6 first-time Ireland visitors, driving in a mini-van through the Connemara region the first week of March, having never driven on the "Irish side of the road" before; are we crazy? I realize there is no one answer to whether or not this seems like a good or bad idea, but given the nature of the terrain and roads and weather and the size of the vehicle, what are your opinions? Thanks!

Spent Thanksgiving in Ireland and we had no problems driving a mini-van. As long as they don't upgrade you to a 13-passenger bus (if they do, decline the upgrade), you'll be fine. Take your time driving around the first day. If you're flying into Shannon, take a detour in Ennis and spend 15 min. driving around on their little streets. Not quite the feel of Connemara, but it’s a good place to stop and practice. Last year we drove through Connemara and didn’t see 10 other cars all day.

Paco,<BR>I've driven a mini-van all around Donegal and had no problem at all as well as driving throughout Connemara on another trip. There are some very narrow roads - I remember a road from Rossaveal to Oughterard - that was a long stretch of one lane travel...at one point I came to a farm truck... I stopped, he backed up to a small bypass, and I went on my way! The local people are very friendly and adaptable- they try to look out for non-native drivers!<BR>Most practical piece of advice I have is - if you see something big heading toward you, pull as far over as you feel safe and wait for them to pass you!<BR>Also, if in doubt, drive slowly...act as if you were parking in a narrow space - take your time. You will quickly become accustomed to your vehicle, the roads, and driving &quot;on the wrong side of the road!&quot;<BR>I respectfully submit that I don't think driving around the narrow streets of Ennis to practice for Connemara makes much sense to me...Ennis is a more heavily populated town...why &quot;practice&quot; there for a more isolated place?

Paco,<BR><BR>The notion of Ireland as a country of woefully outdated and dangerous roads is about as useful as its image as a land of leprechauns and donkey-carts. In other words, don't buy into the stereotype. <BR><BR>The Irish road system has improved dramatically in the past decade or so, and it continues to do so. Indeed, thanks in great part to its EU membership, even the country's secondary roads (including much of Connemara) are in good, perfectly safe condition.<BR><BR>Therefore, get in your minivan and have a swell time. You're bound to see a good many other larger autos in your travels. You should note, however, that given Connemara's rural nature and sparse population, you might find night driving rather challenging. Still, with a good map and a clear head, not to mention a positive outlook, you'll enjoy the roads of Connemara. Better yet, you'll love the views.

Uh, I think the notion of dangerous roads is a little more accurate than the leprechauns and the like. The main (N) roads are fine, though as you come into may towns and villages, you will find that it is common to park in the road to &quot;just run into a shop&quot;. The rule seems to be that the traffic that gets there first has the right of way, not the traffic that has the clear passage on their side. The R roads are much more narrow and there are smaller ones than that. As Kathy said, there are quite a number of roads that aren't quite wide enough for two vehicles so you have to let other vehicles pass... and yes, they are quite cordial over there.<BR><BR>Yes many of the roads have been repaved, but it doesn't appear that the vast majority have been widened substantially. You should be fine in a minivan, though you will have to be careful. What you will notice is that the locals are quite comfortable with passing in tight situations at a pretty high speed. You'll get used to it.<BR><BR>An advantage to your trip is that the Connemara doesn't get quite the bus traffic that the SW of Ireland does, so it is not quite as crazy there.<BR><BR>Anybody who has ever driven the road between Kenmare and Sneem is aware that the roads still need some work. The Ring of Kerry begins there (if you are leaving from Kenmare) and although oddly very straight for quite a while, you will definitely give the struts in your car a work out.<BR><BR>The big words of warning are to be careful on curves. You will have a sobering moment as you enter each county as they advertise the number of those who have perished on their roads over the past couple of years. There is a big push to clean up driving practices and make people drive more safely. Hopefully it is working.<BR><BR>The good news is that it will be very clear that you need to be careful when you start driving. You won't have any desire to drive like a maniac, thus you should be fine. Once again, be careful on the blind curves and in a van full of people, select one person to navigate and tell the others to be quiet. Too much input could be quite a hassle.<BR><BR>OK, that was a scary note in some ways, but I just didn't want you to think that the difference in roads between the US and Ireland was some mythical &quot;stereotype&quot;. They are different, much smaller and thus, much more scenic. I have driven I25 in northern New Mexico many times and I often wondered what the Irish would think of a road, that was so beautifully paved, that long and wide, with virtually no traffic on it at almost anytime of the day. You see they don't have a road system designed my the defense department to transport troops. Good for them.<BR><BR>Bill

What a wonderful and thoughtful group of replies -- and Bill, I am in complete agreement about the fact that our spacious roadways are there for a sobering reason. Anyhow, now to convince my traveling companions that I will be a competent chauffeur!

Paco, I used a mini-van last march from shannon to schull to killarny to Doolin and Galway and found it quite passable. The roads have improved very much especially from Shannon to Galway. The main road in Connemara is quite good while the side roads require you to go slower and be careful with oncoming traffic. I always start out slowly and always give the right away to anything bigger and faster. I have always felt that the irish drivers were so courteous and patient but my friend in the Southwest of Cork refuted my arguement when I drove with him. The roads are very usable but the traffic has increased so much in the past ten years that I have been visiting that the government is just trying to keep up and doesn't help that there are a bunch of tourists traveling about. Anywho, take it slow and keep your mind and eyes on the road and you should be just fine. ps remember that you have very short days in march

Paco<BR>It's just that the roads are so narrow. My husband drove us 1000 miles in Ireland last March and my side of our little car had a lot of dings in it before we were done. He would squeeze over for fear of hitting oncoming traffic and in Ireland there is usually a stone fence on the side of the road! Just make sure you have 100% insurance coverage as you are responible for anything you or another car does to that rental. We loved Ireland!

For me, driving a mini-van in Ireland would be crazy. I hate driving big vehicles in any country. It all depends on the individual. If the thought of driving a mini-van on narrow roads (which are in abundance in Connemara. Some are only wide enough for one car) scares you, then don't do it. If, however, you're one of those people who feels comfortable driving on narrow roads, then you'll be fine.<BR><BR>It's no myth that Irish roads are tiny. It's also no myth that you'll come up behind a lot of tractors and other machinery (my favorite was when I came up behind a fork lift being driven backwards). I heard that farmers were staging a protest in Ireland a few weeks ago, by blocking traffic by driving tractors from all over the country to meet up in Dublin. My first thought was &quot;Haven't they been doing that since tractors were invented?&quot;