We are arriving 7:00 AM in Shannon. First couple of nights lodging is in Wexford, (3+ hour Drive). I'm thinking about taking a side trip to Cashel on the way to Wexford on the first (jetlagged) day. Any guidance? Are there any better side trips? We're going to have to stop to eat no matter what. We have three capable drivers so I'm not too worried about driving after a long flight.
Posted by
3122 posts
I see no one's answered, so... looking at the map, I see you might want to start off with a stop at Bunratty Castle. Rock of Cashel is indeed on your way. You might also stop in the Waterford - New Ross area. If you took a major detour (probably requiring an overnight stay) you could see the Dingle peninsula, Killarney, and Blarney Castle. It's hard to say what you might be "missing" without knowing the rest of your itinerary and the kinds of things that interest you.
That said, I'll also share snippets of a message about Wexford that Laura from Rick Steves sent me a few months ago.
"With Ireland being a small island, its regions are not markedly different like the regions of France, Italy, Spain, etc. That's one reason why it's helpful to have an opinionated and trusted resource. Rick's guidebook, as well as the Michelin Green Guide for Ireland, use a rating system to help you identify the "best" ruined castles, high crosses, natural rock formations, etc. In comparison, more comprehensive guides like Lonely Planet (or the Tourist Information Office!) will include more second-tier sites and make fewer distinctions between them. Many Americans have relatives from towns that you know the name of, but for tourists, coastal Kinsale and Cobh can be more rewarding than the larger, nearby city of Cork.
Rick didn't scour every inch of the island before making his recommendations but he does talk to lots of locals. ... He tries to avoid spots that are really overrun with a certain kind of bus-tourist and businesses that serve only them. So for a time, it was perhaps revolutionary that he recommended the Dingle Peninsula over the Ring of Kerry, and didn't even cover the Ring of Kerry until Ireland split off from being in one book with Great Britain. If someone raves about one or the other, you have to ask whether they've been to both. (I've only been to Dingle.) Sometimes the book is clear about why he feels a famous stop is overrated - see the intros to Blarney Castle (p. 202) or Killarney (p. 271)."
Posted by
OP
140 posts
Thanks for the input. I'll investigate Bunratty Castle as a potential side trip.
Perhaps I was too vague in my opening post. I will provide a little more detail about my question, in hopes of facilitating discussion.
This is our third trip to Ireland. In the past, we have visited the West, (Dingle, Cliffs, Burren, Limerick, Galway, Connemara...) and Dublin. Our decision to visit Wexford, Waterford on this trip was based on a desire to see the ancestral home. The major landmarks of the trip are set.
The problem that I am seeking help on is this. We arrive early in the morning in Shannon. We have a 3 hour drive to our B&B in Wexford. We have 9 hours to complete the drive. I'm looking for a recommendation on an interesting, (but not exhausting), side trip to break up the journey and pass the time until we can settle into Wexford.
I've read the guidebooks and websites. I can make a decision on that information alone. I am hoping that some one can give me guidance based on local knowledge or recent experience.
Best Regards.