First trip to Ireland!

You are going to find scenic views everywhere in Ireland, but favourites are the Ciffs of Moher, the Connemara area, Dingle Peninsula, and Killarney National park for starters. In the park, the Gap of Dunloe can be done by walking, renting a bike, or taking a jaunting car. My best music experience was at the Crane Pub in Galway. They have a room upstairs called the listening room where you can hear some of Irelands best traditional musicians for a fee. Check out the web site to see who will be there when you are. http://www.thecranebar.com/
As for genealogy, I suggest finding out as much as you can before you go or you may not have much success in learning anything when you get there. I tried this many years ago, spending a day at the family history center in Belfast, and came away empty handed because the name I was researching was too common, and the little information I had was inaccurate.
I’m sure many other people while chime in with their advice on favourite spots as there are so many. You may end up with a really long list!

Yes, I would also say try to research the family history as much as possible before your trip. Many 19th century records were lost in the Public Records Fire in the 20s too. On our trip to Northern Ireland I worked with a records specialist at the Derry Public Library for a couple hours. I did learn a bit about the Mulholland branch of our family (that their property was outside of Derry and not in the town), but not a great deal more. 99.8% UK DNA? Wow. Mine came back 21% England/NW Europe, 19% Irish, 17% Germanic, 16% Scot, and then small amounts Africa, Spain, France, and Scandinavia.

Great points! My grandmother scoured libraries, ship registries for decades & documented most everything- each blockade was due to a church fire where weddings/births/baptisms were recorded were lost- she has most lines back to 1640-1680…the only deviant I know of that was not from UK was a great great great grandfather from Germany- Ziglar-but his mother was Irish. 😂
We’ve visited the parts our English and Scottish families were from- didn’t have much time to search- just visited the areas we know they were married or born.
I have found a car rental place to use, likely staying 2 nights in 4 places- just want to nail down quaint towns where we can park and walk through to parks and sites close by - then drive out for an hour or so to explore.
Thanks!!

For Scenic views, short hikes, and coziness, with some historical lodging, I'd highly recommend Killarney, especially if you stay at the Lake Hotel. It's a lovely hotel that has 4 sections, each built during a different point of the 1800s, backs right up to the lake with a small castle on the grounds, and is also directly next to the Killarney nation forest, with and old ruined chapel a short hike into the forest from the hotel. In addition, the town is a delightfully cute small and cozy place, and you are a short taxi ride from the Gap of Dunloe.

Another great place is Galway, delightful little town with a wonderful culture and atmosphere, plenty of old landmarks, and delightful people. It also features a great number of places to drink, including Garavan's, a world famous whiskey bar, and Tigh Nora, a wonderful Gin bar with a massive catalog of gins and gin cocktails that came highly recommended by the locals and lived up to all the hype. Both have the vibes of cozy pubs, with Tigh Nora being more colorful!

From Cork, The Blarney castle, while a big tourist spot, is worth the trip. The castle itself is quite enjoyable, but the grounds were spectacular and much larger than expected. We were able to wonder for 3 hours through the grounds alone, and only saw about half of them. Definitely worth the trek!

On the car rental front, if driving from city to city, i recommend paying the extra bit (or seeing if your card covers it) for the CDW Excess or Super CDW insurance, as a lot of the rural roads are extremely tight, with quick bends and low hanging tree branches. In many places, we encountered roads where it had a high speed limit, limited visibility due to turns, and the road was one lane shared for both directions.

Have a great trip!

in 32 years...5 or 6 dark beers. So, if you have a favorite drink...

That being the case, I'd suggest he try a different beer/ale in each pub you visit. That will give him an appreciation for the large variety available and the many different flavors of the brews. He'll have to try at least one Guinness. It's quite different from that in the U.S.

Honestly, I found Irish Guinness to be essentially indistinguishable from that found on tap in the USA. Both delicious! But you find out how to drink it so as to maximize enjoyment at the tour of the brewery in Dublin.

What wonderful tips!!! They all sound perfect for all our interests. I told my husband about having to try a pint in each area- he didn’t seem opposed at all 😁
We just found $500 RT the week of our anniversary- it connects through LHR on British Airlines. Seems like a good deal- do fares go any lower that last week of August? Oh and just covered a quick search on the grandmothers- several from Dublin, Wicklow (Baltinglass) and Laois. M’Teg Lalor, O’Carroll, Dent, and McGarr.
For those of you doing the DNA- it’s fascinating to see how specific they get with all the areas. It just showed my mother and father’s regions in UK. One of them had 1-2% Scandinavian- we figured those might be Vikings 😁
I’ll work on the itinerary and research all the locales suggested!! Thank you!

That fare is incredible I would buy immediately.

Thanks- we have used points for most flights and it’s hard to gauge summer fares. It let me pay $20 to hold it for 72 hours- so, I’ll book it tomorrow- it has me coming into and out of Dublin- our flight back doesn’t leave until 11am- is it recommended to spend last night in Dublin or are we safe to stay an hour away and drive in?

I always prefer to stay closer to the airport before flying out especially if you have a car to return. Also in Dublin you need three hours time if you are going to the US to clear immigration in Dublin. Most times we had plenty of time but once it took over two hours for the process and that was cutting too close for us. Enjoy!

We prefer to stay closer to the airport especially if returning a car. Also you need to be at the airport by 8 AM if flying to the US as you clear immigration in Dublin. We usually had plenty of.time but once the process took over two.hours and that was.too.close.

Agree- I was surprised it took so long in Edinburgh to go through customs- we won’t have bags to check to n this trip- does that make it any easier?
Thanks and will post itinerary soon! Appreciate all the tips-

Two questions:

Out of these towns- which would you stay an extra night?
Kilkenny
Killarney
Doolin
Galway

And of the one you choose, could you recommend where to stay?
Thanks!
Tara

It doesn't sound like you plan to spend any time in Dublin (which is a fine choice, IMO, especially with a car). It's easy enough to drop the car off a day early, leave your bags at a hotel near/on the airport and then head into the city for the day using public transit.

Since you don't have a lot of specifics about your own family, you might have a look at the emigration sites and museums. I haven't been to the one in Cobh, but certainly others on here will have. Here's the link:
https://www.cobhheritage.com
I have been to EPIC in Dublin and recommend it:
https://epicchq.com

If you are able to put together a surname and a parish, strolling around the old part of the cemetery looking at the headstones will earn your husband his pint. Slainte!

Great websites! Thank you!! Yes- we just aren’t city people- our daughter lived in Dublin for a month during Covid- she loved Phoenix park but she was limited to 5km and no museums were open- I told her we would go back for a mom and daughter trip and we’ll likely spend 2-3 nights in Dublin.
My husband and I are spending our last night at Conrad Dublin across from Stephens Green- we plan on driving in early and hitting 2-3 museums/parks- then drive to airport the next morning- flight leaves late morning.
These sites are great- excited to look them over!
Thank you!