As I've mentioned on other threads we (my husband, myself and our two kids, 16 and 20) are going to Ireland in March with my two brothers, the girlfriend of one and one of their friends. We're going to be there a total of 5 nights. The plan is for all 8 of us to spend the first two nights in Galway, go our separate ways the next two nights and then meet up again in Ennis for the last night.

We (my immediate family) are tentatively planning to spend our two nights apart from the group in Westport. I'm thinking we'll drive through Connemara and try to see as much as we can on our way to Westport. Then the next morning we'd like to drive to Achill Island and possibly circle back to Westport through Knock.

My question is, can we realistically leave Westport early the following morning, drive through part of the Burren on the way to Ennis and get there in time to meet the group, get settled into rooms and then drive to the Cliffs of Moher in time to catch the sunset? Very long sentence, I know! I'm guessing that we would need to try to be in Ennis by mid to late afternoon. My understanding is that the time changes on the 25th and this would be the following Thursday. So it should be light until about 8:00.

Anyway, can we do this? Or is Westport too far from Ennis?

Thanks.

Knock Shrine is on the Mayo-Roscommon border. Achill island is off the west coast. Why loop back to Westport? It's a long drive across Mayo from Knock Shrine unless you have something else in mind (i.e., Croagh Patrick or Cong ('Quiet Man' cottage)).

As for your question: Galway is between Westport (Co. Mayo) and County Clare. Your best bet may be: bypass Galway taking an inland route (via Gort) and leave the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher for your afternoon / evening plan.
BTW
In the EU daylight Saving time normally begins a week earlier than in the U.S.

Thanks, Nedsireland. So you're suggesting we stay near Knock Shrine the 2nd night rather than back in Westport? Can you give me an idea of how long a drive it is from Knock Shrine to Westport? Or, for that matter, from Achill Island to Knock Shrine? Those are the three things I would most like to see during our time apart from the group. And, obviously, the more we can see getting from one to the other, the better. (We plan to see Croagh Patrick on the way from Galway to Westport.)

I've looked at the maps in our atlas and in a driving tour book. The mileage doesn't seem that bad. But I've been to Ireland before. I know the number of miles doesn't necessarily mean much.

We are planning to leave the Cliffs of Moher for the evening after we reconnect with our group. But thought we might try to see some of the Burren on the drive down. Will we see a lot of it just on the drive from Ennis to the Cliffs of Moher?

Having already spent two days in Galway, we have no reason to go back through there on our way to Ennis. Would prefer to see something "new". So, if we take an interior route from Westport to Ennis, can you tell me about how long it's likely to take us?

As to the time change, what I've read is the last Saturday in March. This year that would be the 25th.

Driving direct from Westport to Ennis only takes about 2 1/2 hours, so even if you detour to tour the Burren a bit, you should have no trouble making it to Ennis by a reasonable hour.

Thanks, Mary! That should give us plenty of time to sight see, have lunch, etc.

