Clifden? Cong? Where Else? Looking For Wednesday 8/30

Have you been to Doolin? Pretty cool little village, great pubs and food

Thanks for the suggestion. I haven’t, but if it’s just about eating a drinking there’s nothing in it for me as I won’t have anything to drink since I’m driving. Just watching the others drink doesn’t sound like much fun. Is there anything else to see and do there? It always seemed to me to be a place one would stay overnight in to enjoy the pubs at night.

Head up to the village of Cleggan and take the short ferry over to the island of Inishbofin - truly one of Ireland's best kept secrets. Beautiful place, interesting history and relatively uncrowded. Would make for a very nice day out if the weather is fine. Could then continue along the scenic Connemara loop drive if you're very ambitious.

Great idea but we’re going to Inishmore on Thursday. I should have mentioned that.

We enjoyed Cong and the Quiet Man cottage.. Yes it is a replica but still we really enjoyed it and had nice lunch in Red Will Danahers restaurant. They had a nice peat fire burning and we sat by the fireplace and we had a lovely afternoon.

You could buy a map in Galway. Also, you could take a tour of the Burren and learn about the natural phenomena there.

I would do a scenic drive through Connemara. You could take the coastal route from Galway up to Clifden. Once you pass Spiddal, the scenery becomes much nicer. Take the small roads towards the sea for maximum views. Stop in villages along the way - Roundstone, Ballyconnelly, etc. Clifden is a nice little town to walk around in. It has a great lunch/tea shop (Walsh's). The cream pastries are the absolute best. The Sky Road is a road that goes around a small peninsula just above Clifden and is very scenic. I believe that it is a loop of about 12 kilometers. You could then take the inland route back to Galway, if time was an issue, as it would be shorter to return that way. Connemara is special. No matter how many times I've done this drive, I never tire of it.

If you go to Cong, visit Ashford Castle and the Ireland School of Falconry. You can go on a "Hawk Walk" through the woods where you fly the hawk (a guide is with you). That was the highlight of my sister's trip.

My favorite day in Ireland was taking the Sky Road from Clifden, headed for Killary fjord. Stop for a Sheep dog demonstration at Killary Sheep Farm, then lunch in Leenane. Take the road through the Doo Lough valley where many died searching for food during the famine. Haunting. Then head for Croagh Patrick where St Patrick is believed to have spent 40 days fasting. A perfect day!

Thanks again for all the great suggestions. Cong and Ashford Castle is the winner. We are finishing up breakfast and off we will go.