Fellow Travelers,
My wife and I plan to visit Ireland for ten days after Labor Day 2018.
We've heard many stories of the hazards of driving in both the larger towns, as well as the rural roads that take one to the non-touristy sites.
What choices are there to get around Ireland without a car while still getting a good chance of visiting those lovely places that are "Far From the Madding Crowd(s)....."
Many thanks!
I personally don't think driving in Ireland is particularly difficult, but not everyone wants to drive and would rather use public transportation.
If you tell us the non-touristy places you're thinking about, I'm sure some posters on here can give you ideas about whether or not those places are reachable by public transportation. Sometimes it's a combination of using public transportation options and joining day tours to those places that aren't convenient without a rental car. You certainly don't need to drive in the larger cities and connecting cities that you want to base in by public transportation is usually easy and convenient. Basing in cities like Dublin, Galway, Cork, Belfast, etc and taking organized day trips from there to more remote areas can work well for someone not wanting to drive.
There are private driving tours for places like the Ring of Kerry, the Ring of Skellig or in the Dingle area. Those drivers will show you sights and tailor it to what you want to see. When we were at the Staigue ring fort (a fantastic out of the way spot) one of the few other visitors was a couple and a hired driver). So they can and will gladly show you out of the way non touristy spots. Come to think if it another time we saw a private driver and a couple folks was at the Cliffs of Kerry - a wonderful spot (far more wild and impressive for us than the beautiful but tourist clogged Cliffs of Moher). If you search private driving tours in the areas you want to see you'll get alternatives easily and can via email nail down costs and specifics.
I will say I was filled with fear about driving in Ireland from all the horror stories and I found it fun, not dangerous - yes challenging - and yet SO freeing. Exploring on your own there cannot be beat as you find little wonders around every bend!
Have a GREAT trip. It's the best !
We hired a driver, who met us at the Shannon airport and drove for us for 3.25 days. He was fabulous. We did not have to worry about driving on the wrong side of the road, finding our way (some of the signage on the country roads is not very clear....(picture a fence post sign with all sorts of arrow signs with city/village names on them, pointing in every which way). We also didn't have to worry about finding parking (or wondering where we might stash luggage while visiting places, such as if we had taken a bus/train, etc.)
For places where we did not need a driver (such as a two-night stay at Dromoland Castle, where we spent a lot of time enjoying what the castle grounds had to offer), then our driver just dropped us off and he was free to take other fares, etc. on those days.
But, the real delights of having a private driver was that neither my husband nor I had to worry about keeping our eyes on the road; we could enjoy the scenery. There were some roads where we were totally glad to have a local driving (for safety reasons), such as at Connor's Pass. A real benefit to us is that we had a "local friend" in the car with us, telling us about life in Ireland and showing us things we would not have known to see. He has a great sense of humor. We recommended him to friends who visited Ireland after us, and they adored him. He's really become a personal friend of both couples now, and he's visited Nashville since, and it was fun to host him in our house for dinner, etc.
Here is his contact info:
Tony McGann
(00353)(0)65-7074790
(00353)(0)87-2422950
[email protected]
I'm not sure which phone number is correct, as I don't have international phone access, but I know the email address is correct.
When Tony was younger, he ran the famous McGann's Pub in Doolin. He loves music. He is very tuned in to each person's interest, and he delighted us along the way many times. When he learned we had visited Antarctica, he stopped at a little pub where one of Shackleton's expedition team members was from (I had no idea an Irishman had been on that original journey to Antarctica), and it was great run seeing all the historical photos, etc. at the Penguin Pub. Tony insisted on buying a Guinness beer for us there. When my husband showed a particular interest in the stone fairy rings in Ireland, the next day Tony surprised him with a book about the Fairy Rings. When he realized my husband was interested in having a local map, bingo, guess what appeared an hour later?
You get the picture!
He's great!! And, as they say in Ireland, "he'll look after you."
When I returned home, I did the after-action financial analysis, comparing hiring the driver (who came with his own vehicle...a nice, large VW van that easily seats 8, so we had plenty of room... but it cost no more to hire Tony, who took care of all fuel, tolls, parking, etc. than it would have cost us to rent a vehicle, pay for the Petrol, etc. and all the extra insurances that one really wants on a rental car in Ireland..............and we got soooooo much more than just transportation.
He will quote a daily rate, and our days were full days....he does not keep to just an 8-hour day..........he would have kept going well after dark, but I would always say: I would like to arrive at Dromoland before dark, or I would like to arrive in Doolin before lunch, etc.
I could share our itinerary with you, if you'd like...just send a private message to me via the Forum.
Enjoy your trip to Ireland. We LOVED it there.
Try https://www.facebook.com/ringofkerrysightseeingtours/
See Great Reviews
FYI
On Maggie's comment above she has the phone numbers wrong for the guide she recommends. if you're dialing the country code you don't use the zero after the 353. If you're in Ireland using an Irish phone the number starts with zero such as 083-167...... etc. So if you try to call her guy, you won't get thru! his number would be +00353-87-......
I've helped others book private drivers and I personally think they're quite dear (that's expensive in Irish speak!). They are limited by law to how many hours they can drive a day; the cost of their food and hotel is something you will pay..... if money is no object, go for it. But be prepared....
I called a friend recently to see if he'd drive myself and 2 friends around the Ring of Kerry, so I could drink at the pubs and not have my car when we ended in Killarney (I was training away that next morning). His charge was around 240 euros!! I thought that was crazy! So crazy, my next door neighbor is now getting his taxi license to get in on that deal!
Just my thoughts....
Susan
Ex Pat in Waterville.....
