a strong as perhaps Bunratty down the road. None-the-less, I much prefer it. Ennis is a real town and Bunratty is more of a tourist village. Bunratty is OK sort of like Killarney is OK. I found some good trad music at a number of pubs while I was there and the town center is really quite nice. Driving through Ennis, you never get the sense of the charm that is in the center so it's good to get out and visit. I stayed at the Lakeside Lodge (http://www.lakeside.ie/) outside of town and it was quite nice. The views are beautiful.

Bill

yesiree100

Option 1 would be my pick. It has smaller towns and will give you a good local flavor...Cork, Galway and Dublin are nice, but all cities. Northern Ireland is possible, but I'd probably save it for the next visit.

I'd recommend Ennis. There's a nice heritage museum attached to the tourist office there, and the town has a lot of nice restaurants, pubs, shops and traditional music.

There are loads of great sites in the areas you mention. See how places like Kells Priory (near Kilkenny), Cahir Castle, Swiss Cottage (Cahir), Kilmainham Gaol (Dublin), Rothe House (Kilkenny) and Mitchelstown Caves appeal to you. These sites, along with many of the smaller, regional museums, provide great historic experiences without being too "museum-ish."