Doolin to Galway - what to see?

I'm not sure just how to answer this one - there is quite a bit to see and do around the Burren.

If what you read does not interest you at all, what does interest you??

I can recommend an excellent guide, Tony Kirby, who can take you to a little known site for a slow 2.5-hour walk. A private tour for your group can enrich greatly your understanding of the flora, geology and history of this fascinating area. Very close to the rendez-vous point (in Carran) is the Poulnabrone Dolmen (quick stop) and a great little coffee shop at the Burren Perfumery (this should interest at least a couple of people in your party...).

I'm really not sure what else to suggest...

Perhaps the others in your party would feel differently about what looks interesting in that area? Just because you don't find anything in that area particularly exciting doesn't mean that no one in your party wants to see it. There is a holy well in Liscannor, Aillwee Cave, and you could get a ferry (weather permitting) from Doolin to the Aran Islands. Not sure what you are looking for.

Thanks for the post, Diane.
Quite a coincidence that you mentioned the guide Tony Kirby, since my last name is Kirby. I have since gone out to Tony's web site, watched his video and looked around. I've watched Rick's TV show from several years ago that included The Burren, and as I previously said read that portion of his book. Neither me nor my fellow travelers are interested at all in flora or fauna, or the caves. Rick describes The Burren in his book as a "limestone wasteland," and that's kind of what it looks like to me. My wife and I have been to Ireland before; our fellow travelers have not. What we love about Ireland - beautiful scenery, the Dingle Peninsula, nice B&B's, great people, good pubs and pub food, traditional Irish music. I'm glad you find The Burren appealing; it just doesn't do it for me or our group. So if you or others have additional input, I would be glad to hear it. Thanks.

Then maybe Galway, indeed, would better suit your group. It's quite pleasant for walking around a bit.

I have two final suggestions:

Take the boat tour to see the Cliffs of Moher. IMO, they are most impressive viewed from the water.

Make a quick stop to see Dungaire Castle, near Kinvarra. There are some very nice pubs, for lunch or an afternoon pint, in Kinvarra.

I'll second a pub stop in Kinvara (they have a nice farmers market there on fridays) and I really enjoyed staying in Galway, they have some wonderful pubs with good traditional music. I had my best political discussion with a local in a pub there.

We took the ferry to Inisheer (probably the least touristed of the Arans) and I must say I liked it better than the Burren, although I did find the starkness of the Burren beautiful in its own way.

Even if you're not interested in the Burren specifically I would suggest taking the R477 along the coast. It is one of the rare coastal roads that actually runs right along the coast and the Burren is on your left so you get to experience it at least from the car. It probably wouldn't add much time to your trip but I loved that stretch of coastline.
There are scattered sites around - the Aillwee cave and bird of prey center and remember Kinvarra being a cute little town as well - but nothing jumps out at me from that section as it very rural.
Be prepared for the old town of Galway having no street signs at all. I found driving into Galway to be very frustrating experience like nowhere in England or Ireland. I even think driving in York was easier than Galway and that's saying something.

Have a great time,
=Tod

If the Burren is out , I would second the suggestion of stopping in Kinvara and peeking at the village and the Castle. I would also suggest one place that is off the usual beaten path. I would suggest heading over to Athenry and touring Athenry Castle and take part in the Medieval Experience at the Heritage Center next door in the Priory. This includes trying out armor and weapons and a bit of Archery as an activity. You mentioned that you enjoyed traditional music, so you will no doubt be familiar with the song "The Fields of Athenry" and the rest of your group will no doubt know of it after one night in the pub! Why not take a look around and add some depth to their enjoyment of that traditional classic? After your visit you can jump on the M5 and be in Galway in twenty minutes. The history surrounding Athenry rivals that of any of the more famous tourist destinations in Ireland in my opinion.

Ah, the Aran Islands have their own charm if, that is, a desolate kind of quiet and beauty appeals to you. It's also one of the few places in Ireland where Irish is the language of the day, though everyone speaks English too. Settle into a pub with a Smitwick's or Guinness and enjoy the banter of this most interesting and ancient language. On Inishmore (the largest island), you can hire a taxi or take a long walk out to Dun Aengus, a c. 1,500 B.C. ring fort on the edge of a 300-foot cliff. The views are stunning. See photos and read about it at aranislands.ie. The ferry ride from Doolin (a very small ferry at that, so you can't take the car along) out to the islands is a neat experience in itself if you don't mind a little choppiness along the way. Galway and Connemara should be the most interesting and scenic parts of your itinerary. I've always enjoyed strolling through the city's few pedestrian-only streets near Eyre Square and listening to the ever-present buskers. The N-59 loop through Connemara - plus the ten-mile stretch in the Inagh Valley - capture Ireland's most beautiful and dramatic scenery. Clifden and Leenane are two places worth visiting; the former for its variety of restaurants, pubs and shops, the latter for its dramatic setting between three mountain ranges at the end of Killary Harbor.