Hi, all...

I'm seeking advice for a road trip out of Dublin in mid-May. Car is already booked. Hotel in Dublin before and after also booked.

We will be on the road five nights, which means six days on the road (leaving Dublin in the morning and returning around dinner time)...five-and-a-half actual days of sightseeing.

Original idea:

Day 1 - drive to west with some sightseeing, arrive Galway mid-day, afternoon & evening in Galway
Night 1 - Galway
Day 2 - leisurely drive south with sightseeing - ideas?
Night 2 - hotel in Kenmare (booked but can be cancelled/changed)
Day 3- drive Ring of Kerry - tips?
Night 3 - hotel in Kenmare (booked but can be cancelled/changed)
Day 4 - drive east while sightseeing - ideas?
Night 4 - in/near Kilkenny - nothing booked yet
Day 5 - Kilkenny
Night 5 - in/near Kilkenny - nothing booked yet
Day 6 - drive sightseeing near Kilkenny in morning, (ideas?); then back to Dublin late afternoon.

Generally do not want to spend more than 2-3 hours actually in the car each travel day...which seems possible looking at Google maps. However, I assume some roads will be slow. (Ring of Kerry!!)

Never been to Ireland before. We are just starting our book research, but we would appreciate any ideas for must-see things within those general parameters. It's a little rushed compared to our usual pace...but that's it. (We usually don't drive when traveling in Europe, but we figured it was necessary in Ireland.)

A little about us. We like historical places, art and music...and enjoy nice scenery/geological features. We like to walk--but not hike--and usually take several self-guided walks in cities we visit and wander smaller towns. (Our trip reports can tell you a lot about our tastes in travel, but I don't expect y'all to go to the trouble of reading them. )

Thanks.

ssander

Update...

Wife looking at area around Limerick...likes Bunratty Castle & Folk park...opinions? Thanks.

ssander

...what about the Rock of Cashel?

You have too much too spread.
Dublin on arrival fine
second day drive to Galway and stay in Galway fine

Then what do you hope to see between Galway and Kenmare? I have 3 standard full day itineraries that only get folk to Ennis.

I generally say a night in Ennis to split counties Galway and Kerry so folk can see Clare. There is no point in taking a day to get to Galway just to dash straight down to Kenmare.

Kenmare is the wrong base for the Ring of Kerry, the way to drive the ring is Counterclockwise not clockwise as dictated by a certain Mr R S.

If you use Limerick/Adare for the night after Galway, You probably won't get a room in Ennis if your dates clash with the Fledh Nua in town. Bunratty is an option but not one I personally favour. But using that type of Base you could drive round the Dingle peninsula, stay in Kilorglin? Then the ring of Kerry to Kenmare.
Then Kilkenny, then Dublin.

Think thats the same number of nights.

Agreed about the spread...since I posted, we have decided to stay in the south.

Thanks for the ideas...we'll look into it and get back with a new plan.

Much appreciated.

ssander

Tony...

No date clash with Fleadh Nua.

Questions: Is there a reason to drive the Ring of Kerry counter-clockwise? Wouldn't it be better to be on the sea side of the road?

ssander

There are not that many places where you see the sea on the ring.

Heavy weight traffic, Trucks Bus's etc drive the ring counter Clockwise. whilst the road has been improved over the years there are still points where bends are sharp and narrow. Driving Clockwise it is quite possible to have a bus coming round a blind bend using all the road, their side and your side.

I live in rural Galway forestry I am used to a 30 ton timber truck balling down on me on a bohreen and know where to get out of their way. Tour bus's on a main road no problem.. How would you handle a 7 or 8ft wide lump coming at your 5 ft wide hire car on a 12 ft wide bit of unknown road? That's why the sensible approach is to go the same way as the big stuff.

Anyway a 9.30 am start from Killarney has you in front of the tour bus's, then taking in the Skellig loop and Valentia means they pass you and get far enough in front not to bother you.

Tony...

This is why I love Fodor's Forums.

Thanks so much for your "local-knowledge" information. It applies to me more than most, because, as an American, I'll be adjusting to the "other" side of the road which would compound the danger.

(Way back in 1966, I drove in the UK and had a tendency to drift to the right, particular when making right turns. This would be really, really dangerous on the Ring of Kerry in light of your explanation.)

Thanks again.
ssander

There is always a tendency for transatlantic drivers to overcompensate for the narrower roads by driving in the ditch. If you know your line of sight between your driving position and the centre line at home, slightly narrow that angle to keep your driving position closer to the centre and your passenger further from the ditch. By the time you get to the ring you will be / should be comfortable with driving.

If you want a scenic coastal drive leaving Galway for Clare have a look at the R477 between Ballyvaughan and Doolin https://drive.google.com/open?id=1d-...hs&usp=sharing

Revised plan:

After 3 nights in Dublin...

Day 1: Drive to Cashel (1:30); Rock of Cashel; Drive to somewhere between Cork & Kinsale (1:00)

Day 2: Kinsale; Drive to Killarney (1:30)

Day 3: Ring of Kerry (entire morning); lunch; Drive to Cork (1:30)

Day 4: Drive to New Ross Famine Ship (2:00); Drive to Kilkenny (1:00)

Day 5: Kilkenny

Day 6: Drive to Dublin via ???

Final night in Dublin before flight home.


This cuts the driving a bit...trying to keep it under 3:00 per day (not counting Ring of Kerry).

Forget heading to Newross. See the Jeanie Johnston in Dublin..

The drive times on a routefinder, Google or AA or whatever are what is possible in an ideal world and bear no resemblance to reality. I give two route options between Cork and Killarney one is a ( hour day the other is a 10 hour day, fair enough these are my tour options and not point to point but the Ring of Kerry takes all day not just the entire morning.

In real terms you will average up to 40mph point to point. on a scenic route that average will drop to 30mph, Less if you stop for a photo shoot, toilet, cup of coffee.

It makes sense to drop the area west of the Shannon (Galway/Clare) they will be there next time but have a serious think about what you want to see and do then fit them into a realistic time frame.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)Dublin to Kilkenny via Glendalough and Wicklow mountains

2)Kilkenny to Cork area. I give 3 different options one via Waterford, the other 2 via Cashel with either Thurles or Fethard.

3)Cork/Kinsale/Cobh/Blarney

4)Cork area to Killarney, via the coast makes for a 10hr tour

5)Ring of Kerry Killarney to Killarney, full day. at a real push maybe fit one of the following into the Killarney time? National Park or Ross castle or Muckross or Gap of Dunloe

6) Back to Dublin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Latest:

Day 1 - drive to Rock of Cashel - Hotel in Cahir
Day 2 - drive to Kilarney National Park - Hotel in Kenmare
Day 3 - private taxi tour of Ring of Kerry - Hotel in Kenmare
Day 4 - drive to Cashel (wife has some things to see) in area - Hotel in Kilkenny
Day 5 - Jerpoint Abbey & SS Brody - Hotel in Kilkenny
Day 6 - drive to Glendaloch - return car in Dublin

This is getting pretty firm.

ssander

Cashel Day 1 and day 4?