Trip to Baltimore area; Cork?
 

Planning a trip to Ireland in mid Sept. 2005 for 8 days. Flying into Shannon or Dublin from Chicago. Have been to Dublin for a couple of days before but taking 2 other people that have never been to Ireland. Ancestors from the Baltimore/Cork region. Want to spend time in that area but also, Waterford, Dublin or Dingle if have time. Any ideas of difference from Baltimore and Dingle area? Want to take in as much as I can. Thank you.

The biggest differences between Baltimore and Dingle would be the amount of tourism and thus, the amount of infrastructure for it. The scenery around both is beautiful, Dingle would probably get the nod being more spectacular, but the presence of less tourism is certainly attractive to me. I love the southern Cork coast.

Waterford would be my least favorite of those areas, though Tramore just south of Waterford is quite nice. Looking at the places that you want to go, I would suggest flying into Dublin and out of Shannon or the opposite. Open jaw flights to Ireland usually don't cost any more and car rental return to different locations does not bring on addition cost either.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Let me first say I am going to disagree with Wojazz and say that if I could only do one I would do Baltimore. My last name is O'Driscoll and Baltimore is the home of all O'Driscoll's world wide. I will be there again for a week in June for the O'Driscoll Clan festival (this will be my 8th year) and will meet up with a bunch of shirttail cousins from the US, australia, Canada and the UK. A great long weekend. As you can see though I love Dingle (have been there three times) my heart in in Baltimore. If you go take the ferry out to Sherkin for at least half a day and if you have more time a longer ride out to Clear Island. Baltimore Harbor has a lovely walk and the approach is surronded by cliffs. The village has a square in front of three pubs and three first class restaraunts and everyone sits out on the square with a pint and looks out over the harbor. Fastnet House is an excellent B&B and it is about 50 feet from the village square, I stay there every year. If you must do Dublin then please skip Waterford (just a city) and fly into Shannon, drive to Dingle then take a drive thru Killarney, thru the park and the N-71 over the Mts. to Skibbereen and then out to Baltimore. Baltimore to Dublin would be a good drive but you can break it up by stopping somwhere in Wicklow.

I actually agree with JOHNOD, but I stating what it seems the average traveler seems to like. Personally, SW Cork is one of, if not my favorite areas of Ireland though I haven't really spent any time in Baltimore specifically. Clealy John knows this area VERY well and his advice is excellent. I prefer places like Baltimore to places like Dingle just because of the serenity. Dingle beauty is well know and most visitors list it at the top of their favorite places in Ireland. Then again, most visitors haven't been to Baltimore. That's a good thing for Baltimore. Hope this clears up my position.

Bill

my husband and I just returned from 10 days in Ireland, having flown into Shannon and out of Dublin. We spent two days in Dingle and two in Baltimore. It was my second trip to Baltimore, and there is great opportunity for day trips from this base. I'd suggest a trip to Mizen Head, about 1 1/2 hour drive, spectacular views over the Altantic. Next to Baltimore is Skibereen, where there's shopping and a historical museum, and off the road into Skib don't miss the beautiful lake Loughe Ine. I'd highly recommend Casey's in Baltimore for hotel or restaurant. We made the trip between Dingle and Baltimore pretty easily in a day, though the mountain driving was tough at times. We stopped in Killarney National Park for lunch at Muckros House and a nice 1 hour walk out to Torc waterfall and back. This was a great stop. Dingle was great. We loved the Greenmount B&B, just a short walk up the hill from Main Street. Dinners at John Ashes and the Old Smokehouse were great, and music at the Small Bridge Pub was excellent. We drove the historic sites on the Dingle Pennisula, and with stops, it took us about 3 1/2 hours.
We stayed one night in Waterford, and were really unimpressed. The tour of the factory was interesting, though short, but the prices on the crystal were no bargain...more expensive than they are in the states.

As usual, Bill's advice is straight on. You should do the 'open jaw' flight, I don't know why more people don't (when Dublin is part of the plan).

Since you only have 8 days, consider this:
1) Arrive Dublin. Do the Hop-On/Hop Off Bus tour, perhaps a pub crawl tour and/or hit a few on your own. Spend the night.
2)Pick up a rental car in the AM and head for Waterford via Powerscourt and Glenndalough. Spend the night in Waterford.
3) Drive to Baltimore via Cohb, Kinsale and Clonakilty. Spend the night in Baltimore.
4-5) Stay in Baltimore, daytripping to area attractions.
6) Drive to Dingle via Kenmare and Killarney. Stay in Dingle.
7) Tour Slea Head, stay in Dingle.
8) Drive to Bunratty, tour Folk Park and Castle. Spend night in Bunratty. Fly home the next day.
Unles you/I have miscounted your days, this should give you a nice 'overview' tour of the areas you have expressed interest in. Is it enough? Probably not, but I have no doubt you'll be back.
We go to the Baltimore area every year. Haven't made the O'Driscoll clan get together (my wife's Grandmother, from nearby Drimoleague), yet, but did bump into a crowd of O'Donvans, one trip.
Enjoy.

Thanks for the information. Excellent advice. One of the reasons for Baltimore is the Driscoll name. My grandfather's parents were from this area - trying to get more information.
Any advice on Cliff of Moher/Ennis/Doolin instead of Dublin? JOHNOD - I had thought of going for the O'Driscoll reunion but not able to go during that time of year. Would be interested to hear more about it. Thanks everyone.

Battles have raged here (not too violent) over whether or not to visit Dublin. Some poeple don't enjoy it, others find it essential to the Ireland experience. Dublin has a rich history and is certainly worth a visit though I will say it's not my favorite either. Then again, I'm not a city kind of guy. None-the-less, I've been back to Dublin several times and will be there in May.

Itallian's suggested itinerary is certainly doable and gets those things into the trip that you are looking for. I would consider staying in Tramore instead of Waterford as and option. Another option would be from Dingle, take the ferry at Tarbert and head to the Cliffs of Moher. If you wanted to visit Ennis, you could spend your last night there. You'd have to rise about 30 minutes earlier to make it to Shannon for your flight home.

You could skip Dublin and probably not feel as though you had been cheated out of your holiday, but if you have a strong interest in Irish history, it may be an important stop for you. One day though, may not be enough to really see Dublin. Personally, with an 8 day trip, I would opt to not visit Dublin, but plan on returning .... and you will.

Bill