kara_ann

Sorry. I meant to mention that I plan on driving.

Bill I would definitely appreciate your trip report.

Thanks for the Oatmeal/porridge comment.

Thanks Kodi. I was thinking of Dingle. But it is pretty busy? I might stay away from it then.

I never hear very much about the South East coast. Can anyone let me know what they thought? Favorite places?

Thanks.

isabel

Kara ann - we did the southeast coast and I feel kind of the same way about it that I did about Dublin. Nice enough, but until I got near the west coast I didn't really feel I had gotten what I went to Ireland for. My problem was my plane (from England, where we had been the week previous) landed in Dublin. So I started reading guidebooks trying to plan a route though Ireland ending at Shannon. Everything in guide books sounds great, I wanted to see it all. So we started in Dublin then went to Glendalough, Kilkenny, the south coast (Kilmore Quay, etc) before going back inland (Cahir, Cashel), then back south (Kinsale, Clonakilty, etc) and finially up the west coast (Beara, Dingle,etc). While I certainly enjoyed it all I just had this feeling that I was missing something - until I hit the Beara Penninsula. After that it was all totally wonderful and I kept kicking myself for spending so much time in the south and east. Don't everyone jump on me here, it was nice, if I had tons of time and money I'd certainly go back again. But since most of us have limited amounts of vacation time and money, I would advise people to spend more of it on the west coast. We never even got further north than the cliffs of moher, but I hear that area is wonderful too.

Now you have three weeks so you might want to include some of Dublin and the south. But if you are commiting yourself ahead of time (reserving places to stay rather than just winging it - you don't say which you are planning on), then I would say give yourself the most time on the west coast. But with three weeks I would definitly spend a few days in Kilkenny/Cahir/Cashel. I just wouldn't spend the majority of my time there.

I didn't really find Dingle too touristy but if you want something that's really not at all touristy then consider the Beara Peninsula.

Ardfert

Dublin is at the centre of some very special places which are well worth a visit.Somewhere between 4414 and 4535 years ago by charcoal dating a building was erected at Newgrange which is still there to-day.It is basically a large mound which contains a long narrow pathway to a small room which was used as some kind of religious ceremony associated probably with cremation.Read all about it at www.knowth.com.It is 40 miles north of Dublin and you can travel by the M1 motorway most of the way -as far as Drogheda in fact.It was not designed for tourists so go early in the day to the the Boyne Valley Interpretation Centre if you want to be sure of getting in. Some 25 miles south of Dublin is the valley of Glendalough where an ancient monastic settlement has been in existence for about 1400 years.Further interesting places in and near Dublin are at www.heritageireland.com

wojazz3

Hi kara:

The link below is to my trip report. It's not a bad route, but it leaves out Dingle because I had been there on other trips. I would suggest making some small alterations to fit Dingle in for a couple of days. I think I spent 3 days in Kenmare, you could take one day off of Dublin and one off of Kenmare and you have two days for Dingle. Viola!

Here is the trip from 2002:
http://www.geocities.com/obeirne_ireland_2002/index.htm

and if you are interested, from 2003:
http://www.geocities.com/obeirne_ireland_2003/

Have fun on your trip!!! It's hard not to.

Bill

kara_ann

I'm hoping to wing it for the most part. Will I have problems from 04/28 - 05/21?

Thank you everyone for your information specifically Isabel and Bill.

Don't be surprised if you all hear from me again since I still have 2 months to plan.

kodi

You will have no problem at all winging it. I usually book my first and last night... near the airport can be busy, and it's nice to know I don't have to worry after a long flight.
But the rest of the time I wing it.
I totally agree with Isabel; the southesat is ok, but the west....well. it can't be beat!! You'll see. Dingle won't be too touristy at that time of year. Killarney is always touristy, but DIngle has a real charm.
Also, Galway and up through Connemara is very rugged and beautiful, as is County Donegal.
Bill's trip report is excellent. Take his advice and you won't go wrong. He's been to some out of the way places that I've been to, that are really off the beaten path. LIke Loop Head...and also the north coast of Donegal around HOrn Head.
Don't dismiss The Antrim Coast and Giant's Causeway in NOrthern Ireland.
Good luck with your planning.

cailin

re: the South East of Ireland

the South East isn't frequently visited by tourists, but is quite often a destination for Irish people for a summer break. It's known as the "sunny south east", so lots of people rent holiday homes or mobile homes around the beaches of Wicklow and Wexford - e.g. Brittas Bay, Rosslare Strand, Fethard, etc. There's also plenty of nice golf courses in the two counties.

isabel

Kara ann - if you'd like to see some photos of Ireland, especially some of the places we've been talking about I have some posted at pbase.com/annforcier. For me anyway, looking at photos of places helps me decide if I want to go there. There are tons more available on the web is you search around.

Ann41

I would choose Belfast over Dublin, but that is in part because I know Belfast so much better than Dublin.

And I certainly would choose Belfast if I stayed at the Culloden! It's the snazziest hotel in Northern Ireland, and I was checking rates the other day for a possible stay--250 GBP for the night.