Here's your Westport - Achill - Knock -Westport routing per

www.aaroadwatch.ie



Travel
(miles) and
then to
take total
(miles)
0.00 Start out at Westport,Mayo R330 0.00
0.05 Continue forward onto the N59 N59 0.05
0.06 Turn right onto the N5 N5 0.11
0.03 Turn right (one-way) onto the N5 N5 0.14
0.15 Continue forward onto the N59 (signposted Newport, Achill) N59 0.29
6.99 Continue forward onto the N59. Entering Newport N59 7.28
11.05 Continue forward onto the N59. Entering Mulrany N59 18.34
0.44 Branch left onto the R319 (signposted Achill) R319 18.77
3.88 Continue forward onto the R319. Entering Tonragee R319 22.65
4.18 Bear left onto the R319. Entering Achill Sound R319 26.82
0.14 Arrive at Achill Sound,Mayo R319 26.96
- Section time 1:09, Total time 1:09 - -
0.00 Start out at Achill Sound,Mayo R319 26.96
3.15 Continue forward onto the R319. Entering Tonragee R319 30.11
5.03 At T-junction turn right onto the N59 N59 35.15
0.15 Continue forward onto the N59. Entering Mulrany N59 35.29
10.39 Continue forward onto the N59. Entering Newport N59 45.68
0.58 Turn left onto the R311 (signposted Castlebar) R311 46.26
10.38 Continue forward onto the R311. Entering Castlebar R311 56.64
0.79 Turn left onto Chapel Street Upper - R310 R310 57.43
0.16 Turn right (one-way) Unclassified 57.60
0.07 Bear left onto Linen Hall Street Linen Hall Street 57.66
0.06 Continue forward onto the R373 (signposted Dublin) R373 57.72
0.56 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the R373 (signposted Roscommon) R373 58.28
0.99 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N60 N60 59.27
3.43 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Manulla N60 62.70
2.95 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Balla N60 65.65
8.21 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Claremorris N60 73.86
0.31 At traffic signals turn left onto the N60 (signposted Roscommon) N60 74.17
0.22 At traffic signals continue forward onto the N60 (signposted Roscommon) N60 74.39
0.50 At roundabout take the 2nd exit, then merge onto the N17 (signposted Sligo, Knock) N17 74.90
2.34 Continue forward onto the N17. Entering Barnycarroll N17 77.23
3.52 Branch left (signposted Knock) Unclassified 80.76
0.05 Continue forward. Entering Knock Unclassified 80.80
0.27 Turn right onto the R323 (signposted Knock, Ballyhaunis) R323 81.08
0.43 At roundabout take the 3rd exit (signposted Knock) Unclassified 81.51
0.38 Arrive at Knock,Mayo Unclassified 81.89
- Section time 2:06, Total time 3:15 - -
0.00 Start out at Knock,Mayo Unclassified 81.89
0.33 At roundabout take the 2nd exit (signposted Galway, Claremorris) Unclassified 82.22
0.44 Turn left onto the N17 N17 82.66
3.83 Continue forward onto the N17. Entering Barnycarroll N17 86.49
2.04 Branch left (signposted Roscommon, Claremorris), then turn right onto the N60 (signposted Claremorris) Entering Claremorris N60 88.52
0.33 At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the N60 (signposted Castlebar) N60 88.85
0.53 At traffic signals continue forward onto the N60 (signposted Castlebar) N60 89.38
8.15 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Balla N60 97.53
3.12 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Manulla N60 100.64
3.85 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N60 (signposted Castlebar) N60 104.49
0.94 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Castlebar N60 105.43
0.16 At T-junction turn right onto the N60 (signposted Westport, Dublin) N60 105.59
0.23 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N5 (signposted Westport, Achill) N5 105.82
0.75 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N5 (signposted Westport) N5 106.58
9.24 Continue forward onto the N5. Entering Westport N5 115.82
0.72 Turn left (one-way) onto the N5 N5 116.54
0.14 Turn left onto the R330 (signposted Ballinrobe, Galway) R330 116.69
0.05 Arrive at Westport,Mayo R330 116.74
- Section time 1:02, Total time 4:18

Total DRIVING time listed is 4:18 Actual, in good weather, is probably closer to 5.5 hours, plus whatever time you spend at your stops.

Westport to Ennis via the Burren is doable. Where are you separating from the group at?

Bob

Here is the Westport to Ennis via the Burren, but avoiding routing you over the parts you would cover going from Ennis to the Cliffs. You WOULD pass REALLY close to the Cliffs and Doolin, though. Couldn't you arrainge to meet in Doolin, see the Cliffs, and then caravan back to Ennis?

