Erin74, great trip report, thanks for sharing! I just read it starting at the bottom and working my way to the top...a fun way to read I found! I had to skim a bit but I'll be back later to get the details I missed.

Did you really trace your ancestry to Trim? It's fascinating to go back where your ancestors are from. When are you taking back the castle? :-D

From your description it sounds like I shouldn't be too broken-hearted for having missed the Black Taxi tour in Belfast! Quite a colorful story!

I'm jealous you saw Dublin as I read much about it and then had to leave it out. But we're going to fit Dublin in on one of our trips to Europe. You didn't really miss Starbuck's, did you? :-? We thought the Irish make a great cup of tea!

I love your writing style, as you give the facts and also share your reactions and anecdotes which make the whole trip report entertaining as well as informative.

Connemara surprised my husband...it wasn't on our itinerary (as he had dismissed it after seeing a photo), but upon driving through it, on our way from County Clare to County Mayo, he was so taken by Connemara that he said we have to return to Ireland so he can check out Connemara!

I'm glad you had a wonderful trip. I see your trip report was written in June but I've just now caught up with it.

Thank you, Melissa!

No, we haven't traced the family line as far back as Trim-- that's just the family legend. Supposedly all Irish with my last name are related to that Trim family. Who knows.

We liked Dublin very much (and no, we didn't really miss Starbucks). It did take a while to grow on us, but it's a fun city with much to see and do. Great restaurants, as well.

I hope you get back to explore Connemara. It was perhaps our favorite area in Ireland. I always want to recommend it to people, but on the other hand I'd love for it to stay as unspoiled as it is now, largely free of the tour buses.

This is a great trip report! I am going to print it and add it to my "Ireland" folder. Thanks so much.

Great report, Erin!

I was in Dublin (by myself) and the West (with my boyfriend) in September. We flew into Shannon on a Sunday, stopped for lunch in Ennis, and drove to our B&B in Galway City. When you mentioned that the bars in doolin were filled with tourists, we had the opposite experience in Galway! We went to Taaffe's on Shop street for some trad. We managed to get to the bar 5-10 minutes after we walked in. The bar was packed- wall to wall people. We stayed at the bar the rest of the evening! We are used to bars in Chicago being busy on Thurs-Saturday, but not on a Sunday night. And- neither of us really like huge crowds- but we didn't mind the crowd at Taaffe's. Every time someone bumped me- they would immediately apologize by commenting on how crowded it was, and how much fun everyone was having!

Any more tips on the north? We are going there in two weeks!

Thanks,

Ellen

I also very much enjoyed reading your report. Many of the places you visited were fond memories for me :) I agree with your assessment of Glendalough. If you can (like you did) get to the place when the tourists have gone home, there is an inner serenity to the area that is sublime. I've been three times - each time I've gone to Ireland.

Erin, your trip report is stellar, but best of all you went NORTH! I hope your report inspires others who are heading to Ireland to include Belfast and the coast and Derry in their itineraries. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories of our own trips to NI and the Republic.

Erin,
Bricin is a little above our budget for restaurants, but I'm wondering if lunch is a little less expensive, as I would love to try the boxty. It doesn't say on their website. Do you know?

Sandy

I loved the organization and details of your trip report, Erin.

We took a taxi tour of Belfast in 2003, and our driver was fantastic. He prided himself in being evenhanded in his explanations - he challenged us to guess whether he was Catholic or Protestant, and was actually disappointed when I guessed correctly. The tour was a highlight of our short stay in N. Ireland, and made quite an impression on my 2 teens and their friend.

Loved the trip report and pictures! Thanks for posting!

Thank you for such a great trip report, and for the picture links. We are leaving in 2 weeks for a vacation that will include a very short time in Dublin. I have used your trip report to help plan our days.

Probably THE BEST trip report I've ever read. Thank you for the effort you took. One question: my hubby and I will arrive in Dublin, April 29, spend 2 nights there, then hit the road. I checked the Rally of the Lakes and it is May 4-7 this year. Sounds like we should avoid that area then. Any suggestions? We had planned to drive. Thanks.

Forgot to say we will be in Ireland until May 10 then on to Scotland until May 20. We want to see as much as we can, basing ourselves as you did for 2-3 nights.

I haven't read it all..yet...because I cheated and jumped ahead to look at the pictures which were absolutely beautiful. We will be in Ireland/Northern Ireland for three weeks this coming May. Your pictures were really great. I am going back to read every word of your trip report. I know it will be great. Thanks so much.

Oh wow-- I haven't been here for a little while and I've missed a ton of messages. I'm sorry for the delay in answering any questions! How nice that so many of you found my trip report helpful, as well. I'm looking forward to reading all of your reports this year! :-)

mamaclark- Yes, I'd definitely suggest avoiding Killarney during the Rally. It wasn't the most tranquil experience, to say the least. From Dublin, you could head south and arrive in Killarney as a first or second stop so you'd be there before the Rally. Then you could continue on and see other areas of the West before you leave for Scotland.

noe847- That was exactly what I'd *hoped* our tour would be like! We just ended up with quite the character as our driver... but at least it was memorable!

sandypaws3- I'm sorry, but I don't know for sure if the lunch menu is less expensive than dinner at Bricin. The food was fantastic, though.

mahlquist- Yes, we really enjoyed the North and were very glad we got to see it. My husband loved Belfast and all the history of the North, and I was blown away by the natural beauty of the coast. It's a different vibe than the Republic and well worth exploring.

greendragon- Isn't Glendalough lovely? If you can be there at a moment when you have it to yourself a little, it's so serene and almost otherworldly. I was really glad we were able to stop here.

EMA73- I'm so sorry to not get back to you before you left for your trip. Can't wait to read about your experiences!

artgirl_0609, mjslacker & Sprig- Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you enjoyed the report.

Yes, Glendalough is one of those serene spots of the universe, where time seems to stop - at least until the next tour bus shows up :)

I found the Hill of Tara to be another, and Jervaulx Abbey in Yorkshire as well.

what a wonderful and helpful trip report while searching for an off the beaten track driving tour.

This trip report is perfect for the information I wanted!

Hi Erin,

Just wanted to say how much your trip report has helped me! I am planning my trip for this May, and have also been agonizing over my itinerary. Yours, however, has almost mirrored my proposed itinerary in reverse (except for N. Ireland due to time). It was a HUGE help. Thanks so much, and it has definitely inspired me to write my own when I return. Hopefully I will be able to help others as you did.

One quick question. What was your weather like mostly as far as temps, and what type of clothes did you find that you used most?

Thanks!
Janessa

Thank you so much for a really well written trip report. We are going to be in Ireland for a week from 11th April. We have planned and booked a trip which closely mirrors your first week (coincidentally). Your information will be very useful. Thank you.

Sorry to be late responding, again!

Janessa- We had really good luck with weather our first week. It was sunny and very warm (high 70s?). Absolutely perfect. Our second week was more typical Irish weather- sporadic showers. The last couple days we had some terrible downpours, but it was never very cold (mid 60s?). I brought layers and mostly wore t-shirts/tanks under light sweaters paired with basic black pants or jeans. I had a nice black raincoat that went with me everywhere, just in case of showers. Have a great trip-- I hope to read your report when you return!

PRLCH, pittpurple & kealalani- I;m so glad it was helpful!