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How important are site seeing reservations in mid-October

Posted by (Spokane, WA, USA) on

My husband and I and our three teenagers will be travelling to Ireland Oct 14 - 22, 2017. Out itinerary looks like this:

Oct 15 - Arrive Dublin 12:45 pm, check in to hotel, sightsee a little in the afternoon, sleep in Dublin

Oct 16 - Leave Dublin early, drive to Rock of Cashel, Killarney N.P. and arrive in Dingle late.

Oct. 17 - Good weather - Rent bikes and bike Slea Head Loop, sleep in Dingle

Moderate weather - Ferry to Great Blasket Island

Bad weather - Drive Slea Head Loop

Oct 18 - Drive to Cliffs of Moher, see Caherconnell sheepherding demonstration, Dungauire Banquet, sleep in Galway

Oct 19 - Sleep in, drive to Cong, Irish School of Falconry, sleep in Galway

Oct 20 - Drive to Newgrange, sleep in Dublin

Oct 21 - Sightsee in Dublin, sleep in Dublin

Oct 22 - fly home

My question is: I realize that the weather may not dictate a ferry ride on Oct 17, and we also may not have enough time or energy to get to the Dugauire Banquet on Oct 18. Is it likely that those events will be filled for those days in October? I want the opportunity to choose based on how we are doing rather than being locked in by reservations. What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful advice I have already received from stalking this forum for the last few months.

Posted by
1172 posts

My guess is that you would be fine to play it by year that time of year.

You second day is very heavy..... that is a lot of ground to cover in one day.... I would worry that you will just be running and will not have time to see much. Just my 0.02$

Posted by
1529 posts

It is worth doing some research to make sure yr sites are still open then...several yrs ago we ended a guided tour in dublin & headed into northern ireland about then, & found out a lot of tourist places were shifting to a heavily cutailed "winter" schedule

Posted by
9221 posts

Day 2 definitely too long of a day.

Why not drive from Dublin via the Sally Gap to Glendalough then onto the Rock of Cashel. Stay the night with a pub visit for dinner. Off to Killarney in the morning but via Kinsale on the Coast. Lunch in Killarney and a hike/walk/or stroll through the gorgeous Killarney National Park. Then off to Dingle. 2 nights Dingle.

Don't miss the Gap of Dunloe. Kate's cottage might be closed but you can hike/take a trap and yes even drive your car over it. Remember small cars are the norm in Ireland and if you drive over the Gap of Dunloe you'll see why.

I'm merely suggesting a slower pace on the wee roads for safety and for allowing you the time to enjoy the serene beauty the Eire offers.

Posted by
58 posts

Thanks for the replies.

Claudia, Do you mean head from the airport to Glendalough and onto the Rock of Cashel on Sunday? I hadn't thought of that. That may be better than staying in Dublin. You are right it would give us a slower pace and more time to enjoy Killarney NP before we go to Dingle.

I think I will stick with keeping my options open for site seeing activities instead of making reservations. I really appreciate all the comments and help!

Janelle

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