NicoleLG

I will be traveling with my husband, 15 year old son, 12 year old daughter, and my mother-in-law to Ireland during the first two weeks of July 2005. My son is a musician (guitar) and a huge music fan and my daughter loves animals. They also want to see castle ruins. Are there any off the beaten path? Can anyone suggest activities or sites that would especially interest them? We will be in Kenmare, Dingle, Galway(Salthill), Donegal, and Dublin during our trip. Are there any guesthouses or bed and breakfast's that would be especially suitable. We are also looking for a place to stay in the southeast on our first night. We were going to stay in Kilkenny but after reading the posts on this site we are reconsidering.
Thank you!

tjans

Nicole - Dingle is a fabulous place for live music, you can try staying at Benner's or Doyle's of Dingle. Kenmare also has some great music, and great shopping, moreso than Killarney. Galway (Salthill) is awesome, our relatives own the Ardilaun and we were just there for the Galway Oyster Festival. Donegal is beautiful, we always stay at a place in Rossnowlagh called Smuggler's Creek; right on the beach on a cliff, it's our favorite place in Ireland. In Dublin you want to stay close to the Temple Bar area (right across from Trinity Univ.), there's alot of live music in Temple Bar...St. John Gogarty's (pretty touristy, but good music). In southeast Ireland, you might want to check out Hanora's Cottage in the Nire Valley, Co. Waterford, and if you are flying out of Dublin, try to stay at Balcamp Hutchison, a lovely 1700's home 10 minutes from the airport. Doreen is a wonderful lady and will get up early to accommmodate breakfast needs before an early flight. Hope this helps, and have a great time!

NicoleLG

Thanks so much!

NicoleLG

Any other suggestions for southeast Ireland as Hanora's cottage doesn't accomodate guests under 18?
Thanks

tjans

I would try Hunter's Hotel in Rathnew, or Rathsallagh House in Dunlavin. We have used Karen Brown's and Blue Book with great success with each, depending on your wants...Blue Book is a little more upscale and has more country estates, castles, etc. You will be rubbing elbows with Americans in July, so be prepared!

IrishEyes

---------------------------------------
"We were going to stay in Kilkenny but after reading the posts on this site we are reconsidering."
----------------------------------------

What were the posts that put you off of Kilkenny? I think it is a fine place to stay, a fun city and a good central location for day trips to many areas.

GreenDragon

Just south of Kilkenny is a place called Knocktopher Abbey. You can rent small 'apartments (2bedroom (4 beds), 1 bath, kitchen, living room).

We had a great time there, and the manager was delightful and helpful.

If you want ruins and animals, I believe Glendalough Abbey (Wicklow) and the National Stud aren't too far apart.

NicoleLG

Thanks for the suggestions. I checked and I guess it wasn't this forum that I read the Kilkenny comments. I've spent so much time researching I can't remember where I read the comments. A co-worker who is from Ireland said today that she loves Kilkenny and that we have to try Smithwick's in its hometown and the design centre is great.

welovedonegal

hi nicole. donegal has just opened it's first rock school and they are going to do workshops all summer long. it may be something your son would be interested in as they intend to cater for young musicians. their email address is: [email protected]

there are lots of old forts and ruins to visit around donegal. just type into google something like old forts donegal for example and it will throw you up lots of different things to see.

for pics of donegal you can visit my website, www.welovedonegal.com check out the facts page too for things that you might want to see while you are in ireland.

in salthill we stayed in an hotel right on the waterfront, strangely enough called: the waterfront hotel. there was myself, my husband, and our teenage son. we had a room with a living room area and a bed setee, kettle, tea/coffee making facilities, tv, another bedroom with a large double bed and acres of space in the room and again a table, chairs, tv. and a view over galway bay. there was a bathroom between the two rooms with a full size bath. it was all clean and modern - not 5 star but sufficient for a base. the very best thing about it was the price. i think it is seriously one of the cheapest places we have ever stayed. check their website: www.thewaterfront.ie and the price is per room not per person!

from outside their door you can either walk, bus, or taxi into galway city - a short hop of only a few minutes away. great restaurants and cafes in galway too. and you can do the cliffs of moher and the burren on a day trip from galway. perfect.

then of course head 'off the beaten track' to county donegal! from donegal you could also do the antrim coast and visit the giant's causway etc. on a day trip. in northern ireland you could also do the ulster american folk park in omagh. it is really interesting and i think the kids would enjoy it. basically, you enter the park and walk around ireland as it used to be. then you board the 'boat' with all the poor people who travelled in appaling conditions to find a better life across the sea. then you step off the boat into america as once it was. brilliant. they have a website, again just type in ulster american folk park omagh to google or some search engine and you will be able to read all about it.

hope that has given you more pause for thought!

one other thing - great website for working out road routes in ireland, giving mileage (well, kilometers), time taken to cover your wanted route, road numbers etc. www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/

NicoleLG

Great tips! I'll research those right away. Thanks.