When to visit Ireland
 

We are planning on taking our parents (in their 80's) to Ireland. Is the month of May a good month to visit? We've seen South Ireland before and would like to travel to Northern Ireland and do bed and breakfasts. What is there to see in Northern Ireland.

May is generally a gorgeous month to be in Ireland with long hours of daylight. However, as with weather almost anywhere, you can get a spell of wet, chilly weather.

What is there to see in Northern Ireland? Well, tell us what sort of things interest you. Get a guide book from the library and leaf through it and then ask some questions.

By Northern Ireland, do you mean the six counties which are still part of the United Kingdom or do you mean "north" geographically speaking?

Just a few ideas;

In County Donegal there are some splendid cliffs-wilder than the Cliffs of Moher. The village of Killybegs near the city of Donegal is a fishing town, scenic and a pleasant walk about. In Dunfanaghy there is a seafood festival in May. The Fanaid Peninsula and the Rosguill have some splendid scenery and the drives are wonderful.

Over the border into Northern Ireland are all sorts of scenery and sites. In Derry walk the walls and take a walk with the tourist office walk. The Gieant's Causeway, DunLuce Castle and Bushmills Distillery are well known places to visit here. Along the Antrim coast are the glens with good walking and scenery. The Ulster American fold Park tells the story of emigration to the US. You visit a series of houses in traditional style with various handcrafts going on.

There is lots more to see and do, so tell us what you like to see and do and we can be of more detailed help.

OOPS, sorry for the typos. It should be "Giant's" Causeway and Ulster American "Folk" Park.

Thank you for the information. I work for Mercy Health which was founded in Dublin by Catherine McAuley on Baggot street. I stayed there in 2000. We then took a driving tour from Dublin over to the west coast and leisurely stopped at bed and breakfasts along the way. We'd like to do something similar on this trip, however, none of us have been up to Belfast in northern island because there had been conflict.

I am interested in the May seafood festival. Sounds fun. We like history and scenery the most. I'm glad to hear the weather could be nice. Rain is a given in Ireland so I guess we would expect some along the way.

Do you recommend any particular bed and breakfasts along the west coast and possibly northern island. That is where you tend to find out most about the native culture. Any other festivals in ireland during the May 10=15 2010 time frame?
Thanks! I"m sure I'll be asking many more questions. One last....what airline is best to take and which airport is best to fly in to? Cork, Shannon, Dublin?

As you want to arrange your trip for NI, Belfast would be the closest airport, but Dublin is not too far. Guess it is whichever is cost effective for you.

May is a great month to visit. We have had 3 bad summers here in Ireland and the best of what we had during those years was in May (having said that it is Ireland anything is possible, so like the Boy Scouts you have to be prepared).

I agree with poster above re airlines, there is no "best" as such (speaking as someone who has flown to the US on every airline gong there (I'm assuming you are coming from the US?) Check them all out for best value. Dublin will probably give you the best chance at better value (more airlines and options) but locations wise Belfast would be good. If you are going north Shannon or Cork wouldn't make sense.

We were in Ireland for 2 weeks mid-May. It was wonderful weather. The only time it was cool was at the Cliffs of Moher.

How is the end of September, weather-wise? That's when we are going. When does it get dark at that time of year? Thanks.

September is often quite nice, but again being Ireland you can never be quite sure. It certainly won't be cold but there is always the chance of rain. In September it gets dark around 8pm towards the beginning of the month, about 7pm by the end of Sept.

Thanks! That's a help.