I love this site! I've read a few postings about itineraries so I hope you all aren't tired answering them. We are flying in to Dublin (will stay one night there). We will then head to Sligo as this is where my great grandparents came from. We will not be researching family just wandering around. After that we are open. We are staying 7 nights and will fly out of Shannon. I am open to seeing ANYTHING. I am just thrilled to be able to go. I've purchased a couple of tour books but when EVERYTHING looks beautiful, where do you start?? There are three generations going - my parents (69yo), me (50), my brother & wife (40) and my two children (29 & 26). Any suggestions? What should we be sure NOT to miss? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! Debbie

Are you going to be in Ireland on, or around Saint Patrick's Day? If so, make sure you book Dublin NOW!!!! Sligo shouldn't be TOO bad around that time, although Knock Shrine might he a bit frentic, I suppose. With such a large group, you might need to pre-book most, if not all, nights.
What are your interests? Are you going to all travel together or do some 'to each, their own' excursions?
Specific dates might make it easier to offer advice/suggestions.
Bob

Thank you Bob - I've seen your screen name on here before. Yes, we are already booked for Dublin - leave NYC on the 13th of March and return on the 20th. We will have three cars as I'm not sure my parents will be able to keep up. My brother and wife are going three days ahead so they can explore Dublin (they are HUGE U2 fans). So I'm thinking I'd like to explore a couple of quaint towns, cool castles, and definately see the Cliffs of Mohr. Does that help at all? Deb

Actually, it helps a lot. When you are ready to leave Dublin, try this:

From Dublin,Dublin
Via Cashel,Tipperary
Doolin,Clare
To Ballyvaughan,Clare
Distance 208.8 miles
Time 5 hr 19 min

Travel
(miles) and
then to
take total
(miles)
0.00 Start out at Dublin,Dublin R110 0.00
0.45 At Junction 58 continue forward onto Crumlin Road - R110 R110 0.45
2.62 At traffic signals turn left onto Naas Road - R110 (signposted The South, M50) R110 3.07
0.65 At Red Cow Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N7 (signposted The South (N8, N9) N7 3.72
1.06 At Newlands Cross traffic signals continue forward on the N7 N7 4.78
11.62 Continue forward to join Motorway M7 (signposted Limerick, Cork) M7 16.40
7.41 At Junction 9 take right hand lanes to continue forward on the M7 (signposted Cork, Limerick) M7 23.81
11.99 End of motorway, continue forward onto the N7 N7 35.79
6.00 Continue forward onto the N7. Entering Ballybrittas N7 41.79
3.79 Continue forward onto the M7 (signposted Cork, Limerick, Port Laoise) M7 45.58
5.52 Leave the M7 motorway (signposted Cork, Tullamore, Port Laiose), then at roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N8 (signposted Cork) N8 51.10
8.35 Continue forward onto the N8 (signposted Cork) Entering Abbeyleix N8 59.45
4.53 Continue forward onto the N8. Entering Durrow N8 63.98
4.28 Continue forward onto the N8 (signposted Cork) Entering Cullahill N8 68.25
5.97 Continue forward onto the N8. Entering Johnstown N8 74.23
1.82 Continue forward onto the N8 (signposted Cork) Entering Urlingford N8 76.04
9.29 Continue forward onto the N8 (signposted Cork) Entering Littleton N8 85.34
0.65 Continue forward onto the N8. Entering Ballymoreen N8 85.98
9.91 Continue forward onto the N8. Entering Cashel N8 95.90
0.40 Arrive at Cashel,Tipperary N8 96.30
- Section time 2:01, Total time 2:01 - -
0.00 Start out at Cashel,Tipperary N8 96.30
5.42 Continue forward onto the N8. Entering New Inn N8 101.71
4.87 At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the N24 (signposted Tipperary, Limerick) N24 106.58
7.22 Continue forward onto the N24. Entering Bansha N24 113.80
4.75 Continue forward onto the N24. Entering Tipperary N24 118.55
4.62 Continue forward onto the N24 (signposted Limerick) Entering Monard N24 123.17
2.01 Continue forward onto the N24. Entering Oola N24 125.18
4.36 Continue forward onto the N24. Entering Pallasgreen N24 129.54
11.00 Continue forward onto the N24. Entering Limerick N24 140.54
0.89 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N24 N24 141.43
0.97 At Tipperary Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Ballysimon Road - N24 (signposted City Centre) N24 142.40
1.47 Turn left onto O'Connell Street - N20 N20 143.87
0.25 Continue forward onto Mallow Street Lower - N18 N18 144.12
0.07 At Shannon Bridge Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N18 (signposted Galway, Ennis) N18 144.19
1.80 At Clonmacken Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Condell Road - N18 N18 146.00
0.70 At Coonagh Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N18 (signposted Limerick, Dublin) Travelodge (Limerick) N18 146.70
14.78 At Dromoland Interchange branch left, then at roundabout take the 3rd exit, then turn left onto the N18 (signposted Ennis, Galway) N18 161.47
2.95 Continue forward onto the N18. Entering Ennis N18 164.42
1.81 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N18 N18 166.23
1.13 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto Cusack Road - N85 N85 167.36
8.96 Continue forward onto the N85. Entering Inagh N85 176.32
6.78 Continue forward onto the N85. Entering Ennistymon N85 183.10
0.34 Turn right onto the N67 (signposted Ballyvaughan) N67 183.44
3.41 Bear right onto the N67. Entering Kilshanny N67 186.85
2.95 Turn left onto the R478 (signposted Cliffs of Moher) R478 189.80
2.13 Bear right onto the R479 R479 191.93
1.19 Turn left onto the R479 R479 193.11
0.61 Arrive at Doolin,Clare R479 193.72
- Section time 2:37, Total time 4:39 - -
0.00 Start out at Doolin,Clare R479 193.72
0.61 Turn right onto the R479 R479 194.32
1.19 Bear left onto the R478 R478 195.51
2.13 Turn left onto the N67 (signposted Lisdoonvarna) N67 197.64
0.64 Continue forward onto the N67. Entering Lisdoonvarna N67 198.28
2.48 Bear left onto the N67. Entering Toomaghera N67 200.76
7.90 Continue forward onto the N67. Entering Ballyvaughan N67 208.66
0.16 Arrive at Ballyvaughan,Clare N67 208.82
- Section time 0:40, Total time 5:19
This is a print out from:
www.aaroadwatch.ie from their Route Planning option. It's actually TOO MUCH for one day, because it wouldn't allow for time to stop and see the Rock of Cashel, or time at the Cliffs. Also, the travel times are notoriously suspect. Their "Total time: 5:19" is probably more like 6.5 to 7 hours. Our standard rule of thumb is to figure 30 - 35 miles driving takes about 1 hour.

