We will be in Doolin (staying at Sheedy's) for 2 nights in early June - Friday (3/4 of the day as we arrive that day) and Sat. leaving Sunday. We are getting car service fromant Shannon to Doolin and should arrive in Doolin around 2pm. We will have come on an overnight flight from NYC (nonstop).
Our host sent us a list of pubs and restaurants and said that we should make reservations sooner rather than later. On the first night I cannot imagine we can stay up past 10 (and it's a 1/2 mile? walk back from the main street to the B&B). Prob. also the 2nd night because we are going to try to go to the Cliffs - my working idea is that we public/private transit up to the Cliffs and then walk back (3 miles). This should be doable if it's not pouring. (we're in our mid-60s).
Questions: do I really need reservations? We'd want a somewhat early dinner (5-6pm - only because of the jet lag) but we also want to sit and hear some trad music. We will be wildly too early for that? We can force a nap if needed.
Also, suggestions? We're happy with a pub meal both nights - nothing fancy - we're set up for a lovely (hopefully special) anniversary dinner 2 nights later in Galway (Are Bia) and that's plenty. We love pubs and pub food.
Thanks for the input.
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
865 posts
The dinner choices are mostly pubs except for maybe Glas. I'd make a reservation if you want to eat there. We ate without one, but it was in May. If you are pretty sure of your schedule, it's easier if you just make them.
Unfortunately, Gus O'Connor's has a Sunday session at 4:30pm. You can probably get an eating table within earshot but it doesn't help if you're already leaving town. Several other pubs will start up by 8:30-9. Just bookmark a bunch of Facebook pages. There are often unscheduled "amateur" sessions in progress, mostly with non-Irish players, which isn't necessarily bad.
You could take the boat trip to Moher, which is a much shorter walk and a much smaller crowd. If the marine weather is bad, just walk to the main viewpoint as planned.
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
373 posts
We stayed at Sheedy's and loved it! Probably the best B&B I've stayed in. Anyway, we did not make any reservations for dinner when we were there (it was July) and were able to get in. We preferred the restaurants in the new part of town but also went down to Gus O'Connors pub and were able to get a table even though it was pretty full. As for the cliffs of moher, we walked along the cliffs from Doolin until the visitor's center then caught the bus back to town. Super easy to do. Have a great trip!
Posted by
2 posts
I am unsure of your dates of arrival, but there is a Folk Festival in Doolin June 13-15. If those are your dates, then reservations would be wise. Otherwise, I'd say just wing it.