Help completing an itinerary

Posted by daniel.plwalsh on 09/29/22 09:37 PM

Hi All,

I have been to Ireland 15+ times, as my dad is born and raised in Ballsbridge and we would go every summer growing up. I’ve been almost everywhere of note in the country with the bulk of my time being spent in Dublin.

April 2023, I am traveling to Ireland for a week with my girlfriend and her parents. We’ll be arriving in Shannon from London and spend the first two nights in Doolin, where I will propose along the cliffs.

We also will be spending three nights in Dublin, but I have two nights to fill between Doolin and Dublin. None of my travel companions have been to Ireland before, so I am excited to show them around, but cannot settle on a city/town for the two days between Doolin and Dublin.

Would love to get your thoughts. We are an adventurous crew and enjoy history, good food, pub scene, etc. looking forward to hearing suggestions!

Posted by Robert

Colorado Springs

09/29/22 11:08 PM

2980 posts

Consider basing yourselves in the pretty market town of Clifden for your 3 nights, from which you can explore the scenic drive thru Connemara with maybe a stop in Cong for tea at Ashford Castle - perhaps to include the popular Hawk Walk there.
The Sky Road scenic drive just west of Clifden is one of Ireland's finest, then there's the ferry (or better - the flight) over to Inishmore. For something well off the usual tourist path you could head up to Cleggan for the short ferry over to Inishbofin - truly one of Ireland's better kept secrets.
If you're interested in Irish history I suggest heading up to Delphi and the Doolough Valley. Can Google it to see what happened there and to see if you'd find it of interest, but we thought it one of the most evocative places in Ireland.
On the drive back to Dublin consider a stop at the monastic settlement of Clonmacnoise along the river Shannon - doesn't take much imagination to envision Viking longboats heading up the river to sack the place (several times) in the 10th century.

Posted by Wanderlust58

Ashburn VA

09/30/22 12:12 AM

818 posts

I have never been to Ireland and cannot give you any ideas. But, congratulations on your pending engagement. Lucky girl - a vacation proposal!

Posted by MaryPat

Irving

09/30/22 01:58 AM

3226 posts

What about Athlone and stay at the Wineport Lodge and visit Ireland’s oldest pub, Sean’s Bar.

Posted by wasleys

Lincolnshire, UK

09/30/22 10:17 AM

2282 posts

Clifden would work really well and Connemara is much my favourite part of Ireland. On a sunny day, the Sky Drive is possibly one of the best short drives in the world.

Alternatively, if you really wish to push the boat out, consider stopping in Ashford Castle. It's not far from Clifden and you can easily do everything Robert suggest from there.

Do your girl friend's parents may remember the John Wayne film 'The Quiet Man'? It was filmed in Cong and the museum has a replica of the cottage used in the film. In fact this may have been similar to the cottage your Dad grew up in? The ruins of Cong Abbey afre rather nice. Make sure you walk down to the river to find the monk's fishing station. There was a bell which the monks would ring to let the cook know they had caught a fish!

Afternoon tea at Ashford Castle would nicely round the day off.

Clonmacnoise is a wonderful walled religious site founded in the C6th on the River Shannon. It has round towers, ruined churches and old crosses - do a google image search to see how magical it is.
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