Shannon Airport - Day Trips?
 

I will be on a tour that ends at Shannon Airport in May...from there I have 3 days to enjoy in Ireland. I'm nervous to rent a car - but does anyone have any suggestions in terms of destinations as well as recommendations of transport to somewhere great from the airport? Thanks!

BusEireann has frequent service to Ennis & Galway or Limerick City (other direction). Ennis has its Fleadh Nua (Spring Music & Dance festival) beginning May 22: definitely worth a look-see.

I wouldn't stay at Shannon (Corporate & Industrial Parks, Bunratty, several B&B's, airport Hotels & the airport). I stay in either Ennis (first bus to Shannon around 08:35) or Limerick City (First bus to Shannon around 07:45) it depends on which direction I'm coming from).

Summer Schedules won't be in effect yet in May; but you can get BusEireann to just about anywhere http://www.BusEireann.ie

I agree with NedsIreland about Shannon.

Just a suggestion: why not ask the tour driver to drop you off early at some good base? What route does the coach take on the final day?

Ennis is a good base for your short time near Shannon...it is approx. 15 miles from Shannon Airport..it is a nice little town, very colorful, with lots of restaurants and pubs,situated on a river. Many hotels to choose from. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is a must see in the area, and the town Newmarket-on-Fergus, which is very close by is a nice quaint Irish town, which also has a great castle to explore. PS...the driving is not too bad, you get used to it pretty quick.
Good luck. Mike

Thank you everyone - great ideas. I did look up those bus schedules and that does seem like the best option - lots of choices (I really am a wuss when it comes to the driving, experienced that a few years ago and was a white knuckle passenger). Unfortunately we'll just miss the Ennis Festival mentioned, but that does seem like a good destination. A few cute hotels I saw in Ennis too - any experiences with the local accommodations?

Also - the option of having the tour bus driver drop us off is a great one as well...I'm not sure of the exact route - but it's Glengarriff to Shannon - so if there's a 'usual' route and anyone has recommendations, please let me know.

I appreciate your helpful feedback....

TempleGate in Ennis is a good 3 star hotel and you are right in the center of everything. Old Ground Hotel gets good reviews and has a new wing of rooms and it is also near everything. I've stayed a total of 10 days in Ennis at different times and never had a car and found walking was very easy. My stays were at TempleGate, but I believe I'd stay next time at Old Ground because of the new rooms.
Enjoy your trip, Joan

I stayed in one of the older rooms at the old Ground Hotel and it was still nice. We got a room last minute on a bank holiday and there was a wedding on that evening. Its a lovely place but not sure how much they are charging now with the renovated rooms.

Ennis is a lovely base and a vibrant country town. It would be fun to dtay here and venture out in the days.

"Unfortunately we'll just miss the Ennis Festival mentioned, but that does seem like a good destination. A few cute hotels I saw in Ennis too - any experiences with the local accommodations?"

In Ennis, I have stayed at Rose Cottage B&B (adequate); the TempleGate Hotel: (several times), keeps getting more expensive; the Queen's Hotel: they warn you about the noise; and Abbey Tourist Hostal, during the Fleadh Nua one year. I also stayed at DerrynAne Guest House that isn't there anymore.

I recently learned that the dates of the Fleadh Nua are 20-28 May this year.

If you miss the 'formal' sessions, you may be able to sit in on an impromptu Trad Irish music session (i.e., 'pick up' session) any afternoon at Cruise's next to the old Friary at the foot of Abbey Street.