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Itinerary input/advice. 14 days in Ireland with teen boys late June and early July.

Hello. I am in the final stages of planning our trip to Ireland this summer and I have read many helpful tidbits on this forum, which I so appreciate. I would love input on my proposed itinerary before I finalize the booking of all of our lodging. We plan on renting a car for the entire trip. Also, our boys (14 and 16) are into every type of music and they both play guitar, bass and drums. Any advice on where to hear the best music is much appreciated! I know that Dingle is going to be the best spot for this but any thoughts on where to go in other towns would be great! Thanks!

Proposed itinerary:
1. Fly to Dublin. (2 nights in Dublin. Visit Newgrange)
2. 3 nights on a rented barge from Vicarstown (Grand Canal) (Barrowline Cruisers)
3. 2 nights in Kinsale. (we are foodies and looking forward to trying some great food here)
4. 2 nights in Kenmare. Visit the Beara Peninsula,
5. 2 nights in Dingle. (killarney Natl. Park on the way?)
6. 2 nights in Galway (visit Aran Islands)
7. Return to Dublin or possibly we will fly out of Shannon and stay nearby for our last night.

Thank you!

Posted by
346 posts

Sorry no one has replied yet. Your itinerary looks fine to me. Haven't done the barge thing, so I am interested in hearing how that is. You have picked many of my favorite places to visit. Killarney Natl. Park is worth doing, IMO, but it will take at least 1/2 a day. Doolin is noted for its Trad music. (You didn't way whether the boys were more interested in Trad music or more modern stuff.) You might want to take one of your nights from Galway (on the way from Dingle to Galway) to stay in or near Doolin and hit the pubs there at night for the music, and, while you are there, see the Cliffs of Moher. It is gorgeous.

Posted by
3123 posts

The barge voyage does sound intriguing! To me this looks like a reasonable itinerary; you're not trying to cram too many destinations into too few days and you're visiting places your teenagers will probably appreciate. (I can't advise about music, though.) If you can fly home from Shannon, so much the better to enjoy the west country instead of having to rush back to Dublin.

Posted by
42 posts

Thank you so much for the response, I really appreciate it! I was worried about trying to do too much so I feel better now that this seems reasonable. I just booked a night at the Cliffs of Moher Hotel after Dingle which I think will be cool! Thanks again!