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Eclectic Itinerary of the northern half

Posted by (Mountains of S. Oregon) on

I've just finished booking our 6th trip to Ireland, and managed to stay in all new towns and hopefully score trad music on all the nights but two. We're used to one night stays, so this plan is rather relaxed, by our standards. We loved Belfast, Donegal, Dunfanaghy, Westport, Clifden, Galway, and the Arans on previous trips. We're most interested in castle/abbey ruins, birding, moderate walks, Neolithics, and music.

In a nutshell,
- Fly West Coast US to DUB, drive to Dundalk for one night. Lumper's Bar after early session at Oriel Centre.
- Cushendall for two nights via Carrickfergus, Glenoe WF, Glenarm, Galboly, Torr Head; Layd Church, Glenariff, Slemish, Cranny
- Tory Island for one night via Mussenden, Grianan of Aileach; Loop walks on Tory.
- Letterkenny for two nights. Glenevin WF, Malin Head, Derry
- Sligo for two nights via Creevykeel Tomb, Gleniff Horseshoe, Devil's Chiminey; Giant's Grave, Sligo Abbey, Carrowmore
- Belmullet for one night via Moyne, Downpatrick, Ceide Fields, Blacksod, Deirbhile's Twist.
- Clare Island for two nights via Erris Head, Dun na mBo, Ballycroy; Ebike to Heritage Ctr, Lighthouse, Abbey, Signal Tower, Castle.
- Achill for one night via Slievemore, Henge, Minaun, Fairie Trail
- Inishbofin for two nights via Grace O'malley's, Rockfleet, Aasleagh Falls; Loop walks
- Cong for two nights. Guinness Tower, Quiet Man Bridge, Aughnanure, Merlin Woods, Claregalway Friary
- Cavan for two nights via Glebe Stones, Edgeworth Ctr., Killashandra; Drumlane, Kayak to Castle, Farnham's session
- Trim for last night before flight home via Priory and walk of Trim Caslte, Sheep Gate, St. Mary's, Old Bridge.

If someone sees something we're missing, please comment. We have some unfilled hours in Sligo and Cong, We've been to Carrowkeel,

Posted by
1979 posts

You don't say when you're going. I wonder if you've been to Tobercurry. It hosts the South Sligo Summer School, which was on during my first visit to Ireland in 1995. It's a bit out of your way from Sligo to Belmullet.

Posted by
1197 posts

First three weeks of May. Unfortunately, the Sligo to Belmullet leg is chock full of stuff. and I assume the South Sligo Summer School is in July again. We actually avoid big events in favor of small bars/pubs.

We've been to Fairy Bridges on a Donegal/Westport leg a few years ago. I'll add Abbey Assaroe to the Letterkenny/Sligo route since we're driving right by it. Thanks.

Don't know anything about audio apps. I'll look into them.

Posted by
2369 posts

We recently returned from a 3-week trip to Ireland. I am happy to see you plan on visiting Gleniff Horseshoe. It was an unexpected highlight of our trip. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend visiting Mullaghmore Head, which is about a 15-minute drive from Gleniff Horseshoe. Stunning coastal scenery.

Torr head is an awesome choice, too. We met a woman from Northern Ireland while we were at Malin Head, and she suggested we drive to Torr Head when I told her we were headed to the Causeway Coast. Torr Head is not crowded at all because tour buses can't go there because the roads are too narrow.

Have you visited W.B. Yeats grave at St. Columba's Church in Drumcliffe?

Posted by
1197 posts

Lots of good suggestions! Too many places to go and too little time...

Posted by
684 posts

I second the Doagh Famine Village. It was an unexpected highlight of the Inishowen peninsula. Also, Farren's bar for lunch, a pint or a snack is worth a stop on way to Malin Head.

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