Your best bet, after the first night in Dublin, would be to to head straight to Sligo, via Longford and Carrick-on-Shannon, with a possible detour for the Famine Museum in Strokestown. Spend the night wherever along the route that you feel the need ...
Next day, drive on into Sligo. Carrowkeel Tombs, Yeats Country. Spend the night in Sligo.
Day 4: Drive to Westport via Castlebar. Visit Matt Maloy's (of The Chieftain's)Pub. Spend the night in Westport.
Next day (5), weather permitting, drive via Louisberg and Delphi to Lenane via the Doo Lough Valley. Lenane is where the movie, THE FIELD was filmed, also sever scenes from THE QUIET MAN. From there, swing by Kylemore Abbey and then continue on to Galway via the Connemarra. Spend the night in Galway.
Day 6rive down to the Cliffs, via the Burren. Stop in Gus O'Connor's in Doolin and either drop down to Bunratty for the Folk Park, Castle and Blarney Woolen Mills shopping or end the day in Ennis.
You won't see it all, but you will see a LOT.
This is just ONE option ... Try plugging routes into the aaroadwatch site and see what strikes your fancy...
Bob
Bob

Bob...Where you when we went to Ireland for 3 weeks.??? Your itin. is a doozy. I will print and keep for our next trip. Debra, Bob has laid out a pretty fine jaunt.T'is pretty good. Do not miss the Burren. And you are right everything is beautiful. If you have time after Dublin on the way to Sligo try to include New Grange.Awesome!!!Shoppin is better at the outlet in Killarney rather than Blarney Woolen Mills as far as I'm concerned if you are in the neighborhood. Have a wonderful time and trust in the saying once to Ireland then you will return..

Bob, Oh my gosh, I think I love you!! Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I can't wait until my family sees what I bring to the table this weekend (our initial planning get together).
Thank you also, Amer_can for your input. I'm so excited!!
Deb

Debra, The last part of Bob's post sounds great. You would see a lot and he has you doing it at a slower pace and you will enjoy it more. Have a great trip. Joan

Day 5 of Bob's plan is perfect. That was my very favorite part of Ireland. I will always remember a very small restaurant in Leanne with a smile.
Gus O'Conners in Doolin has the best Irish Stew that I have ever tasted. I seem to remember that we spent the better part of the night in there. Wish I had a Murphys'.
Theresa

I loved the Connemara,too. The Doo Lough valley was amazing. Mountains and forests and streams and waterfalls ending in ocean beaches...

Clifden is a neat little town,too.

With 6 people, I highly, highly recommend packing extremely light so you can rent the smallest vehicle possible. The roads really are tiny and the stress of driving a large vehicle can put a damper on your trip. This happened to a friend who had a party of 5. They rented a people mover and frankly didn't see everything they wanted to see because just parking the thing wore them out.

Maybe you could solve that by renting 2 cars? Still pack light. We did 10 days in Ireland with only carryon luggage. You are going to buy sweaters when you get there anyway.

Okay, I am a dorque (Olde English spelling). I got so caught up in Bob's suggestions that I failed to notice you have already addressed the car issue. Sorry!

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. We are getting together Saturday afternoon to plan our attack. All of your suggestions have been very helpful. We are taking small cars but now I'm agonizing about whether I should upgrade to a manual. So much to worry about!!! Deb