Off to Ireland again! Solo trip...

Old Oct 29th, 2013, 10:08 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Off to Ireland again! Solo trip...

I'm off on my fifth trip to Ireland. Like my first trip, this will be solo. It was originally going to have 9 of us! However, each traveling companion had to drop out due to cost, job, etc., so now it's just me! That's OK, that means I can go wherever I like.

I will be going for 16 days starting Nov 15, coming back Dec 2. It was easier to get time off during Thanksgiving, and the price was right - $650 round trip, one connection, PIT to DUB. I do carry-on only (the airlines have delayed my luggage too many times for me to trust them on the trip out any longer!). I will be renting a car, and staying 2-4 nights each in: Drogheda, Armagh, Cushendall, Gweedore, Westport, and Glasson.

Some of my activities planned: A full moon ceremony with the Irish Druids on the Hill of Tara, a Christy Moore concert, and hopefully seeing some Northern Lights! I will be visiting several spots where Game of Thrones was filmed. I will be visiting some new places, like Belfast, Monasterboice, Loughcrew, Armagh, Boa Island, and Athlone. I will be revisiting others, such as the Antrim Coast, Inishowen, and Achill Island.

The first couple nights I'm staying at my friend and publisher's house, as she lives near Drogheda. Then I head north, and wander to my heart's content! I know it will be cold and windy, I know the days will be short. I have a flashlight, a wool coat, and a GPS. Besides, how could I see Northern Lights if I go in when it's dark? I foresee many evenings hanging in the pub, though!

As always, I will have photos and an extensive trip report when I return.
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Oct 29th, 2013, 10:46 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 17,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Northern lights in Ireland? You will need to be extremely lucky. Not only will you need clear nights, but a truly spectacular solar flare to give the lights that far south.
You have more chance in Pittsburgh.
hetismij2 is offline  
Old Oct 29th, 2013, 10:48 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 17,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes I do know how far soth Pittsburgh is, but the magnetic north pole is in Canada so the auroral oval favours North America.
hetismij2 is offline  
Old Oct 29th, 2013, 11:01 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, but the lights in Pittsburgh make that near impossible I'm staying up in Donegal for four nights, and three on the Antrim Coast, where there is far less light pollution, so I know it will require luck, I'm just hoping I'll be lucky.
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2013, 01:27 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Greendragon, good for you going solo in Ireland in off-season with such an interesting itinerary. Look forward to your report...
latedaytraveler is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2013, 09:48 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A full moon ceremony with the Irish Druids on the Hill of Tara. Wow, I want a full report on that.

I think you will have a splendid time going solo. I am over the girlfriend trips for a while. Just taking the husband on the next one.
flpab is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2013, 12:40 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I went solo my first trip in 1996 - I love the freedom of going where I want. I prefer to share it with someone, but in this day and age, I get to share my trip report and pics with everyone when I get back
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2013, 03:51 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wouldn't give a great deal of time to Armagh or to Athlone (Glasson is nice, however, and you should eat at the Wineport).

It's not impossibly far from Glasson to Clonmacnoise.

Drogheda has a pleasant museum at Millmount - good for a rainy afternoon.

If the latter-day Druidic charlatans had bothered to read the manual they would be on the Hill of Slane rather than Tara.

I'm willing to make a bet that you won't see the Northern Lights. Find other excuses for going out walking at night.
Padraig is offline  
Old Oct 30th, 2013, 04:06 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Have a good trip and enjoy yourself. Be careful out there in the dark a couple of tourists got themselves lost in the dark and scwale, up Antrim last week. spent the night huddled behind a rock.. fortunately they had told their host where abouts they were heading and the Mountain rescue bods found them in the morning.
Tony2phones is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2013, 04:28 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There were northern lights all over Antrim and Donegal the last two nights, by the way

I read about that, Tony! I will have my iPhone compass AND a torch
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2013, 11:19 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've two nights in Armagh, mostly as a base to explore the surrounding areas. Three nights in Glasson, mostly because I have a Christy Moore concert to attend one of the nights, and I had to be in that area. I am planning a couple days of exploration around Clonmacnoise and a bit further south. We'll see!

The druids know that the Hill of Slane is important, as well,and Uisneach
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2013, 04:22 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
GreenDragon wrote: "There were northern lights all over Antrim and Donegal the last two nights..."

It's Hallowe'en: the lights were fireworks. They're done now.

If you're going exploring from Glasson, add Birr castle to the list of possibilities: http://www.birrcastle.com/.
Padraig is offline  
Old Oct 31st, 2013, 04:46 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Give me a nod if you aim to get down to Birr, things are a bit hectic here at the mo but maybe catch a coffee in the Sunrise (pub) if your castle visit fits our shopping trip.
Tony2phones is offline  
Old Nov 1st, 2013, 03:30 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Padraig, Stop being a spoil sport, it is Greendragon's adventure and I so hope she sees some Northern lights. I have fond memories of Athlone. That was before they put in the motorway and you couldn't bypass it. Love Clomacnoise, more people should stop and visit there.
Pádraigín
flpab is offline  
Old Nov 1st, 2013, 04:54 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just saw some pics taken by Adam Rory at Malin Head the last couple nights - brilliant Northern Lights! And the KP was only about 3! He said it's not that uncommon, if the night is clear and you have a north coast view

I've visited Clonmacnoise once before, in 2011, so I'll be having a lovely second visit.

Tony, I'm planning a trip down to Birr and Lean one day from Glasson, which would be either Nov 30 or Dec 1. I would love to meet up for some chat!
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Nov 1st, 2013, 04:54 AM
  #16  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
*Leap, not Lean!
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Feb 4th, 2014, 04:23 AM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just in case someone missed it, my trip report for this is done, with links to pics! http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...eland-2013.cfm
GreenDragon is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2014, 11:58 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would like to connect with you as I want to travel to Ireland and you said you were going to review the last trip with the full moon ceremony etc. I would like to do a similar trip. Did you do a review? Where would I find this? Thank you kindly.
Travelandfun is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2014, 05:20 AM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...eland-2013.cfm

GreenDragon is offline  
Old Jun 25th, 2016, 08:08 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I am planning my first trip to Ireland in October. I am traveling solo. I am taking notes from all the comments as my itinerary is open! Thanks everyone! GreenDragon, do you have any reports from your previous trips? I would love to read it all!
SueKearns is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -