I am the author of "17 days in Ireland, what do I do?", and I feel I need to re-address the situation. We leave CT on June 11, arrive in Shannon on the 12. We have to see relatives north of Kilkenny by Wednesday the 14th. People who have been to Ireland have told us that 17 days is not enough time to stay in Ireland. <BR> We now feel that we should stay in one area of the island and really soak up the culture and scenery. We are obviously looking for good pubs, music, activities, maybe some golf, and something for a 17, 15, and 10 year old. We also leave from Dublin on the 28th. We already know we want to stay there for three days to soak it all up. Please help us. This is our final plea. Where would you go first if you had to go back? Where did you find yourself of thinking of perfect Ireland? Keep in mind we want to keep away from crowds. I was thinking west/north but tell me what you think. Help is need if not too much trouble. <BR>

Joseph: I am also planning a 10 day trip to Ireland and four days in London with my two teenage sons. I am just now gathering information. I would suggest getting information from the Irish Tourish Board and receiving their catalog of Irish Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast. The people at the B&B's are so helpful you could plan a trip by just talking to them. The west side of Ireland seems to be the most beautiful but I got alot of information by going to www.ireland.travel.com and by reading what people had to say on the Fodors messages. We are arriving in Shannon on the 27th of June and leaving for Londong out of Dublin on the 7th. <BR>We are golfing and taking a route from <BR>Shannon south to Cork and up the coast to Dublin to catch our plane. Good luck. <BR>I'm just beginning to plan so if I find out anything I will let you know. <BR>M.McMinn

My goodness! Lucky you! You have relatives in Ireland! Nothing better than getting information from someone who lives there. We went to Holland to visit relatives and my favorite memories are not the scenery (although I loved it) but visiting their homes, seeing how they live, eating what they eat, walking everywhere instead of driving. They had many simple pleasures. For instance my 1/2 brother had a policemen friend who lived in a house that was a NAZI bunker in WWII. It was on the beach. He took me for a walk and surprise, the policeman played the accordian and serenaded all of us, right there on the beach. Another time he took me to a windmill that was now a pub and we talked and talked for hours to the owners who pulled out albums with photos of the island over the years, during the winter etc. Another time we rode our bikes through the sand dunes and had a picnic on the beach! You will be amazed and your plans may change. I know your relatives will tell you where to go once you leave them. When we left our relatives we ended up turning around and going back! Be sure to take them a gift from America! Have fun!

Joseph, About to return to Ireland for the third time this fall. I am of Irish decent, but don't know any relatives there. My husband knows close relatives in Italy and as posted above, the very best times can be spent with one's relatives sharing their town and lifestyle. My recommendation for places to stay in Ireland are Kerry (especially Dingle Peninsula), Galway (Connemara), and Cork. I must say that I have no desire to return to Dublin, but if this is your first trip, you must spend a bit of time there. Someone a long time ago said to me that Ireland is a plain picture in a beautiful frame---ie, stay on the coast and don't go into the interior of the island. I envy you your 17 days in Ireland--go slowly and enjoy the people and the conversation! Kilkenny is a wonderful little town and the Design Center is super. Feel free to let your kids roam a bit, although in Dublin I would keep an eye on them.

Joseph, <BR>Check out the following web sites - www.ireland.travel.com, (for detailed info'on Ireland from the Irish Tourist Board - also access their regional web sites from the main board.) <BR> <BR>I would sugest that you visit the Bunratty Folk Park near Shannon and then perhaps the Cliffs of Moher before heading to Kilkenny and spending sometime with your relatives - in Kilkenny check out the Castle, Dunquinn Caves (kids will love it). Good day trips from Kilkenny can be made up the Wicklow mountains - great walks and visit Glendalough to see the ancient monastery in the valley. <BR> <BR>Re Dublin I would suggest getting rid of the renatl car and using the public transport system) lots to see and do - including the Book of Kells, also visit the National Museum The Collins Barracks branch and the one on Kildare Street. Kids should love the Natural Museum too. But do Dublin on foot - the Trinity College students do walking tours of Dublin and there are really good. Otherwise there is a new boat trip through the streets (yes - a boat on wheels) and along the rivers and canals of the city. The kids might prefer that - but the Trinty one is better quality. <BR> <BR>You could travel through the Midlands to the Northwest from Kilkenny but do and try and stop at some of the farms which are open to the public. Also visit Birr Castle (kids might like the to see one of the largest and oldest telescopes ion the world there). In Kilbeggan there is an old whiskey distrillery which you might like to stop and visit. <BR> <BR>Kam doesn't seem too impressed with the centre of Ireland - well it may not have the mounatins of the Southwest and East coast but it does have the lakes and far less tourists than some parts of Ireland - I would suggest that your family might be interested in cruising down the River Shannon, seeing the fishing in the border countries of Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim and Sligo. You could go on a day's cruise from Athlone and boat past Clonmacnoise - monastery site similar to Glendalough in Wicklow. You could stay in Athlone or Mullingar. From athlone it might be interesting for all concerned to visit the Famine Museum in Strokestown House (really interesting for the kids to se what life was like in Ireland in the 1850s or so) <BR> <BR>The Northwest country of Sligo has some wonderful beaches and scenery and you could travel onto Sligo from the River Shannon - In Sligo try and visit Mullaghamore and Queen Maeve's grave.There are some activity centres in the area which the kids might like. <BR> <BR>Donegal is also very beautiful and while popular with tourists not overcrowded with buses etc in comparsion to Kerry etc. <BR> <BR>If you do plan to leave Kilkenny and head up to the River Shannon and cruise on it and see some of the sights I recommended then you coukd head straight back to Dublin from the NorthWest - one of the things that the kids might find cool is to visit the Castle in Trim (Co. Meath) where Braveheart was filmed. While in the area I would suggest a visit to the ancient passage graves - Newgrange is the main developed site for visitors but there is a quieter site near the town of Kells at Loughcrew and it has a steep climb up with wonderful views and a guided tours (few visitors result in groups of 5 or six and there is no restrictions on entering the garves like in Newgrange). Check out the nearby gardens (web site www.loughcrew.com) <BR> <BR>You might notice that I have left out Killarney and Kerry but you did say that you didn't want to stay away from the tourists and crowded spots and that area is just bustling with coaches in the summer months. But if you do go to the Cork area then do visit the Heritage Centre in Cobh - the port from where all boast lef from Europe and Ireland for the last time including the Titantic. <BR> <BR>If you want to avoid touristy places and crowds well Dublin, Kerry and Galway and parts of Clare are the major visitor attraction spots. I would suggest that you do visit Dublin for a day or so at least. Galway is just another city with plenty of pubs and restaurants and not a lot to do for kids - Cliffs of Moher in Clare is def. worth a visit. <BR> <BR>I would allow on to 2 days in Shannon to see the Folk Park and the Cliffs (depends on jet lag of course) and then to Kilkenny for about 8 to 10 days or so, then Northwest/Mildands and into Dublin. Re accommodation book ahead for Shannon and Dublin, the Northwest and the Midlands are not as urgent but do reserve ahead. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps, <BR> <BR>Regards <BR> <BR>Cathy <BR> <BR>PS post if you have any more questions.

Me again, <BR>Forgot to say check out this web site -http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/frontpage.html <BR> <BR>Cathy

THANK YOU ALL! Your help is very well apprciated! One question, would staying in the west/northwest/west for ten days be good? I hear it has great pubs and so forth. Please contact as soon as possible. And once again thank you all for your quick and great responses to all my concerns!

JOseph, <BR>Where in the West ? and remember that there are great pubs throughout the country. Legally pubs are required to have children off the premises after 7pm however it is not always enforced - only if there is a new Garda (police) in the town,Check out those web sites , <BR> <BR>Cathy

<BR>Ye ought to try Dingletown at Benners Hotel. Ask for a front (larger but a tad noisier) room. The restaurants are incredible, the pubs marvelous. A great place to take sidetrips from. Inch Strand being high on the list. Find Dingle on your map and you'll see for yourself where all you can go. We had a driver/guide, Sean O'Shea, who was the dearest companion...the hotel knows about him. Look into this one. We stayed there 5 nights and toured each day only to return for scrumptious meals and warm hospitality. 'enjoy' whatever you decide.

If you go northwest, stop in Westport. Great area, go to Matt Malloy's pub (he's one of the Chieftains). Crough Patrick is a hard rocky climb, but the views are wonderful, and historic. <BR>If you don't want to go north, go southwest from Kilkenny. STay around Glengarriff/Bantry, tour the Beara Peninsula, less crowded than the Ring of Kerry. HIke along some of the Beara Way. Then go to the Mizen Peninsula, there's a lovely hike to Three Castle Head at the tip, and visit Mizen Vision Lighthouse (the rocks there are truly breathtaking). West Cork is beautiful, but Kinsale will be crowded. Also consider the area south of Dublin, Glendalough, etc. <BR>Either way, I wish I were going too! Have a lovely time!

Co Waterford hasn't been mentioned. Neighbouring Co Kilkenny and except for the Crystal factory largely unknown by tourists. A great area to soak up culture and scenery...mountains, coasts, pubs, music, villages, city, history going back 1000s of years, all in one undiscovered corner. Just a thought!

Hi there: Have your looked in the National Trust Holiday Cottages book. I usually rent one of their cottages each year when I return to the UK. They are all situated in places of outstanding beauty are unique and full of character. There is a section in the book for cottages in Northern Ireland. All the cottages I've rented have been truly exceptional, although I admit I've only rented in England. NT have a terrific reputation, they were set up to guard the nations treasures (or something like that) and I doubt you would find a selection of such property via any other organization. <BR>Tel 00 44 1 225 791199 <BR>Fax 00 44 1 225 79 2267 <BR>e-mail [email protected] <BR> <BR>Re: Ireland. You'll have a great time. I spent a week touring around and really enjoyed myself - people very friendly. Have a great time. <BR>

Cynthia <BR>My family of four will be renting a self-catering cottage for a week in Castlegregory on the Dingle Peninsula in June. I've done a lot of researchiong with books and forums such as this and can see there is much to do <BR>there. I'd love to hear about your side <BR> trips. My kids are 10 and 13. I don't think they'll be bored but I did wonder if there was enough close by that wouldn't mean long car trips every day. <BR>JOSEPH: The self-catering cottage was certainly the economical way to go with a family and the price (150 IEP for the week) left money to spend on four nights at B&B's. We get the experience of the B&B"s as well as broadening our sightseeing as we make our way from the west (where we arrive) to the east(from where we depart). Have a great trip! We are loking forward to ours! <BR>marylouise <BR> <BR>

Joseph: You asked "Where would you go first if you had to go back?" My answer would be County Donegal. I've been to Ireland three times, and only the last time did I make it up to Donegal. And that's the number one county I'd return to. Donegal Town is charming; the Inishowen Peninsula is dreamlike; Horn Head, Fanad Head, and the Rosguill Peninsula are gorgeous . . . even Letterkenny (not immediately the most attractive town) can be a lot of fun, with nice people and some good pub music. You can buy Irish tweeds and sweaters in Ardara at a good price (and visit their Heritage Museum for a weaving demonstration), visit Glenveagh (a castle on Lough Beagh), see something quite unique at Doon Well and the Rock of Doon (not far from Kilmacrenan), tool to Leo's Tavern in Crolly (Leo is the father of Enya and the members of Clannad), or just take in the wild boglands of the county's interior. This is a tiny list, for Donegal offers a lot. We visited in late May and found few tourists (I'm not sure how much this changes in June). We used Donegal Town as a base for three days; then Letterkenny as a base for five. I don't know if this helps you; but if you're thinking of Donegal as a possibility, it gets my vote. <BR> <BR>In deciding where to go, you might find it helpful to include the "old-fashioned" strategy of getting a travel book, like a Fodor's, and reading about the different parts of Ireland to see what strikes you. Just a couple of hours with a good travel book can get the mental sparks flying. <BR> <BR>I envy you for having relatives near Kilkenny. It's a great town! You may not want to leave it, or your relatives, too quickly. Whatever you do, have a great trip!

I heartily endorse Donegal, but I would never again stay in Donegal Town, and don't know why anyone would spend more than a couple of hours in Letterkenny. Head up to Malin Head. Just drive and look for B&Bs.

We jusrt returned from 10 incredible days in Ireland. We started inDublin and travelled west. One thing to check out first is the Heritage Card. You get a card that will let you into numerous attractions for $15 per adult and I think $10 per child. Try to find one of these first thing and you will save yourself lots of money. Our favorite parts were the Dingle Peninsula: get a detailed map before you set off. Don't miss the ruins of the Minard Castle. Not a big thing on most tourist maps, but we found it beautiful. Also, someone told us about a Ring Fort with ancient beehives that no one really knows about. We climbed the mountain and lunch there. If you are going west you will eventually drive through a stream in the road. After the stream if you look on the right, you will come upon an abandoned stone cottage on a mountainside. Just up the hill is this incredible fort. Better than the one that you have to pay for. Keep in mind you have to walk through sheep and their **** to get to it, but the veiw is incredible and it's neat for the kids to run through. The beginning of the Ring of Kerry, Bunratty Castle (have dinner there if you can. Don't leave things in your car there. They are having many thefts)

Continued from the last message. I hit post before I was finished. We wished we had more time to spend on the Dingle Peninsula. We also took Connor's Pass, which was wild, but beautiful. Pretty narrow roads, but worth it. We weren't that impressed with the Ring of Kerry. We liked the beginning. Muckross House is incredible and the falls are beautiful. <BR> <BR>The pubs are fantastic everwhere. The music is great, too. Ask your B&B hosts where the locals go and you'll find some of the best. <BR> <BR>I could tell you lot's more. Feel free to email me. Have fun!