Dear Planettrotter,
What are you interests and what does your 7 year old enjoy? That will help others suggest activities and places to visit.
It looks as if you’re trying to limit the number of days checking in and out of hotel/B&B’s, etc. which is a good idea up to a point. Staying in one place for several nights does help get to know a place and enjoy the area.
Much of your time will be spent staying in cities (Dublin, Galway, and Waterford). Spending a few nights in smaller villages or towns adds to the charm.
Also, you will be doing a lot of driving each day to visit the sites you’ve mentioned. When you map a trip and see the driving times, add at least 30 minutes to an hour to them.
Some of the days look busy (especially with a 7 year old) with a lot of driving. Depending on what’s important, you may want to cut one or two of the places you’ve listed in order to enjoy the other areas more and to cut down driving.
For example on Day 6, it’s probably 1 ¾ – 2 hours driving from Galway to Westport. I’m not sure how long the famine walk takes. Driving to see Croag Patrick takes 15 – 20 minutes. Then over an hour to Ashford Castle (which is on the way back to Galway). Then probably an hour back to Galway.
If visiting Westport is really important, then you might consider driving from Dublin to Westport and spending a night there, then heading to Galway to spend 2 nights. Or if Westport isn’t that important, just enjoy driving from Galway to Cong to Ashford Castle and the Hawk Walk. It’s nice to explore the countryside and villages.
For Days 8 – 11,
On Day 8: Galway to Cliffs of Moher is over 1.5 hours; then from the Cliffs to Glenbeigh is over 3 hours; then you backtrack about 1 ½ hours each way on Day 10 day to see Dingle.
Glenbeigh is somewhat centrally located for the places you plan to visit on Days 8 – 11, but it’s not close to any one site, so there is a lot of back and forth driving, plus for Dingle and Ring of Kerry, you’re doing a lot of driving to see the views on the scenic loops.
Dingle does have several attractions that appeal to children, including the aquarium. So you might consider driving there from Galway and spending 1 or 2 nights before going to Glenbeigh, which is a good location for the Ring of Kerry and Killarney).
Some posters do recommend choosing between Dingle or Kerry for a two week trip, just to have more time to enjoy one area and to reduce the driving. I would rather spend time in Dingle and Kerry than in Cashel, Blarney Castle, and Waterford.
I didn’t visit Blarney Castle b/c so many posters recommend skipping it. The Rock of Cashel is impressive, but it’s a long drive from Glenbeigh, and I’m not sure how much it would impress a 7 year old. Waterford was o.k., but you might consider cutting that to spend more time in Dingle or elsewhere. The drive from Cashel to the Dublin Airport is about the same as from Waterford.
In Killarney Park, you can drive to Kate Kearney's Cottage and take a pony cart up to the Gap of Dunloe. You can also visit Muckross House and Muckross Traditional Farms (which includes animals that might appeal to a 7 year old). The grounds around the house are very nice; the house tour isn’t the most impressive, but it’s good. The Torc Waterfall parking lot is along the N71 road, and there is a trail with about a 4-5 minute walk from the road to the 70+ waterfall.
All the best,
Raymond