Bob

Here is the Westport to Ennis via the Burren, but avoiding routing you over the parts you would cover going from Ennis to the Cliffs. You WOULD pass REALLY close to the Cliffs and Doolin, though. Couldn't you arrainge to meet in Doolin, see the Cliffs, and then caravan back to Ennis?
Travel
(miles) and
then to
take total
(miles)
0.00 Start out at Westport,Mayo R330 0.00
0.05 Continue forward onto the N59 N59 0.05
0.06 Turn right onto the N5 N5 0.11
0.03 Turn right (one-way) onto the N5 N5 0.14
10.05 Bear left onto the N5 (signposted Castlebar) Entering Castlebar N5 10.18
0.10 At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the N5 (signposted Dublin, Sligo) N5 10.28
0.78 At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the N60 (signposted Galway, Roscommon) N60 11.06
1.36 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N60 (signposted Roscommon) N60 12.43
3.44 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Manulla N60 15.87
2.95 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Balla N60 18.82
8.21 Continue forward onto the N60. Entering Claremorris N60 27.03
0.31 At traffic signals continue forward onto the R331 R331 27.34
0.26 Turn right onto Main Street - R331 (signposted Galway) R331 27.60
0.24 Bear left onto the R331 (signposted Galway (N17) R331 27.83
0.92 At T-junction turn right onto the N17 (signposted Galway) N17 28.75
2.85 Continue forward onto the N17. Entering Ballindine N17 31.60
4.20 Continue forward onto the N17. Entering Milltown N17 35.80
7.97 Continue forward onto the N17. Entering Tuam N17 43.77
14.81 Continue forward onto the N17 (signposted Galway) Entering Claregalway N17 58.58
0.07 Turn left onto the N18 (signposted Oranmore) N18 58.65
4.64 Continue forward onto the N18. Entering Oranmore N18 63.29
0.03 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N6 (signposted Dublin) N6 63.32
0.53 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N18 (signposted Limerick) N18 63.84
3.83 Continue forward onto the N18. Entering Clarinbridge N18 67.67
1.27 Continue forward onto the N18. Entering Kilcolgan N18 68.94
0.22 Turn right onto the N67 (signposted Ballyvaughan) N67 69.17
2.19 Continue forward onto the N67. Entering Ballinderreen N67 71.36
3.83 Continue forward onto the N67. Entering Kinvara N67 75.18
6.28 Bear left onto the N67. Entering Burren N67 81.46
2.19 Continue forward onto the N67. Entering Bealaclugga N67 83.66
4.14 Continue forward onto the N67. Entering Ballyvaughan N67 87.80
0.40 Arrive at Ballyvaughan,Clare N67 88.20
- Section time 2:30, Total time 2:30 - -
0.00 Start out at Ballyvaughan,Clare N67 88.20
0.97 Turn left onto the R480 (signposted Corofin) R480 89.17
9.28 Turn left onto the R476 R476 98.46
2.66 Continue forward onto the R476. Entering Killinaboy R476 101.11
1.55 Bear left onto the R476. Entering Corrofin R476 102.66
0.52 Arrive at Corofin,Clare R476 103.18
- Section time 0:47, Total time 3:17 - -
0.00 Start out at Corofin,Clare R476 103.18
6.09 Turn left onto the N85 (signposted Ennis) N85 109.28
1.34 Continue forward onto the N85. Entering Ennis N85 110.61
0.85 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the R871 R871 111.46
0.09 Arrive at Ennis,Clare R871 111.55
- Section time 0:26, Total time 3:43 - -



Bob

Thanks a lot, Bob! It was so nice of you to take the time to do that! Looks to me like we can probably do Achill Island and Knock in the same day, returning to Westport. I'm going to look into the hours of the Shrine. We want to make sure to have enough time to spend on Achill and still get to the Shrine before they close.

One of my brothers is arriving in Dublin on business the week before the rest of us get there. He'll be meeting us in Galway. We're all spending the first two nights in Galway and going our separate ways from there the next morning. We'll meet up again in Ennis, spend that night and then all go to Shannon together the next morning. We're all on the same flight home.

Thanks again, Bob! Saw the second post after I'd posted a response to the first.

Meeting in Doolin is certainly a possibility. My brothers had talked about meeting in Ennis as they aren't planning to pre-book a B&B. So they want to get rooms, get settled and then drive to the Cliffs.

