help on itinerary for first 3 to 4 week visit to Ireland

Check out Kilkenny (southern base) and Dingle (west coast base). I really recommend the Lonely Planet Ireland guidebook for its pictures and descriptions. Helps you figure out what your interests are.

we sort of followed his recommendations
our schedule was two days at each location
Dublin 3
Kilkenny-2
Kinsale-2
Kenmar-2
Dingle-2
Galway-2
Westport-2
Letterkenny-2
Potrush-2
Droghedon-1
Dublin-1

Galway is another town where you could extend your stay, omitting the stop at Westport. But do check driving times around Connemara to understand how far you could get on a daytrip. Google maps or www.viamichelin.com can help you plan driving routes and times (not including sightseeing stops or sheepherder delays).

Hi from Wisconsin,

I have been going to Ireland since 1973 and I have never found a really good reason to stay in or even visit Galway (Other than O'Maileys? which is the only place to get a real hand knit Irish sweater, others are 'assembled in Ireland', machine woven in Ireland, hand knit in China...) or Limerick. Both cities have always been overwhelmingly grey, bleak, and cold. Read Alice's Ashes for Limerick.

Westport, now that IS a city. More than a lovely place to visit with real Irish charm and music. The surrounding area is smashing. Killary Harbor, the only fiord in Ireland, Leananne, the valleys around, Cong is not so far. Wild wind swept slopes.

South of Galway...County Clare....beautiful. The back roads will still take you back to an earlier Ireland. I have a map with the road south from Ballyvaughan that will give you a real experience. No visitor's office, no entrance fee, just some sheep dung on your shoes and a wild wind through your hair. A 4th century castle's remains over looking a deep gorge. You have to walk to it. You can ask me fora copy of the maps at [email protected]. County Clare is filled with truly wonderful Irish towns, Ennis is a medieval market town. True you leave your car your in a late 20th century car ramp, but the main street, the high street, is as narrow and winding as any 16th century street. Ennistimmon. Kilfenora. The county is filled with high crosses, and megalithic stone work. And of course Doolin for music and with the cliffs are near by.

I usually argue for traveling less and settling more. Don't forget County Donegal.

Oh gosh and NW from Galway a few hours drive through Oughterard is Clifden. A person could spend a few days in Clifden and its surroundings. The 12 Bens (Irelands version of mountains and when snow covered...OK they are mountains). Sky Drive can be driven in an hour. Or you can stop and walk over and over and spend an afternoon. Try and find O'Brien's castle, it is there.

Bunratty and the folk museum are probably more necessary today since most Irish now don't heat over open fires as when I first visited the west coast. Well few did then, but some were. But both of these are 100% for tourists. Better to find a roadside pub for a couple nights running and meet a local or two. First night they will ignore you as you are 'just passing thru'. Second night they will recognize you and maybe some small talk. Third night, they want to know just what's goin' on and you have them. Some places are so starved for new blood that pints can be replaced for nights. 3rd pint and you're a regular.

Dingle is a great peninsula. Don't ignore Beare Peninsula. And inland a bit from the Beare is Goganbeare monastery.

The coast of Ireland is its real asset. Inland you need a reason to go there. Cashel. Clonmacnoise. Killarney's Black Valley, not Killarney. ALthough I did have a good night there once watching Gaelic football on the TV in a pub, way past closing. It is tourist filled. Also Kells. Hill of Tara. And, even though they have either tried to preserve it from being over run or they have ruined it, the Boyne River Valley north of Dublin about 30 miles. With the three huge earthworks, New Grange. The Boyne River Valley is so soft and green it tears at your heart.

Northern Ireland also has a couple really great sights. The Giants Causeway and the green Glens of Antrum. My goodness, beautiful.

Dublin...don't miss Kihlmainam Gaol (jail). I have no doubt misspelled it. Most people got to the brewery, and you might get a really good half pint and a video screening. Why waste you time there. The Gaol is dripping with history. And behind the Grand Post Office is Moore St. a nice little market street if you haven't seen European markets before. Oh, and St. Michan's Church on church st. north of the Liffey River...look it up. St. Steve's Green, a ark for the blind. Neat.
wayne iNWI

I think Wayne means Angela's Ashes.