Looking for help to start planning my Ireland trip.
 

My husband, father, sister, and I will be going to Ireland in June of 2008...yes, I'm starting early. We will spend about 10 days there. My dad wants to spend time in Donegal...his grandmother was born at the Salmon Inn and we still have family there. He is willing to travel around, but doesn't want to stay in more than 3 different towns. He likes to take things slow and doesn't want to feel rushed.

First, should we fly into Dublin or Shannon?

Second, what other towns would you recommend staying in?

Thanks very much.

Hello! Planning is half the fun, so good for you for starting early. There is a thread elsewhere, relatively recent, called "favorite places in Ireland." Try reading through that and see if anything appeals to you. Without knowing what kinds of things you enjoy it is really difficult to recommend specific destinations. This is a great place to post with questions about destinations that appeal to you, though. As far as Dublin/Shannon goes, there are also lots of posts here about that. I think it depends partly on where you decide to stay during those ten days.

I'm thinking that we will fly into Shannon and spend the first two nights in Dingle. That way on Day 2, we can go out to the Aran Islands.

Then we can work our way northward to Donegal for a few nights. How long is the drive from Dingle to Donegal?

Thanks again.

Actually, access to the Aran Islands is usually from near Galway. You may be thinking of other islands.

If it is the Aran Islands that you wish to visit, you could stop in Galway on your way from Dingle to Donegal. But, if you're father doesn't want to do a lot of moving around and has his heart set on Donegal, I'm not sure you want to go as far south as Dingle.

As Barbara suggested, I think it would be a good idea to read through some of the Ireland threads on this board. There's a lot of good information here. And, once you have specific questions, posters are very generous about giving advice.

By the way, taking it slow is the absolute best way to experience Ireland!:)

You'll have a rough time getting to the Aran Islands from Dingle - Galway would be better for that.

You're looking at over 4 hours (probably closer to 5) from Dingle to Galway. Add on probably another 2-3 hours from Galway to Donegal.

Check http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/ for approximate driving times and routes.

Shannon probably will be your best bet for flights if you want to include Dingle as well as Donegal. As for other places to stay, my wife and I really had a wonderful 3 days in Clifden. Lots to see and do, and if you are into just relaxing, easy to do that, too :)

I read about a new international flight to Knock. If so, spending the first couple of nights in Westport would make a good base to tour Mayo and Connemara area.

Last June we actually flew into Shannon and spent our first night in Westport(drove thru Burren, stopped at Dunguaire Castle, Thorballylee, and Cong)...of course, Knock would be closer.

From Westport we drove north to Donegal. We spent one night in southern Donegal and 2 nights just north of Letterkenny, so not far from Ramelton. From Letterkenny we did a day trip to Derry to tour wall and Bogside murals. We had a great local guide. We also visited Dunluce Castle-fantastic views, and the Giant's Causeway.

We also went to Glenveagh National Park and Castle which was very beautiful.

On our way back south from Letterkenny, we left around 9am- we drove to Doolin with an hour and a half stop at Knock, pub stop at Monk's Inn, around Black head-a couple of photo stops, and a stop at the Cliffs of Moher. We got to Doolin by 5pm...this may give you a time line.

So even if you go from Shannon to Westport to Donegal and back to Shannon...drives are doable, but long.

Luckily in June days are long and there are plenty of sights to see on way up and back.

We were traveling with our parents and it was a fast pace but they enjoyed the trip...in ten days we spent nights in Westport-2, St. John's Point, Donegal-1, Letterkenny-2, Doolin-1, Dingle-1, Kenmare-2, and Bunratty-1.

So if you only wanted to stay in 3 towns...maybe you could check on flying into Knock and out of Shannon...stay 3 nights in Westport, 5 nights in Donegal, and 2 in Bunratty.

Maybe earlier you were thinking of Doolin,not Dingle, which does have boat to Aran Islands, but not as frequent or reliable as the one in county Galway.

If so ...you could do
2 Doolin (visit Aran Islands)
3 Westport (Connemara, Doo Lough Valley, Kylemore Abbey, Cong)
4 Donegal (Glenveagh National Park, day trips to Northern Ireland-Derry, Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, maybe Bushmills)
1 Last night in Knock-fly out of Knock

Again, you will need to check on availability of flights in/out Knock or into shannon out of Knock.

We enjoyed stops at Carrowmore Megalithic Tombs, Drumcliff, Belleek, Tully Castle on way to from Westport to Donegal.

On way from Donegal to Doolin we stopped at Knock, drove Clare coast-Black Head, went to Cliffs of Moher, then to Doolin...great pubs with good music and pub grub.

Westport is also a pretty town with good pubs, variety of dining and lots of sights for day tripping.

rizzo0904, it's great to start planning early! Our first trip to Ireland in summer 2006 was very special to me as we visited the places where my beloved Irish grandmother came from.

I used this fodors forum extensively for planning, and I also used www.IrelandYes.com (Michele Erdvig's forum.) www.tripadvisor.com also has a good forum. The more the merrier, I say!

With only 10 days, I would recommend you spend them all in Donegal and close by areas...such as County Mayo, maybe Sligo, and maybe County Clare.

Westport is a great town in County Mayo.

Much as I loved Dingle, I think it's a bit far south for you, as Donegal is really your destination.

We had 15 nights and I felt we stretched things a bit too much including areas from Dingle all the way north as far as County Antrim and the Giant's Causeway. We loved Ireland, all of it, but I have a feeling your family will want to be going back again someday...especially with family there...so your Dad will enjoy taking things slow, as he says. Time to settle in.

Enjoy!

Ooooppppssss!!!

I meant Doolin for the first two nights...not Dingle. I saw there are ferries out of Doolin to the Aran Islands. A friend I work with love's Nellie Dee's in Doolin so I thought it may be a nice place for the first 2 nights.

Off to research!!

Try:
www.welovedonegal.com for info there.

If you wish to include Dublin, consider flying into Shannon (or Knock -- www.flyglobespan.com ) and OUT of Dublin, to avoid the 'mad-dash, back across country', just to get back to the airport.
Try looking at a few Trip Reports using the SEARCH function to get some ideas and then come on back and ask away...

Bob

Good info for Arans:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34947949

Bob