Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Recommendations for 7 days in Ireland in May

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Recommendations for 7 days in Ireland in May

Hi... My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Ireland in May (15 - 23). I am reserving the 15th and 23rd for traveling. I am looking for recommendations on what we should absolutely see (what are the "do not miss" castles, for example), good places to stay (mostly B&B's, but one night in a castle would be great!), and good places to eat. We will be renting a car and functioning as our own tour guides. We'd like to either start or end in Dublin, and include Kilkenny (sp?), the Cliffs of Mohr and ???. We would like to expereince both city and country life. Keeping that in mind, what, would be good attractions to include? Thanks!!!!!

I would recommend starting in Cork. They have great shopping, Blarney Castle (a must see and to kiss the stone) and making your way west all around the ring of Kerry. Kinsale is a cute, charming town, and Waterville, around the ring of Kerry, is a pretty, beach town. The southwest of Ireland is beautiful. good luck!

Gail: Well, I may differ from Maureen's post. Start in Cork only if you prefer driving in a town that is almost guaranteed to get you lost. Kissing the Blarney stone is, without a doubt, the biggest tourist trap in the country. The grounds around the castle are quite nice though. The island is dotted with castles, some in ruins, some not. Though not a castle, the Rock of Cashel is quite spectacular nad Cahir castle is right down the road. Both are beautifully lit at night. With seven days, you won't have a lot of time to tour, taking in to account jet lag. Since you want to see the Cliffs of Moher, try landing and leaving from Shannon, and visiting Galway insted of Dublin. Though not nearly as large as Dublin, it has plenty of energy and is a young and lively city. Once again, with only seven days, you won't really have time to get much out of Dublin and still see the countryside. To get a reasonable taste of Dublin, you need at least 2-3 non jet lagged days. On the west coast, Dromoland and Ashford are beautiful, but pricey. I like Ashford's setting on Lough Corrib. There are smaller ones and ones that are "sort of" castles. Cregg castle is more of a manor house (I think that is the right term) but I understand is wonderful to stay at. The food is reputed to be great and they usually have music in the evenings. I keep meaning to stay there, but each time my plans get switched around and I have to miss it. Further inland is Carrigeen Castle in Cahir (about 2 hrs from Shannon) which is actually and old jail. Once again, haven't stayed there, but it gets mostly good comments from those without children. I understand she is a bit fussy, but generally, people have a nice time. It's very inexpensive. Kilkenny is nice, but a bit of a drive from the west coast. If you start in Dublin, it's easy to get to, but it will definitely make it harder to see much of the west. In the end, I think you would really enjoy Galway and get to experience a bit of Irish "city" life without taking up a huge part of the trip. Save Dublin for your next trip. We will be there in May also, in the general Shannon area. We'll probably pass on the roads. Have fun. Bill

I basically agree with Bill's posting. However, I do think Kilkenny is worth a visit. If you fly into Dublin and fly out of Shannon or vice versa, you'll have time to fit it in. Definitely skip the Blarney Stone. I love the Connemara area (west coast, north of Galway)--it's remote and wild and gorgeous. There are a lot of postings on that area.

I agree on Kilkenny Ann, only if she can resist urge to hang around Dublin. Get a room on the outskirts of town and head to Kilkenny first thing in the morning. If you must go into Dublin, take a bus in the night you arrive, have a pint or two and head out the next day. I've tried both B&B and hotel on my first night. They each had a distinct advantage. The B&B that I stayed at in Skerries was wonderful. They let me check in at 10:30 in the morning and take a nap. In retrospect, that may have just made it more difficult to adjust to jet lag. None-the-less, it was nice, and the breakfast was HUGE. There was a bus right outside the dorr for as ride, albeit long, into Dublin. I have also stayed at the Ibis Hotel at N7 & M50. It's basically an American style place, sort of a Days Inn, but comfortable and clean. They had a breakfast buffet that started early in the morning and it too gave you the option to eat too much. The food was not nearly as good as a B&B, but still certainly palatable. It was in a location that you could catch a bus into town and also, make a right onto N7 and head towards Kilkenny. I've said enough. Bill

we had a wonderful trip last April, 9 days driving around Ireland..(2 days in the outskirts of Dublin) , This itinerary worked well for us , quite a bit of driving, but we saw such beautiful countryside and were also able to walk the streets of lovely smaller towns. Flew into Shannon from the states;.... (first night and jet lag recovery at a comfortable Best Western near Bunratty ...walked around the folk park, had lunch at Dirty Nellies etc) Next day on to Galway ( drove into Dromoland castle area,through burren, cliffs of moher, nice B&B in Galway).Next day back down another route and lunch at Adare, and night on north Dingle coast near Castlegregory. Next day over hilly craggy drive to Dingle to lovely Guesthouse overlooking bay. Did the Dingle peninsula drive (Slea Head), gorgous, and the town is lovely also. Next day to Kenmare, lovely drive and nice BB .(didn't do the ring of kerry, had heard it wasn't necessary, and is very crowded with busses and long) Then on to Kinsale, (so interesting and nice accommodations. ), Beautiful drive from Kinsale to Waterford,...one night. We don't usually take many tours, but we found the crystal factory tour VERY interesting. On into Dublin the next day and stayed out by the water in D...... ?? Took the 30 min city bus ride into Dublin and walked around.took a hop on hop off tour of the city. very inclusive narration. OUr City bus ride to and out of Dublin from our guesthouse was wonderful and fun and enlightening. The Irish people are the friendliest in the world?...and we would like to return, for there is so much more of Ireland to see. andenlightening. to a bus line.h