Hello, I have a conference in mid November in Galway and want to spend a week afterwards touring. I know it will be dark and likely cool and rainy so I won’t be hiking or biking. I will be flying in and out of Shannon. My wife and I will have a car and I have been to Ireland before but not to Cork however I want to keep the trip relaxed and I know the days will be shorter for driving.
Here is my current plan:
Day 1: Galway - my wife will be jet lagged as she is arriving that day.
Day2: Drive North to Connemara - Ashford castle and Kylemore Abby. Stay in Cliften or Waterford.
Day 3: Drive to Ennis for overnight (originally was going to drive to Killarney but want to avoid. Will make some stops along the way.
Day 4: Ferry to Dingle drive sleigh head and walk around Dingle. Stay overnight.
Day 5: Drive to Kenmare. Ross castle, Muckross house. Overnight in Kenmare.
Day 6: Drive coastal road to Kinsale. Stay in Kinsale.
Day 7: visit Cork in the morning and drive towards Shannon for overnight near airport.
My question is should I skip kinsale /cork and stay in Kenmare 2 nights?
Alternately I could skip Connemara and drive straight to Dingle, giving myself 2 mights in Kenmare and 2 in Kinsale instead of having the long drive from Clifden and having ri stop over in Ennis.
I’ve been all these places about 15 years ago except west cork and kinsale.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
328 posts
I take it your wife has not been to Ireland before and that you want to show her the places you have been, rather than seeing something new together. I guess that's your call, but your proposed route is all over the place and backtracks inexplicably. I don't know what city you're referring to as Waterford, which is nowhere near Connemara.
Assuming you're done with your conference and meeting her at Shannon, it seems the sensible thing to pick the car up there and then and head to your first stop. Not sure why you don't want to go to Killarney, but that seems the logical place if you want to visit Muckross.
I think you'll be disappointed with Kenmare. Maybe in November it won't be so awful, but I found it overrun with Americans, totally Disney-fied.
How about Beara Peninsula instead of Dingle or Kerry? Then on to Kinsale and Cork, with a side trip to Cobh.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2220 posts
I think hjmoday means WESTPORT not Waterford...
In November with a short day length , I wouldn't try and drive as far as Westport - Clifden will be a more sensible choice.
What are your intentions regarding Ashford Castle. November may not be the best time of year to see Kylemore Abbey Gardens. Much as I love Connemara, I'm not sure if you will see it at its best in November - but then that applies to most places and the scenery at that time of year... Your suggestion of forgoing Galway for Kenmare and Kinsale does make sense. That would also give chance to include Beara Peninsula and possibly Sheep's Head from Kenmare as well as places like Cobh from Kinsale.
I think you'll be disappointed with Kenmare. Maybe in November it won't be so awful, but I found it overrun with Americans, totally Disney-fied.
I was intrigued by that comment as I'd have thought that was Killarney rather than Kenmare. My preference has always been for Kenmare rather than Killarney...
Ross Castle and Muckross House work well as stops on the way from Dingle to Kenmare.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
328 posts
If Killarney is more Disney than Kenmare, then I understand why OP doesn't want to go there, LOL!