I'm beginning to be a little nervous about not pre-booking. Considering that the 8 of us would like to stay at the same place, and that, if possible, we'd like to have a family room (for my husband, myself, our kids), I'm thinking we need to arrange something ahead of time. And, if we do, there probably wouldn't be a need to meet in Ennis first.

However, another slant on it is that, if we're going to see enough of the Burren on the drive to the Cliffs from Ennis, maybe we should just take another route earlier. Taking advantage of the chance to see something else on our trip from Westport.

We're not leaving until March 25th. So I think we have time to read up, get oppinions and really think this through. I find this board invaluable for getting advice from people who've actually "been there, done that"! And I so much appreciate hearing everyone's oppionion.

Again Bob, thank you so much for taking so much time to help. I really appreciate it! And would love to hear any other advice you have to offer!

Should be opinion, of course. One of those words on which I have a mental block!

You got some pretty detailed driving directions from Italian_Chauffer. Let me just add that in Ennis you should plan to visit Cruise's Restaurant & Pub where they have Trad Irish music 7-nites a week: You might even get lucky and see an impromptu afternoon sesssion on a weekend afternoon.

The carvery lunch at the Queens Hotel (next door to Cruises) is also usually pretty good.

Thanks again, Nedsireland.

Actually, the route I gave you would AVOID covering the same route as the Ennis to Cliffs trip, turning away from Doolin, VERY close (a mile or so) to the north of it.
Bob

Thanks again, Bob. I realized that you weren't giving me exactly the same route. But still wondered whether we'd see enough just on the drive to the Cliffs from Ennis that we wouldn't feel like we'd missed it.

Actually, my husband and I drove through the Burren when we were in Ireland in '82. But I want to see it again. And definitely want our kids to see it.

I have a feeling we'll decide to use your route whether we meet in Doolin or Ennis. But, as I said, we have some time and want to explore all of our options.

Hey CAPH52,
My Catholic confession: we did not go to the shrine. However, we made up for it by climbing the holy mountain of Patrick

I wanted to suggest that you follow your instincts and pre-book a place to stay in Ennis. I think you can find out more about where to stay from this forum than from walking around trying to figure out which B&B works for everyone. I think Nedsireland has stayed there and may have recommendations.

Also - I'd stay the 2 nights in Westport, rather than a night near Knock. We all found that area to be less scenic.

Your trip sounds wonderful - it's terrific that you have an opportunity to go again!

Thanks, McShane. For your advice and for your good wishes!

I think I'll do a search on Fodor's for B&B's in Ennis. And, if necessary, I'll start a new thread. I spent a couple of hours going through websites with little luck. I did contact one B&B that sounds okay. But they don't take credit cards and didn't have a room big enough for the four of us. I'm willing to be flexible on both of those things if I have to. But I'd like a better idea of what our options are before I make a decision.

Frankly, despite having read quite a bit on Fodor's about Westport, I could still use help with a B&B there too. I'm guessing that, as we'd like to be walking distance from the pubs, etc., we'd be better off making a reservation there as well?

Hey Caph,
I'd definitely make a reservation but I don't have any advice. We rented an apt. for the week and I didn't notice many B&B's. There was one near us that looked fine, above McCarthy's Pub. It was the loveliest family style pub (and not noisy.) We went there to read the paper in the afternoon - we liked to pretend we lived in Westport!

Matt Malloy's and your son - he will probably love it. It's amazing music, both traditional and rock. It has room after room so you have to keep walking backwards through the doors to check out the place. As long as he's drinking a soda it's probably fine for him to be there. There's no smoking in the pubs so it's a really great atmosphere.

One thing I loved about the pubs in Westport was closing time. Closing time here (from what I remember from years ago!) means last call and everyone's out. In Westport they pull down the shades and lock the front door. So everyone goes in and out the side door and the fun continues!

Again, thanks so much, McShane! We'll definitely have to check out McCarthy's Pub! And I really appreciate the info on Matt Molloy's.

As I just said on another thread, I'm getting very frustrated with how difficult it seems to be to get feedback on B&B's. But I've found a couple in Westport that seem to be worth checking out.