travelgoddess123

Hello Fodorites,

Would so appreciate your help as this is our first trip to Ireland. We arrive Thursday morning into Dublin and fly out Monday morning out of Shannon. No interest in pubs so heard we could do Dublin the first day.

1) Is it best to get a car and drive the rest of the trip?

2) What suggestions would you have for an itinerary? Are B&B's the way to go outside of Dublin?

3) Would like to go to Glendalough - better to go by car or bus? If we had a car, could we go there and then head over to Kilkenny or is it too hard to get to?

2) Saw recommendations on the forum here to go to Galway. Same question on better to do the train or car to see sites around that area? Can we easily get ourselves down to Shannon if we didn't have a car for Sunday night?

Thank you!!

SeeDee

With your tight schedule, car rental is the only way to go.
On arrival Thursday, get yourselves into Dublin city centre by Aircoach, leave your luggage in your hotel and hit the streets. You can cover quite a number of the major sites on foot, particularly as you won't be succumbing to the temptation of the numerous pubs en route. The alternative is to use the tourist hop on/off bus which is a good way to cover a lot of ground in a short time.

Pick up your car on Friday morning and you should be in Glendalough before noon. Onward to Kilkenny by afternoon should be no problem - other than to decide whether to overnight there or not. It tends to be a busy spot at weekends and hoteliers are known to favour weekenders who take the 2 night package over those who want to stay for a single night. Again, if pubs are not your thing, Friday night in the city may not offer a great attraction.
Without travelling far from there,you could try the Lord Bagenal Inn in Leighlinbridge which offers pleasant accommodation and food, on the banks of the Barrow river.

Saturday leaves you with the decision as to how much you want to try to fit in within the two full days at your disposal. From a practical point of view, Galway does not tie in well with your starting point on Saturday. More logical might be to drive in the direction of Cork city, perhaps taking in the cliff walk in Ardmore and the Titanic Experience in Cobh en route. Cork city itself might not be a bad place to wake up in on a Sunday morning or you could try somewhere smaller like Kinsale.

For Sunday, despite being on your doorstep, Kerry is just too much to take on in a single day in my estimation so I would drive north to explore County Clare. Ennis would not be a bad place for your final night and then it's a matter of how many of the sights - Bunratty Folk Park, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher - you can make in the course of the day.

Tony2phones

Friday should read KILKENNY

I HATE THIS FORUM>>>CAN WE HAVE AN EDIT BUTTON PLEASE!!!


Tony2phones on Jun 23, 12 at 9:56am

An alternative to the above.

Thursday, Hopper bus tour Dublin
Friday, Day tour Glendalough
Saturday, Hire car and head for Galway, call at Clonmacnoise.
Sunday, Drive the Clare coast and Burren overnight within an Hour of the airport. Ennis or for an early, early flight The Oakwood Arms in Shannon town.

Or maybe better

Thursday, Hopper bus tour Dublin
Friday, Hire a car Glendalough on to Kilkenny.
Saturday. Drive up to Roscrea, Birr, Clonmacnoise. overnight Ballinasloe/Loughrea
Sunday. Athlone to Galway (nothing open before 12ish), Clare coast and Moher overnight Ennis or Shannon.

http://goo.gl/maps/sAfu

travelgoddess123

Thank you so much Tony2phones! That is so helpful and the map is amazing - with driving directions too!
Thank you SeeDee for the descriptive itinerary.
Would it be good to try B&B's for Kilkenny & Ballinasloe/Loughrea?
Also is driving pretty easy there? I've driven in Europe and New Zealand. Thank you again - this site is fantastic!

Tony2phones

If you decided to take the latter option, Ballinasloe is not a tourist town, there are 2 good hotels The Carlton Shearwater which may have offers, Gullanes in the centre but B&B accommodation is a little limited probably best to head for Portumna or Loughrea for B&B (local so can give details if required).

Kilkenny. A little out of the centre Rosquil House has been one of our good stays, http://www.goireland.com/kilkenny/ro...es-id42760.htm Further out (about 10 minutes) Blanchville Country House also offers some spa and massage therapies. http://www.blanchville.ie/

Driving in Ireland is easier than much of Europe and we drive the same side as NZ so no problems. Even those not used to it easily adapt.

SeeDee

First things first, I have nothing against the town of Ballinasloe - my three children were born there for one thing - but it's less than an hour from Galway where there is the certainty of some entertainment on Saturday night - even if it's only people watching.
OK, maybe the B&B may charge on the extravagant side in Galway city itself but I just don't see what overnighting in Ballinasloe has to offer.

SeeDee

If you opt to take the Galway option in your itinerary, and you have an interest in monastic/historic sites as your interest in Glendalough might indicate, you should consider incorporating the Rock of Cashel into the first leg of your journey Kilkenny to Roscrea.

If you like a bit of non-strenuous walking and you overnight in Galway, a morning stroll on the prom in Salthill is hard to beat on a Sunday morning......weather permitting of course.

travelgoddess123

Checking in again, my helpful friends. Do you have a suggestion of where to stay in Galway? Thank you again!

jaja

If you have a car, just outside of Galway in Spiddal is An Caladhgearr Thatch Cottage. Lovely small place, just 3 guest rooms, and a warm and welcoming hostess.

Tony2phones

Prague House is Galway/Salthill on the front
http://www.praguehousegalway.com/
Herrons Rest on the Claddagh Quay.
http://www.theheronsrest.com/
Or Forge House in the centre.
http://theforgehouse.com/

travelgoddess123

Thank you for those suggestions but I'm finding that Galway is completely booked everywhere next weekend the 7th (festival?). I also read that someone said that there is a lot of construction in Galway and it would be better to stay outside the city. Does anyone agree or is it better to stay somewhere expensive in town? If you do agree, what is an area to stay outside the city that is also convenient to it?
I also had a similar question. We decided to skip Kilkenny as it's so much driving for such a short trip and wanted to make our stop Friday the 6th around Roscrea but there doesn't seem to be many places to stay there that's available. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what is near that area and convenient to our start the next morning on the M6. Thank you again for your lovely help.

Tony2phones

Volvo Ocean Race ends in Galway next week so the place is choked solid. As you said the pub scene is not a requirement so how about Kinvara, South of Galway on the Coast http://www.merrimanhotel.com/

For Roscrea Sli Dala B&B just out from town http://www.bedandbreakfast-directory...otels31762.htm or the White House in the town centre http://www.roscreaonline.ie/content.asp?section=133

Birr The Stables http://www.thestablesbirr.com/ or Ormond House http://www.ormondhouse.com/

travelgoddess123

Hi Tony,
Everything you suggested was booked but it gave me a clear idea of what was nearby so thank you. I now have all the lodging and wondered if you could tell me how you did the google map so I could do the driving directions for the new itinerary.

Tony2phones

The map link above is not saved to My Places so is open to being edited. Change any locations, drag the routes where needed. Once you have a plan that works you can save it to a Google account or just mail it to yourself using the link key (top right next to the print key on the right hand menu) If you want to post your plan (or email me)I can run it for you.