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Central, public transport friendly base in Western Ireland

Posted by on

Last year my family rented a villa in Tuscany and we'd like to replicate that experience in Ireland. We loved being in one place and being able to relax or play tourist, and be independent. The lesson we learned was that we'd like to be close to public transport options, so that we don't have to drive anytime we want to go somewhere (especially driving on the right and a manual). Is it possible to find a cottage or self-catering option for 6-8 people that will allow for day trips? We won't mind driving a bit - it's the notion of having to drive every day that became a burden on our designated drivers.

It seems that Ennis and Galway could be options. Are there other suggestions?

Posted by
504 posts

Leighevanson: Galway would definitely work. I cannot speak about Ennis, because I don't know it well, having driven through Ennis only once.

I would also suggest Limerick. One nice thing about Limerick is that there is a train line to Dublin, if you want to go there, but that's only a small plus. Because Ireland is relatively small, buses are the dominant form of transportation. They are efficient and frequent and serve the country well -- cities and small villages.

There are other considerations. Galway is very picturesque -- much more than Limerick. However, Limerick is closer to the Dingle and Kerry peninsulas, which might be the most picturesque places in all of Ireland. As for Ennis, it's appealing because of its medieval flavor.

You'll definitely be able to find a cottage to accommodate 6 to 8 people.

Enjoy Ireland! I've visited it five times.

Posted by
1806 posts

I would say stick to Galway or find yourself a cottage right across Galway Bay in Kinvara (small village on the edge of the Burren which is serviced by a public bus route that runs between Kinvara and Galway center for days you do not want to drive). From Galway, you can get a train to/from Dublin and join any number of day tour operators if you choose to not drive. Some examples would be day trips to the Aran Islands (bus service to Rossaveal and then ferry to/from the Islands), Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, etc. Kinvara has a number of pubs (about a dozen that are within just a few blocks of each other) and some offer live music at night. Plenty of cottage rentals in the area.

I would not recommend Limerick. It's a bit of a dump. If not Galway or Kinvara, you could also look into Roundstone, Clifden or Westport. with a group of 6-8 people splitting the cost, you could pretty much base yourself anywhere and split the cost of hiring a local driver/guide with a minivan for a couple of all-day private tours.

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